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
Dworshak Impacts/M&E & Bio-Int Rule Curves

BPA project number   8740700

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Nez Perce Tribe

Sponsor type   ID-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Charlie Craig, EWP 503/230-3430

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   10.3C.6, 5.5A.1

Short description
Thermal/physical/chemical data, primary productivity, zooplankton and benthic data for M&E of impacts from Dworshak operations. Application of data to formulate biological/integrated rule curves.

Project start year   1987    End year   2006 (continued monitoring)

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8709900 - IDFG investigation of kokanee entrainment losses relative to Dworshak operations.

Project history
The Corps of Engineers supplied funding for the Washington Water Research Center, Pullman, WA, to conduct primary productivity, zooplankton and water quality studies during FY 1995. The primary productivity and water quality work was a continuation of work funded by BPA under 8770700 in FY 1993 and 1994. Project 9740700 plans to continue to provide equipment and personnel support for these activities.

Biological results achieved
As a result of recommendations in a 1993 project report prepared jointly by the Nez Perce Tribe and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the stocking of rainbow trout in Dworshak Reservoir for resident fish mitigation has been curtailed pending investigation of rainbow trout-cutthroat trout hybridization. Based on project studies, the 12-inch minimum size limit for smallmouth bass was withdrawn.

Annual reports and technical papers
Statler, D.P. 1988, 1989, 1990. Dworshak Investigations: trout, bass and forage species. Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management, Annual Report to Bonneville Power Administration, Contract DE-AI79-87BP35165, Project 87-407, Portland, OR.
Maiolie, M.A., D.P. Statler, and S. Elam. 1993. Dworshak Dam impact assessment and fishery investigation and trout, bass, and forage species. Final Report. Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR.

Management implications
Knowledge gained from this program will aid in the adaptive management for consideration of reservoir fish resource needs in conjunction with downstream needs for anadromous fish, flood control and power production.

Specific measureable objectives
Conservation/enhancement of baseline (yet to be determined) primary productivity, zooplankton productivity and benthic productivity. A stable population of kokanee at 30-50 age-2 kokanee/hectare. Successful natural reproduction of smallmouth bass. A target PSD of 30 and relative weight of 100 for smallmouth bass. Conserving the genetic purity of westslope cutthroat trout in the North Fork Clearwater Basin. Conserve habitat and food resources for the protection of bull trout within the North Fork Clearwater Basin.

Testable hypothesis
Operations of Dworshak Dam influences primary productivity.
Operations of Dworshak Dam influences zooplankton abundance.
Operations of Dworshak Dam influences abundance of benthos.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Major water year types (high, medium, low) will be represented during the course of the investigation.

Methods
1) Measurement of primary productivity, zooplankton, benthos, nutrients, temperature, and oxygen monthly at six reservoir stations to capture longitudinal variations. Monitor phytoplankton, zooplankton and nutrients below Dworshak Dam and relate to operations. Methods: primary production via 14C liquid scintillation; zooplankton via 130-150 micron mesh (size 10) with pygmy flow meter; benthos via 23 X 23 cm Ponar grab sampler with boom/electric winch; temperature/oxygen via YSI Model 50B meter; nutrients via Standard Methods. Water transportation via 22-foot Weldcraft welded aluminum boat with 150 hp Mercury outboard.

2) Computer algorithms for model simulations.

3) Primary fish species affected: bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, kokanee and smallmouth bass.

Brief schedule of activities
Major project effort for FY 1997: Application of accumulated data for biological/integrated rule curve development.

Project activities for 1998-2001 will be reduced to focusing on monitoring at one in-reservoir site in the Dworshak Reservoir forebay and one site below Dworshak Dam.

Biological need
The underlying need for this project is to maintain the productive health of Dworshak Reservoir for resident fish while serving other multi-purpose needs, such as flood control, power production and flow augmentation for anadromous fish. The bottom line is to identify an operational strategy for Dworshak Dam to mimic the downstream natural hydrograph and maintain a productive reservoir environment for resident fish, including native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.

Critical uncertainties
Biological/integrated rule curve development through data collection assumes that changes in primary and secondary production attributed to dam operations can be isolated and detected.

Summary of expected outcome
1) Biological/integrated rule curve for Dworshak Dam and Reservoir.

2) Impact assessment model to simulate biological impacts associated with alternative operations.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
The Northwest Power Planning Council must approve adoption of the rule curve for implementation. The Corps of Engineers and the Bonneville Power Administration would need to follow the Council's decision. The National Marine Fisheries Service would need to apply adaptive management principles in its recovery efforts for endangered Snake River chinook and sockeye salmon. Modifications to the original legislative authorization for Dworshak Dam and Reservoir may need to be modified.

Risks
Rule curves for flood control and/or power production may need to be relaxed. This may assume greater risks for flood control and power production. More precise inflow predictions could minimize these risks.

Monitoring activity
Permanent monitoring stations would be established in the Dworshak Reservoir forebay and immediately below Dworshak Dam. Parameters monitored would include primary productivity, zooplankton, benthos and nutrients.

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 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $143,400

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $143,392