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
Improve Water Supply in Order to Increase Trout Production at Ford Hatchery by 24,000 Pounds

BPA project number   5513500

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
WDFW

Sponsor type   WA-State/Local Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   10.8B.24

Short description
Fund engineering, design, and implementation of work required to improve the water supply to Ford Hatchery, and bring the facility up to full production. Provide on-going funding to cover the cost of an additional 24,000 lbs. of trout production annually.

Project start year   1997    End year   1998 - construction, Ongoing O&M

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1999

Project development phase   Planning

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
This project is not directly linked to any other FWP project. However, Ford Hatchery is a broodstock facility for brown trout, brook trout and lake trout serving several other facilities within the Columbia Basin, including a number of hydropower mitigation facilities and the Spokane Tribal Hatchery.

Project history
Trout production at Ford Hatchery has declined by approximately 40% over the past decade due to problems with water supply. This facility can be restored to full production, adding 35,000 pounds of trout production to the region, by restoring the water supply with a relatively modest investment and far more cheaply than constructing a new facility. Additional production from Ford Hatchery will be available for stocking area lakes, increasing resident trout fishing opportunity in the Lake Roosevelt and upper Columbia Basin areas.

WDFW engineers have assessed the water supply problem and identified several potential solutions to the current water shortage at Ford Hatchery since 1989. They have concluded that there are several viable options available to restore water supply to former levels. The results of these investigations were the basis for this project proposal submitted in 1995.

Biological results achieved
An additional 35,000 pounds of trout production will provide for the stocking of approximately 200,000 catchable size trout, or up to 2,000,000 trout fry in area lakes. This level of production is capable of supporting between 50-100 thousand angler days of recreation annually.

Annual reports and technical papers
Several internal WDFW engineering reports were references in the development of this project proposal. Estimates of angler use and production costs come from planning figures used by WDFW hatchery and Fish Management Program staff. Specific references to support these numbers can be made available, if required.

Management implications
This project will demonstrate the efficiencies of maximizing production from existing facilities by attaching limiting factors, as opposed to constructing new facilities.

Specific measureable objectives
The specific measurable objectives of this project are to: 1) Capture an additional 2.5 cfs from existing spring or ground water supply; and 2) increase the production of trout from the Ford Hatchery by 24,000 pounds annually.

Testable hypothesis
N/A

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
The underlying assumption of this project is that existing springs or the local aquifer are sufficient to provide an additional 2-3 cfs of water for the hatchery. Preliminary work by WDWF engineering staff and their consultants indicate that this assumption is valid.

Methods
This project involves four action steps. Step 1 includes further engineering studies to determine the best method of providing the water required; Step 2 involves the design engineering for construction; Step 3 is the construction phase; and Step 4) includes annual funding for operation and maintenance.

A final determination on the species, stock, number, size and planting location for additional trout production at Ford Hatchery have not been determined. These determinations will be made during the design phase of the project.

Brief schedule of activities
Funding for FY97 would be spent on engineering studies to evaluate the problem, review existing reports, evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend the best method for restoring flow to Ford Hatchery. Additional funding will be used to do the design engineering and obtain permits for construction.

Construction funding will be spent in FY98, with operation and maintenance beginning with the FY99 budget.

Biological need
This project will boost the number of angler days of recreational fishing available in the Columbia Basin above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams by an estimated 50-100 thousand angler days annually. This amount of recreation will partially compensate for the loss of recreational fishing above these dams resulting from the hydropower development.

Critical uncertainties
WDFW is unable to fund the required engineering studies or construction activities required to restore the Ford Hatchery water supply. Without the proposed study we will remain uncertain about the best and most cost efficient method for providing additional water and increasing production at this existing facility.

Summary of expected outcome
We expect that this project will pick-up where WDFW engineering studies have left-off and produce a cost effective plan for capturing an additional 2-3cfs of water either from the existing springs or from ground water. With this additional water the existing hatchery facility will be capable of increasing production of trout from the current level approximately 70,000 pounds to over 100,000 pounds annually. These extra fish will be utilized in local lakes to provide an additional 50-100 thousand angler days of recreation annually.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
The major factor which could delay the timing of this project would be lack of BPA funding. The hatchery already has a water right which allows for the proposed increase in use which should minimize the time required to obtain the necessary permits for the project. Since the project merely restores historic production levels, SEPA review should not hold the project up.

Having Ford Hatchery at full production may provide additional opportunity further cooperation between other local production facilities, including WDFW facilities at Spokane and Sherman Creek Hatcheries and with Spokane and Coliville tribal facilities in the area.

Risks
This project has few risks. If engineering studies determined that additional water could not be obtained for the hatchery, the initial investment of $40,000 for the engineering study would be lost.

Monitoring activity
Hatchery production and stocking records are maintained and made available on an annual basis. Most area lakes receive some annual creel checks, producing catch, size and effort estimates for the resulting fisheries. These production and fishery reports will be utilized by local fishery managers to assess stocking rates, size and regulations on an annual basis.

Section 3. Budget

* 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   Resident Fish

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $71,700