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
Willamette River Confluence Mitigation Site

BPA project number   5519500

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
ODFW

Sponsor type   OR-State/Local Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
Implementation of the preferred alternative for the confluence of the Coast Fork and Middle Forks of the Willamette River. This involves land acquisition, developing conservation agreements, and implementing restoration projects.

Project start year   1997    End year   2001

Start of operation and/or maintenance   2001

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history
This project will complete efforts began in 1992 that included: detailed research on the status of the western pond turtle in western Oregon (Willamette Valley Mitigation Phase I, 92 68 ($397,684)), additional local pond turtle research, HEP analysis, land owner coordination and development of mitigation alternatives (Willamette Valley Mitigation Phase II, 96 65 ($228,000)).

Biological results achieved
Previous projects have identified this area as the most important habitat remaining in the
Willamette Valley for protection and probable restoration for the western pond turtle. The western pond turtle is one of the primary target species for mitigation in the Willamette drainage. Ongoing investigations are identifying priority nesting and wintering areas. Habitat units for the area have not been determined yet.

Annual reports and technical papers
1. Final report: The Western Pond Turtle Habitat and History. August 1994.

Management implications
See Biological Results Achieved above. Research and ongoing HEP analysis will allow us to target habitat protection, restoration and land acquisition on the most important areas.

Specific measureable objectives
The HEP analysis and related GIS system being developed will allow us determine the best alternatives to provide a maximum number of habitat units from the study area.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Cooperation of public and private landowners in the area will be essential to the success of the project. Adequate funding for enchancement, land acquisition, operation and maintenance and monitoring will be required.

Methods
It is uncertain at this time what the actual methods will be to address mitigation on this site. Primary methods will likely be intergovernmental cooperation with local and state agencies or organizations with funding support for operation and maintenance, possible land acquisition and entering into conservation agreements.

Brief schedule of activities
FY 1997 Initiate agreements with cooperating agencies for restoration activities; initiate land acquisition and conservation agreements, if any.

FY 1998 Continue FY97 activities as needed. Begin restoration projects not already begun. Begin monitoring program for completed mitigation projects.

FY 1999 Continue FY98 tasks as needed. Begin operation and maintenance for completed mitigation projects.

FY 2000 Continue operation and maintenance and monitoring.

FY 2001 Continue operation and maintenance and monitoring.

Biological need
Approximately 94,057 habitat units have been identified as losses for the Willamette basin. To date about 1,900 habitat units have been gained through mitigation projects.

Critical uncertainties
Cooperating agencies and landowners will need a long term financial commitment for habitat improvement projects and to assist with future operation and maintenance costs.

Summary of expected outcome
This project area has the potential to result in between 2000 5000 habitat units depending upon project outcome.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
This project would result in a cooperative effort among numerous agencies and local governments including: the Oregon Departments of Park and Restoration, Transportation, State Lands, the Army Corps of Engineers, the City of Springfield, Willamalane Parks Dept., Lane County Parks Department. Nonprofit organizations include the Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah and the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. Willing landowners will be important in key areas for acquisition or conservation easements. A environmental assessment will be required to complete Phase II of the current project.

Risks
The project area is adjacent to a large metropolitan area and long term management will have to contend with exisiting and increasing impacts of human populations that will use this area.

Monitoring activity
Monitoring activities will consist of annual evaluation of restoration activities on habitat units, monitoring of species presence and abundance. We suggest conducting an updated HEP at year, 1, 3, 5 and 10 after project completion.

Annual reports will be submitted to BPA.

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   Wildlife

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $200,000