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
Nez Perce Trout Ponds

BPA project number   9501300

Short description
Emergency repair of two existing trout ponds and site inventory, design and construction of up to 12 additional fish ponds. Continue O&M of facilities.

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

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; maintains genetic integrity; increases run sizes or populations; provides needed habitat protection

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Lawyer's Creek, Lapwai Creek, others TBD
Stream miles affected   100+
Hydro project   Dworshak Dam and Reservoir
Subbasin   Clearwater
Land ownership   Tribal/mixed
Acres affected   60+
Habitat types   pond (small reservoir)

History
Previous investment under the EPA Clean Lakes Program has been committed to obtain baseline water quality data for two existing trout ponds (Brusven 1992, Matthews 1995). Coordination with the USDA NRCS is ongoing to help identify a sound engineering solution for emergency repair of Talmaks Reservoir, one of the two existing ponds. Project supported dam rehabilitation helped hold back damaging winter 1996-97 flood waters, as a significant non-biological product.

Biological results achieved
Talmaks Reservoir was re-excavated during summer/fall 1996, and fish will be reintroduced during spring 1997; therefore, no measureable biological outcomes are reportable to date.

Project reports and papers
Progress Reports: June 20, 1995 - January 31, 1996; February 1 - July 31, 1996; August 1 - December 31, 1996 (in process); Annual Report 1996 - in process

Adaptive management implications
This program will provide a barometer of the importance of consumptive resident fisheries to Tribal fishers in the wake of declining or nonexistent consumptive anadromous fisheries.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
Provide suitable pond habitat to support 8,750-10,500 pounds of rainbow trout annually for a consumptive trout fishery. The strategy to accomplish this is via 14 fish ponds averaging 5 acres with production capability averaging of 125-150 pounds per acre.

Critical uncertainties
An uncertainty is that suitable locations exist within the Nez Perce Reservation to construct 12 new fish ponds averaging 5 acres per pond.

Biological need
This project is for resident fish substitution to partially compensate for irretrievable losses to the anadromous fishery.

Hypothesis to be tested
Suitable locations exist within the Nez Perce Reservation to construct 12 new fish ponds averaging 5 acres per pond.Growth of fish stocked in the spring as fingerlings (4-5 inches) would be equal to or greater than .6 inch per month.Recovery to the fishery would be 50%Stocked fish would successfully overwinter for a continuous supply of catchable fish.

Alternative approaches
As indicated in amendment application RF4-0030, dated October 21, 1992, another means of providing resident fish to partially offset non-recoverable anadromous fish losses would be to provide a hatchery-based sturgeon fishery. This would be in addition to, not a replacement of , this project.

Justification for planning
N/A; This is an on-the-ground effort to benefit fish and wildlife.

Methods
Consultant based designs for pond construction. USDA NRCS assistance will be also sought to minimize costs. Fish stocking in the spring after ice clears from ponds. Gill netting and/or seining twice annually per pond to track fish growth, condition and survival. Routine monitoring of oxygen/temperature conditions, weekly or daily during adverse summer or winter conditions. Harvest data via surveying a minimum of 4 weekdays and 4 weekend days per month. Methods to obtain harvest data will be assessed for potential modification for most efficient and precise data.2) Mean confidence intervals for growth and condition factors (p=.05). Z-Test with raw score standard deviation for annual differences in mean growth and condition factors. 3) Approximately 50,000 4-5 inch rainbow trout to be stocked annually at full development of 14 ponds. Other salmonids may be used if available and more suited to specific pond conditions.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
NEPA documentation and Records of Decision for new ponds may cause schedule changes. Land negotiations for pond sites may also be a factor. The intensity of necessary NEPA documentation may cause budget changes.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
There will be 14 fish ponds (2 existing and 12 new) within the Nez Perce Reservation averaging 5 surface acres per pond with a total production capacity of 10,500 pounds of rainbow trout. The minimum target harvest goal (recovery of stocked fish) is 50% by number. The Nez Perce Tribal community will harvest the available trout production from these ponds in the absence or severe reduction of anadromous fish harvest opportunities.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
The present utilization and conservation potential for naturally produced (self-sustaining) trout within the immediate pond construction areas is nil because of limited surface water quantity and quality and substrate type.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
The historic utilization and conservation potential for trout in the immediate pond construction areas was probably highly site specific and variable, with surface water quantity first, and substrate type second, being primary limiting factors. If substrate was suitable, native trout may have ascended small low elevation tributary streams to spawn during seasonal high water. Year-round rearing for trout at these locations, however, was probably rare.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Total production capacity of 10,500 pounds of rainbow trout. The minimum target harvest goal (recovery of stocked fish) is 50% by number.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
Littoral vegetation and riparian development along the pond perimeters, in combination with a year-round water source, will likely increase utilization of pond sites by elk, deer, coyote, aquatic furbearers, rodents, birds of prey, waterfowl, ground birds, wading birds and perching birds. Decreased siltation of downstream waterways is expected due to the construction of auxiliary sediment traps and due to the ponds themselves acting as sediment traps. Coordination with landowners and the NPT Department of Water Resources to address watershed practices will also enhance water quality.

Physical products
60 acres of new pond habitat.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, sedimentation, aquatic habitat, terrestrial habitat.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
For two existing trout ponds, rehabilitation will result in lower water temperatures more conducive to trout survival during hot, dry periods. Also, increasing pond volume and mechanical (passive) aeration devices will increase dissolved oxygen. As catchments, the ponds will decrease turbidity and reduce sedimentation. Aquatic habitat will increase, with a proportionate decrease in terrestrial habitat. The loss of terrestrial habitat is reversible in the short-term because of the small area of the individual ponds. Terrestrial wildlife is expected to utilize the pond perimeter habitat.

Measure of attribute changes
See response to Item 101I (above).

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
If suitable sites for 12 new ponds are not located within the NPT Reservation, an assessment will be made of the potential to develop sites off-Reservation.

Information products
Monitor and evaluate: harvest, fish growth, fish survival, DO, temperature, depth.

Coordination outcomes
The primary coordination outcome with the NPT Department of Water Resources and landowners will be enhanced watershed planning, focusing on non-point sources of physical/chemical agricultural contaminants.

MONITORING APPROACH
Project outcomes should be measured in terms of: number of ponds rehabilitated, number of ponds constructed, number of fish harvested, total recovery of stocked fish (numbers and pounds), and by environmental parameters, such as DO and water temperature. We will implement this by gill netting and/or seining twice annually per pond to track fish growth, condition and survival. We will conduct routine monitoring of oxygen/temperature conditions, weekly or daily during adverse summer or winter conditions. Harvest data will be obtained via surveying the fishery a minimum of 4 weekdays and 4 weekend days per month. Methods to obtain harvest data will be evaluated for potential modification to achieve the most precise data in the most efficient manner.
2) Mean confidence intervals for growth and condition factors (p=.05).
Z-Test with raw score standard deviation for annual differences in mean growth and condition factors.
3) Approximately 50,000 4-5 inch rainbow trout to be stocked annually at full development of 14 ponds. Other salmonids may be used if available and more suited to specific pond conditions.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Personnel, sampling nets, seines, and fish measuring devices are currently available to sample fish and to conduct fishery surveys.

Data analysis and evaluation
Following pond construction, our harvest estimates will be analyzed and evaluated relative to our harvest goals.

Information feed back to management decisions
Management decisions related to this project will be based on feed back (i.e., quarterly progress and annual reports) from the Project Leader through the NPT management structure (Director, Manager, Subcommittee, Executive Committee).

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
The critical uncertainty of an adequate number suitable pond locations could be resolved by a reconnaissance level inventory of available pond sites prior to detailed site analysis. We are applying this approach.

Evaluation
The project overall performance could be assessed by: number of ponds rehabilitated, number of ponds constructed, number of fish harvested, total recovery of stocked fish (numbers and pounds), and by environmental parameters, such as DO and water temperature.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Uncertainties pertain primarily to factors affecting the project's schedule. Scheduling will be based on the most current information (site availability, NEPA progress, construction schedule) available and will be updated in the decision process annually.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
The project will produce new fisheries that represent a tangible product of the regions efforts to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
We have and will continue to exercise cooperation among other BPA funded projects (e.g., 8740700, 8501600), to get best use of FTE's, equipment, materials and supplies.Approval from the Nez Perce Tribe Land Commission and the Nez Perce Tribe Executive Committee will be needed to proceed with new construction on Tribal land.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $286,800

Other non-financial supporters
NPT Department of Water Resources; NPT Cultural Resources Department

Operation and Maintenance

How does percentage apply to direct costs
Applies to Personnel and Operating Costs Only

Supplemental resident fish evaluation factors
Biological objectives identified in the CBFWA MYIP process.