BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Yakima River Side-Channel Project

BPA project number   5510700

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Yakama Indian Nation

Sponsor type   WA-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

 NameLynn Hatcher
 Mailing addressP.O. Box 151
Toppenish, WA 98948
 Phone509/865-6262

BPA technical contact   , EWN

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
The project entails either purchase or gaining an easement on approximately 50 acres along a side-channel and the mainstem of the Yakima River. The introduction of large woody debris to provide additional cover is anticipated.

Project start year   1997    End year   1997

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
The Yakima Fisheries Project This area would provide habitat for the fish resulting from this project.

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
Demonstrating success with this project would have implications for a plethora of other salmonid enhancement projects. Through protection and enhancement efforts, it is expected that increased production of salmonids will occur and can be demonstrated. The project should therefore facilitate recovery of declining anadromous stocks and compliment the Yakima Fisheries Project by providing high quality habitat that might otherwise disappear. Through monitoring, the project can be assessed for its ability to meet target objectives for in-channel habitat, as well as judge effects on survival and growth rates of salmonids. This knowledge can then be applied to future projects for determining expected outcomes and benefits to salmonid stocks from similar habitat protection and enhancement work.

Specific measureable objectives
The objective of the project is to maintain and enhance summer and winter rearing habitat in the Upper Yakima River.

A Patient Template Analysis and the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has identified the Upper Yakima as lacking in rearing habitat. Logging, roading, diking and development has left long sections of the river devoid of side-channel habitat. Through enhancement efforts on the side-channel, available habitat in the treated reach is expected to increase by at least two fold for summer and winter juvenile rearing and at least two fold for velocity refuge. This project will benefit resident and anadromous populations ( spring chinook) in the Upper Yakima River. This project will provide habitat for the supplemented stocks resulting from the Yakima Fisheries Project. Spring run chinook are considered depressed in the Yakima drainage by the Washington State Salmon and Steelhead Stock Inventory (SASSI, 1992). Ambient monitoring of habitat conditions and fish populations before and after completion of project work will quantify whether objectives were attained.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods
The project area lies on private land and landowner will be contacted to obtain cooperative agreements to work on or purchase their land. All specific project sites will have a design and monitoring plan completed by the grantee or a subcontractor with restoration experience. The plans will include a description of existing conditions, actions needed to enhance the habitat to target conditions, logistics to complete the work, expected benefits from the work. The monitoring plan will include an assessment of habitat conditions and fish populations prior to and after project completion. This monitoring approach can be used to statistically compare effects on habitat and populations before and after restoration work. Upon review and acceptance of the plans, the work will be carried out by the grantee or a subcontractor. The work will be evaluated by the grantee for consistency in meeting the design plans and project objectives. Monitoring work will be completed by the grantee to determine the efficacy and benefits of the enhancement work.

Materials used will be large woody debris for placement in the channel for creation of pools and cover. Equipment used will be large backhoe with bucket equipped with a thumb.

Brief schedule of activities
Initial monitoring would take place in the fall of 1997 and spring and summer of 1998, along the purchase or easement finalization. Monitoring would be completed in the summer and fall of 1999 using ambient monitoring techniques and population evaluation .

Biological need
A Patient/Template Analysis of the Upper Yakima has identified rearing habitat as a limiting factor for spring chinook juveniles. Side-channels provide this limiting type of habitat. This lack of habitat has clearly impacted anadromous fish populations. Spring run chinook salmon stocks are listed as depressed in the Yakima River (SASSI 1992). Strong arguments can be made that the spring chinook status is actually critical with recent precipitous declines in returning adults. Habitat protection and enhancement work is therefore sorely needed to facilitate recovery of the stocks and to compliment the planned supplementation work in the Yakima Fisheries Project.

Critical uncertainties
It is expected that the project will provide immediate benefits to fish, but the exact gains will not be known until monitoring is completed.

Summary of expected outcome
Through these restoration efforts, rearing habitat features that are limiting fish populations are expected to, at a minimum, be increased two fold. This increase in critical habitat area will boost survival and production of anadromous populations. Monitoring work will further determine the net benefits of the project and identify areas of improvement.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Cost sharing or funds may be available through The Eastern Washington Habitat Enhancement Group or private timber companies. Permits that may be needed on this project include Shoreline Variance Permits and Hydraulic Project Approvals. It is not anticipated that these permits will require more than eight months to acquire, and should pose little problem to the completion of the project. Private land owners within the scope of this project area will be contacted to determine their interest and cooperation in this restoration effort.

Risks

Monitoring activity
At the beginning of the project period, data on the side-channel will be analyzed and supplemental assessments made to quantify existing rearing and holding habitat quality. Finally, fish population estimates will be conducted to determine use under existing, limited habitat conditions. Upon completion of project work, the streams will be reassessed for the same parameters. All monitoring will be accomplished by following standard methodology outlined in the Ambient Monitoring Program Manual (TFW-AM9-94-001).

Section 3. Budget

Data shown are the total of expense and capital obligations by fiscal year. Obligations for any given year may not equal actual expenditures or accruals within the year, due to carryover, pre-funding, capitalization and difference between operating year and BPA fiscal year.

Historic costsFY 1996 budget data*Current and future funding needs
(none) New project - no FY96 data available 1997: 0
1998: 11,200
1999: 11,200

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   Bonneville Dam - Priest Rapids Dam

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $0