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
O&M of Yakima Fish Protection, Mitigation & Enhancement Facilities

BPA project number   9503300

Short description
Provide for O&M of BPA owned anadromous fish passage and protective facilities within the Yakima River Basin, including several irrigation system fish screens and one major adult fish trapping facility.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
US Bureau of Reclamation

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

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   Yakima River and tributaries
Hydro project   Mitigates impacts to anadromous fish by BPA owned mainstream Columbia River hydroelectric structures.
Subbasin   Yakima
Land ownership   Public

History
In accordance with the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, BPA is funding the design, construction, operation and maintenance of fish protection and enhancement facilities in the Yakima River Basin as part of a program to mitigate impacts to anadromous fish by BPA owned mainstream Columbia River structures. Approximately 60 facilities are planned for construction or modification by the year 1999. Construction has been completed and O&M begun on 15 facilities to date, with 6 more expected to come on-line by the end of 1997. As sites are brought on- line, custody is assigned to Reclamation for operation and maintenance, with BPA reimbursing Reclamation for all costs. Where cost effective or otherwise desirable, Reclamation is transferring specific O&M responsibilities to the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.

Biological results achieved
Completed facilities are routinely and effectively preventing fish from entering and thus being lost in dead-end irrigation system waterways.

Project reports and papers
N/A

Adaptive management implications
N/A

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
The objective is to increase the numbers of adult anadromous fish returning to spawn in the Yakima River basin by protecting fish through an effective fish protective facility operation and maintenance program.

Critical uncertainties
N/A

Biological need
Yakima basin anadromous fish populations have been steadily declining. These facilities are intended to help reverse this decline by preventing anadromous fish from moving into and thus being lost in deadend irrigation system waterways. Migrating smolt are particularly prone to follow the current into these deadend waterways. A good O&M program is needed to closely monitor and properly maintain these facilities to assure that fish are being protected.

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A

Alternative approaches
N/A

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
O&M of facilities is being accomplished using Reclamation and Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife personnel and equipment, and subcontractors including impacted irrigation districts. Reclamation also provides administrative and specialized craft support for tasks assigned to the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
There are currently 15 BPA owned Yakima Phase II fish facilities under the custody of Reclamation, with 6 additional sites scheduled for construction completion during 1997. This may increase to 60 or more when Phase II construction is complete in approximately the year 2000, depending on the timing and level of construction funding provided by BPA. The actual yearly increase in O&M costs will depend on the rate that these facilities are brought on-line.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
An increase in numbers of returning and spawning anadromous fish is expected over several years.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
Target stocks are presently too weak to support sub-basin harvest. Some stocks could be headed for eventual extinction without intervention.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Target stocks once supported significant tribal and non-tribal harvest.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Restore target stocks to self-sustaining levels capable of supporting significant tribal and non-tribal harvest. The Phase II fish facilities are a critical part of this restoration plan.

Contribution toward long-term goal
This project will contribute to the goal by funding an O&M program that assures that these facilities continue to protect anadromous fish .

Indirect biological or environmental changes
Resident fish will also be protected.

Physical products
Approximately 21 fish protective facilities will be on-line and thus require maintenance by the beginning of 1998. As many as 60 facilities will be maintained under this program when all construction is complete in approximately the year 2000.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
None known

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
None known

Measure of attribute changes
N/A

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
N/A

Information products
N/A

Coordination outcomes
N/A

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Biological results are being monitored and reported by other agencies and organizations, including the Yakama Indian Nation, Battelle Pacific NW Laboratories, Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries Service.

Data analysis and evaluation
N/A

Information feed back to management decisions
N/A

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
N/A

Evaluation
Success will be indicated by the stabilization or increase of numbers of returning and spawning adult anadromous fish.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
The Yakima Technical Work Group made up of engineers, biologists, irrigators and other interested persons and organizations (including BPA and Reclamation) meet several times during the year to discuss project progress and direction, including reviewing new information arising out of site observations and problems.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
Protection of declining anadromous fish is a sensitive issue in the Yakima valley. BPA's role is publicized during the various forums where this issue is discussed.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
O&M tasks are being accomplished through a cooperative effort between Reclamation and Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. WDFW is performing their work under Projects No. 91-057 & 92-09.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $190,000

Other non-financial supporters
Yakama Indian Nation, National Marine Fisheries Service

How does percentage apply to direct costs
Percentage applies only to labor costs.