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
Kootenai River Ecosystem Improvements Study
BPA project number 9404900
Short description
Assess resident fish populations in the Idaho portion of the Kootenai River and identify fisheries enhancement opportunities.
Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
|
Sub-contractors |
Section 2. Goals
General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; increases run sizes or populations; adaptive management (research or M&E)
| Target stock | Life stage | Mgmt code (see below) |
| White sturgeon | N/A | (L) |
| Burbot | N/A | W |
| Kokanee salmon | N/A | W |
| Bull trout, westslope cutthroat, redband trout | N/A | W |
| Affected stock | Benefit or detriment |
| Increased populations of undesirable fish species: squawfish, whitefish and peamouth | May be detrimental to target species |
Section 3. Background
Stream area affected
Stream name Kootenai River and tributaries
Hydro project N/A Damages may not be completely related to a hydroelectric project.
History
r the Kootenai River system.
Biological results achieved
None yet, new project.
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Specific measureable objectives
Identify best management options in order to enhance the aquatic ecosystem and provide future harvest opportunities of white sturgeon, kokanee salmon and burbot in the Kootenai River system, historically fished by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
Critical uncertainties
Unfavorable biologic conditions may result due to proposed ecosystem enhancement.
Biological need
Enhancement of the Kootenai River aquatic ecosystem to improve the sturgeon, burbot and kokanee fisheries.
Hypothesis to be tested
The alteration of the natural hydrograph due to the construction and operation of Libby Dam, the lack of backwater rearing habitat due to diking, and the decrease of nutrients downstream from the dam has caused the aquatic ecosystem to collapse.
Alternative approaches
N/A No alternative approaches were considered.
Justification for planning
N/A The primary focus of the project is not on planning, assessment or coordination.
Methods
No implementation measures have been decided on at this time. Model construction for the Kootenai River system will serve as a tool for developing best management options which will enhance the aquatic ecosystem. Multiagency scoping and the federal recovery planning process will also contribute to future sampling designs and statistical testing.
Section 5. Planned activities
| Phase Planning | Start 8/95 | End 7/00 | Subcontractor |
| Provide annual, interim research reports and project completion reports | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 8/97 | End 7/98 | Subcontractor |
| Open up experimental backwater areas and monitor fish usage of this habitat. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 8/97 | End 7/00 | Subcontractor Yes. Unknown at this time |
| Develop, evaluate and experimentally test nutrification for the Kootenai River based on information generated by the predictive model. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 8/96 | End 4/97 | Subcontractor Ecometric Research Inc. |
| Develop a predictive model (incorporating empirical Kootenai River biological data) to estimate trophic responses to a range of hypothetical nutrient addition schemes for the Kootenai River. This task will be subcontracted out. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 6/95 | End 5/97 | Subcontractor |
| Complete a one year invertebrate investigation. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 8/95 | End 7/00 | Subcontractor |
| Evaluate water quality in the Kootenai River for heavy metal and phenol pollutants. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start 8/95 | End 8/96 | Subcontractor |
| Complete a comprehensive baseline biological status report of aquatic biota, including past and present nutrient budgets in the Kootenai River. | |||
Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
Implementation measures used to enhance the aquatic ecosystem may create a favorable environment for undesirable species.
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
N/A
Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
N/A
Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Increased populations of white sturgeon, burbot, and kokanee salmon.
Contribution toward long-term goal
Information: Comprehensive literature review and recommendations for ecosystem and fisheries improvement measures in the Kootenai River to increase fish production.
Indirect biological or environmental changes
Implementation measures used to enhance the aquatic ecosystem may create a favorable environment for undesirable species.
Physical products
Increased numbers of white sturgeon, burbot and kokanee salmon.
Environmental attributes affected by the project
N/A No environmental attributes are expected to be directly or indirectly affected by the project.
Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
N/A
Measure of attribute changes
N/A This project will not include any sedimentation studies.
Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
The development and use of the Kootenai River predictive model should reduce the number of critical uncertainties associated with this project.
Information products
Information: Comprehensive literature review and recommendations for ecosystem and fisheries improvement measures in the Kootenai River to increase fish production.
Coordination outcomes
None yet, new project.
MONITORING APPROACH
No implementation measures have been decided on at this time. Model construction for the Kootenai River system will serve as a tool for developing best management options which will enhance the aquatic ecosystem. Multiagency scoping and the federal recovery planning process will also contribute to future sampling designs and statistical testing.
Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Tributary assessments will be conducted along with monitoring experimental backwater areas, in order to obtain fish population estimates.
Data analysis and evaluation
In order to determine productivity of the Kootenai River, the invertebrates that are collected will be enumerated and identified, and species diversity and densities will be calculated. Statistical analyses will take place following all identification, enumeration and biomass calculations. Invertebrate identifications and statistical analyses will be double checked periodically by an aquatic resource consulting firm in order to give credibility to the work done by the tribe.
Information feed back to management decisions
All data obtained will be used in the development of best management options for aquatic ecosystem enhancement.
Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
By developing and using the Kootenai River predictive model, the number of critical uncertainties associated with this project will decrease.
Evaluation
Increased white sturgeon, burbot, and kokanee salmon populations.
Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
The Kootenai River predictive model will be used to determine the affect of these uncertainties on the overall aquatic ecosystem.
Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
N/A
Section 7. Relationships
| Related BPA project | Relationship |
| 8346700 Libby Reservoir Levels/Kootenai Ifim | All work is being done in the Kootenai River system. These projects are coordinated through the Kootenai River Basin Steering Committee. |
| 8806400 Kootenai River White Sturgeon Study and Aquaculture | All work is being done in the Kootenai River system. These projects are coordinated through the Kootenai River Basin Steering Committee. |
| 8806500 Kootenai River Fisheries Investigations | All work is being done in the Kootenai River system. These projects are coordinated through the Kootenai River Basin Steering Committee. |
| 9401200 Kootenai River White Sturgeon - M&E | All work is being done in the Kootenai River system. These projects are coordinated through the Kootenai River Basin Steering Committee. |
Opportunities for cooperation
Coordination of a workshop to develop a feasibility model for Kootenai River ecosystem enhancements. Coordination with the Kootenai River Basin Steering Committee will assist in assuring timely completion of required actions.
Section 8. Costs and FTE
1997 Planned $226,600
| Future funding needs | Past obligations (incl. 1997 if done) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Other non-financial supporters
The Kootenai River predictive model developed through this project will be the result of a cooperative effort among numerous federal and state agencies and the Koottenai Tribe of Idaho.
FY97 overhead percent 59.5%
How does percentage apply to direct costs
The 1997 overhead percentage applies to personnel costs only.
Subcontractor FTE Two people are currently subcontracted to help develop the Kootenai River predictive model. Future subcontractors are unknown at this time.