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
Upper Yakima Tributary Irrigation Improvement

BPA project number   5510800

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   7.8G.2

Short description
Surface diversions off Little Creek, Big Creek, Swauk Creek, Taneum Creek, Manastash Creek and the Teanaway River dewater the lower channels, or cause flows to decrease to the point that fish cannot access habitat above the diversions. This project would focus on converting surface-diversions to wells, or reducing conveyance loss when most cost-effective.

Project start year   1997    End year   2002

Start of operation and/or maintenance   

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
Redd counts in treated tributaries would be compared to pre-project conditions.

Testable hypothesis
Improving access into dewatered tributaries will increase will improve anadromous fish run size in the basin.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Hydrograph will be similar to historic; a minimum of 50% of the landowners will participate.

Methods
Pre- and post project redd counts will be compared.

Brief schedule of activities
The project would be initiated with the mailing of fliers to landowners. A study of irrigation needs and alternatives would be undertaken in year one. Public meetings would be held to discuss stream functions, irrigation alternatives, and the goals of the project. Landowners would be solicited to voluntarily install alternative irrigation fixtures funded by the project. improvement on their land. In year two, installation of irrigation equipment will occur at participating locations.

Biological need
Managers believe rearing habitat for juvenile fish is severely limited in the basin. This project would increase that amount of spawning/rearing habitat available by reconnecting tributaries during critical periods of the year.

Critical uncertainties
Rearing habitat for juvenile fish is severely limited in the Yakima Basin, so much so that fish managers believe rearing habitat restoration is one of most important actions to restore stock health.

Summary of expected outcome
Spawning and rearing habitat in this reach of the river would increase.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Project design and implementation would be coordinated with affected irrigation districts, the BOR, WDOE and WDFW.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Pre- and post- project redd counts will be done in the treated tributaries.

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: 246,400
1998: 560,000
1999: 10,080

* 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 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $246,400