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
Colville Confed. Tribes Performance Contract

BPA project number   9506700

Short description
Acquire minimum habitat units to be permanently protected for wildlife as outlined in a MOA.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Colville Confederated Tribes

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

Hydro project    Grand Coulee, Chief Joseph
Subbasin   Upper Columbia
Land ownership   Tribal
Acres affected   11100
Habitat types   Shrub-steppe, Agriculture, Grassland, Riparian, Riparian-shrub, Shoreline, Conifer/mixed Forest, Conifer Woodland, Deciduous Woodland

History
Partial mitigation for wildlife impacts from construction of Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph Dams.

Biological results achieved
Baseline HEP field work and analysis completed for about 4,800 acres. Eleven thousand acres protected for wildlife.

Project reports and papers
In progress.

Adaptive management implications
Baseline HEP analysis of portion of protected properties is providing data for site specific management planning.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
The protection phase of the project basically completed. Site specific management plans will be complete in 1998 and then implemented.

Critical uncertainties
Funding quantity and stability.

Biological need
Many thousands of acres and their associated habitat units were lost due to inundation. This project will help mitigate some of those losses. It will provide benefits for the regions wildlife and fisheries far into the future.

Hypothesis to be tested
Long term protection, management, and enhancement of project lands will provide increased biodiversity, improves soil, water and vegetation quality and quantity. Animal populations will benefit because of these actions.

Alternative approaches
N/A

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
We are primarily in the implementation and protection phase of acquisition and protection. Methods, etc. will be developed during and following the completion of the site specific management plans.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
No project is without risk. However barring catastrophic wildfire or a prolonged drought period major risks should be minimal. The greatest risk would be loss of funding to manage and maintain the project.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
We expect this project to provide improved wildlife habitat and wildlife benefits, in perpetuity, for the Colville Tribes and the public in general.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
Currently protected by project. Some further acquisition desirable to buffer project area and provide more habitat diversity.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Project lands were livestock operations which competed with wildlife use on critical habitat types and areas. High potential that project areas would have been converted to recreational and home site development.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Target populations and habitat types should increase over time with enhancements and long term management.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Permanently protect, manage and enhance wildlife habitats and areas for specific target species. Will also benefit a wide array of non-target wildlife species through protection of biodiversity.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
Improved water quality, reduction of erosion, and the return of portions of the project area to natural sustaining vegetative community conditions.

Physical products
Currently, 67 miles of fence, 30 miles of additional fence needed. 11,100 acres of land acquired with 15-20 buildings that will need some level of maintenance.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Portions of acquired lands contain miles of river and stream frontage that will directly benefit resident fish habitat. This, along with protection and management of the adjacent uplands, will indirectly benefit anadromous fish through improved water quality.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
Protection will provide improved cover and forage for wildlife populations using project lands. Enhancement and other management activities will increase overall biomass and species diversity.

Measure of attribute changes
Projected total HUs for protection is 9500. Projected HUs from enhancement may be calculated following the completion of site specific management plans.

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
If adequate funding is not available then desired levels of management activities will not be achieved. If catastrophic events occur, such as wildfire, drought etc., then achievements of long term goals will be set back or slowed. These things will be assessed through our monitoring program.

Information products
Periodic reports are produced on analysis and evaluation of project conditions.

Coordination outcomes
Project has citizen advisory group that is kept informed of project activities. Also, other agencies and groups, within the region, contribute to project activities and planning.

MONITORING APPROACH
We are primarily in the implementation and protection phase of acquisition and protection. Methods, etc. will be developed during and following the completion of the site specific management plans.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
HEP is in place to evaluate and monitor habitat responses. Other methods, such as permanent vegetation transects, trends in animal species and abundance, are being developed.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
By using up to date scientific technologies and methodologies available to us.

Evaluation
Results of data analysis will be compared to project goals and objectives. Management actions will be taken to see that these are being met.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
The region could assess the projects' overall success by comparing the monitoring results with project goals and objectives. Compare results of current monitoring with baseline HEP data.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
When identified, it will be evaluated by project and department personnel. As with other adaptive management items, it will be used to adjust management plans and objectives.How will the project increase public awareness of the region's efforts to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife? Through signs on project property, press releases when appropriate, word of mouth among user groups and periodic updates to the project advisory group.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
Opportunities exist for sharing certain types of equipment with State projects near by. Also, with BIA projects. Sharing personnel on HEP work with State and other agencies. Potential for cooperative enhancement projects with the NRCS.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

Other non-financial supporters
Tribe, BIA, WDFW and NPS

How does percentage apply to direct costs
% applies only to salaries

Supplemental wildlife evaluation factors
Land in this project were formerly livestock ranches. The owners were approaching retirement and the lands would have made prime recreational home sites. Development of these properties would have seriously adversely impacted the wildlife values on the surrounding areas. About 4800 acres of the project lie within an area that the Tribes has designated to receive special management considerations for wildlife. The project lands are buffered largely by Tribal lands. Much of the project lands contain large enough contiguous acreage to buffer themselves fairly well.