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   9106001

Short description
Protect, mitigate, & enhance 164 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 forest; shoreline brood rearing habitat; ephemeral wetlands -shorebird habitat.

History
Property is to be purchased by the Tribe with BPA funds in 1997; Interim management agreement and baseline data will be collected in 1997; Habitat restoration and enhancement efforts will begin in 1997 and is ongoing.

Biological results achieved
Approximately 200 habitat Units protected by property purchase; ~ 100 Habitat Units to be credited due to enhancements.

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. Quarterly 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 approximately 200 H.U's for protection and a minimum of ~100 H.U.'s for enhancements. Actual numbers will be determined in year one of management (1997).

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 CBFWA Wildlife work group as a high priority project.

Justification for planning
N/A This is not a planning project, although there is a small portion of work efforts necessary to establishing management strategies for the 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 300 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 including breeding Bald Eagles. There is a nesting pair of Bald Eagles directly across the river from the project (1/2 mile) and an abandoned nest on the project.

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 conservation potential 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, tribal, and mitigation 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
164 acres to be acquired; approximately 200 baseline H.U.'s protected; at least ~100 H.U.'s to be enhanced; two miles of perimeter fence.

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 300 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 quarterly 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 establish cooperative projects within the project.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1996 Unobligated  $200,000

Other non-financial supporters
Pend Oreille County, Pend Oreille Conservation District, natural Resource Conservation Service, United States Forest Service.

How does percentage apply to direct costs
[Overhead % not provided so BPA appended older data.] This percentage applies to the direct costs minus capital equipment and contracted services.