BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal

Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Summary

Title of project
Kalispel-Pend Oreille Wetlands

BPA project number   9106000

Short description
Protect, mitigate, & enhance 440 acres of wetlands and riparian habitat along the Pend Oreille River to benefit habitats and target species associated with Albeni Falls Dam losses.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Kalispel Tribe of Indians

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; provides needed habitat protection

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Pend Oreille River
Stream miles affected   1.25
Hydro project   Albeni Falls Dam
Subbasin   Upper Columbia
Land ownership   Tribal Trust
Acres affected   487
Habitat types   Mixed coniferous deciduous forest; scrub-shrub wetland; open water wetland; emergent wetland - cattail/bullrush; open field - tall grass; riparian black cottonwood riparian forest; shoreline brood rearing habitat; ephemeral wetlands -shorebird habitat.

History
Property was purchased by BPA in December, 1992; Interim management agreement and baseline data collected in 1993; Habitat restoration and enhancement efforts are ongoing; land transfer to BIA is expected to be completed in winter of 1997; cooperative efforts to date include: shoreline showcase project with county, county CD, and NRCS.

Biological results achieved
360 habitat Units protected by property purchase; ~89 acres of additional wetlands created through water control structures and management; ~10 acres of black cottonwood reforestation; ~10 acres of other hardwood stand improvements; and site clean-up and hazardous waste soils bio-farming are completed.

Project reports and papers
Merker, C.R. 1990. Kalispel Tribe of Indians Wildlife Mitigation and Restoration for Albeni Falls Dam: Flying Goose Ranch Phase I. BPA Technical Report. Monthly progress reports and related documents

Adaptive management implications
Implementation of restoration projects is in a step wise manner allowing adaptive management principles to be utilized to provide cost effective management of the project.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
Habitat Units for each target species will be enumerated throughout the project. Crediting for BPA will be awarded at 360 H.U's for protection and a minimum of 617 H.U.'s for enhancements.

Critical uncertainties
Funding availability and in-kind habitat for future mitigation opportunities.

Biological need
To protect, mitigate, and enhance high priority habitats in the NPPC program, Section 11, Table 11-4, for Albeni Falls Dam.

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A this is not a research project.

Alternative approaches
N/A This project was identified by the Albeni Falls Dam work group as a lost opportunity project.

Justification for planning
N/A This is not a planning project.

Methods
Weed Control - EPA approved chemicals applied by a licensed operator and mechanical removal. Perch Tree - Thinning techniques in upland areas to improve stand heights. Reforestation in riparian areas. Tree Density and Riparian - planting hardwoods in riparian areas to increase stems/acre from ~ 100 to ~ 900. Shrub Swamp - Planting native species to increase acres of habitat type. Wetlands - Water control structures placed along existing dike will inundate ~ 89 additional surface acres. Pasture - Hay and burn grasses in fall to manage pasture for winter use by waterfowl.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
No known risks exist for this project.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
Fully expect that at least 977 H.U.'s will be credited to BPA for Albeni Falls Dam.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
The project area is presently utilized by all target species except breeding Bald Eagles. There is a nesting pair of Bald Eagles directly across the river from the project (1/2 mile).

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
It is assumed that the area was historically utilized by all of the target species as it is presently being used. Therefore, the conservationpotential is assumed to be high for the project with implementation of habitat objectives.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Due to the size of the project and its connection to public and tribal lands, it is assumed that the long term viability of the projects habitats will provide benefits to target species.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Enhancement of riparian/wetland wildlife species and associated habitats.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
Unknown at this time.

Physical products
437 acres acquired; 360 baseline H.U.'s protected; at least 637 H.U.'s to be enhanced; four miles of perimeter fence; 3 nesting islands created; three water control structures constructed; 1,500 feet of shoreline stabilized and vegetated; four interpretive signs; 10 acres of reforested black cottonwood.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Elimination of negative human associated uses; re-vegetated shorelines and riparian areas; increased nesting habitat for waterfowl; increased breeding areas for target species; protected further erosion of shorelines.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
Same as above with increasing quantities.

Measure of attribute changes
The project will produce approximately 977 Habitat Units.

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
The project outcomes will be measured using Habitat Evaluation Procedures for each of the seven target species and various peer accepted techniques as required.

Information products
The project will produce primarily monthly progress reports. An adapted management, M & E and O& M plan will be produced by 2002.

Coordination outcomes
Coordination for the project has resulted in secured implementation funding, completed NEPA process, published management plan, and adaptive management of the project.

MONITORING APPROACH
Habitat Evaluation Procedures should be used to measure the specific crediting to be issued for the project upon completion and into the future.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Monitoring and evaluation for this project is habitat evaluation procedure, vegetation inventories, species sampling, waterfowl pair counts, and observations.

Data analysis and evaluation
Project information will be analyzed by comparing subsequent years data against the baseline year.

Information feed back to management decisions
Project information will be used to identify success of each technique. As techniques succeed or fail, we will use that information along with new peer generated information to adaptively manage the project to benefit target species and habitats as well as considering cost effectiveness.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
N/A No true critical uncertainties exist for the project.

Evaluation
By using the habitat evaluation procedure the region can positively identify this projects contribution and performance.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Using adaptive management techniques, we will identify project needs for meeting the goals of the project. As new information becomes available, we will incorporate it into the management of the project.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
By providing interpretive signs and information to local media, we have informed the public of the Kalispel Tribe's efforts within the NPPC's Program using BPA resources.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
Opportunities exist to continue cooperative projects within the project. Presently, the USFWS is providing technical assistance in the creation of nesting islands for waterfowl. Any other opportunities will be utilized to maximize benefits to the project and ultimately any H.U.'s credited toward Albeni Falls losses.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $150,000

How does percentage apply to direct costs
This percentage applies to the direct costs minus capital equipment and contracted services.