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
Fish Screen Oversight Committee (FSOC) Coordination

BPA project number   9202800

Short description
Plan, oversee and coordinate the design and construction of several thousand fish screens and adult fish passage facilities in the Columbia River Basin.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Project is an office site only   X

History
The FSOC Coordinator Position was formed in 1991 and is employed by the CBFWF. The FSOC Coordinator has coordinated and facilitated the development of a regional plan to address high priority and long-term fish passage and screening improvements. FSOC annual reports provide a basis for the NPPC to monitor implementation progress and to request Mitchell Act funding or to propose Fish and Wildlife Program measures and/or legislation that may facilitate increased fish screen usage.

Biological results achieved
The FSOC Coordinator has coordinated the development of a database of fish passage projects in the Basin and has coordinated the reviewed and adoption of NMFS's juvenile fish passage criteria for gravity diversion and pump-intake fish screens. These FSOC criteria were also adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The use of standard criteria has improved the overall fish passage effectiveness of fish screens in the Basin. FSOC has facilitated the sharing of knowledge and facilities among the three participating states.

Project reports and papers
1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 annual reports to the Northwest Power Planning Council.

Adaptive management implications
Through FSOC each state has shared methods and techniques for the installation, operation, and maintenance of fish screens and have become more efficient. The states have also worked cooperatively to share modular fish screens. The common design criteria and the interaction of the state screen shops has resulted in an accelerated fish screening program.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
FSOC facilitates the use of common criteria and the sharing of knowledge and experience between states and tribes. Results can be measured by the number of diversions treated with fish screens, or diversions consolidated or converted to other types of irrigation systems that do not entrain juvenile fishes (e.g. convert to well). Results can also be measured by facilities that conserve water as a result of program activities, which result in instream flow improvements and thus increased fish production.

Critical uncertainties
Mitchell Act Funding for FY 1996 was reduced substantially from FY 1995 and no funding has been made available to rehabilitate Mitchell Act fishways. Progress has slowed in non-Endangered Species Act areas and it remains to be seen if Mitchell Act funding will be made available for other production areas that have irrigation diversions. Decreases in implementation funding will prolong the need for FSOC past 2001.

Biological need
To promote the most effective technology for fish screening and to accelerate fish screening activities, thus decreasing the numbers of fish entrained into irrigation diversions and thereby increasing fish production.

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A

Alternative approaches
N/A

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
N/A

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
Funding

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
Provided that funding remains approximately at or greater than FY 1996 levels for the Mitchell Act and from BPA, the FSOC members could complete fish screening in the Basin above Bonneville Dam by to 2002.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Benefits to all stocks of anadromous and resident fish in upper river

Coordination outcomes
This position has been responsible for coordinating and facilitating the development of regional operating procedures and criteria adopted by FSOC as well as developing the regional databases called for in the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. The Coordinator is also responsible for preparing the annual report and assisting with the Annual Fish Screen Workshop and coordinating the development of annual work statements and budgets.

MONITORING APPROACH
N/A

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
N/A

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $34,000