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
Upper Klickitat Meadow and Crossing Rehabilitation.

BPA project number   9705400

Short description
This project will increase fish habitat by restoring the function of riparian meadows and restoring accessibility of fish habitat above road crossings.This project will increase fish habitat by restoring the function of the meadow habitat. Riparian bank stabilization and cattle exclusion fencing will create better pool/riffle habitat, and reduce degradation of the channel. Restoration of fish habitat in the upper Klickitat River will be done by creating pools and providing bank cover in meadow areas mostly by allowing natural processes to take place. Rehabilitation of the upper Klickitat must entail (1) exclusion of cattle, (2) stabilization of streambanks, and (3) making the channel rrower and higher (aggradation) by trapping sediment from upstream. The Yakama Nation has recently adopted a new grazing policy which discontinues grazing within the Klickitat River valley above

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Yakama Indian Nation

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

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

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   upper Klickitat mainstem and selected tributaries
Stream miles affected   25.4
Subbasin   Klickitat River
Land ownership   Tribal
Habitat types   Riparian, Instream, wet meadow

History
This is considered an ongoing project, although initial funding was postponed until 1998.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
The project intends to increase population size and productivity (returns or recruits per spawner) of the target species identified above by restoring juvenile rearing habitat in meadow systems and above impassable road crossings. Riparian regrowth will be measured using standardized vegetation surveys, and through photo documentation. The increased pool-riffle ratio can be measured using standardized habitat inventory technique. Aerial photo documentation will also be used to measure the success of the project.

Critical uncertainties
We anticipate short- and long-term gains in fish production from this project, but the percentage gain and time frame cannot be accurately predicted. The future rate of channel aggradation is unknown, although natural meadow revegetation since cattle were removed from the area is encouraging.

Biological need
This project will result in better habitat for resident trout (bull, rainbow, ) as well as provide better rearing habitat for outplanted spring chinook and coho, and naturally-produced steelhead. This project is commensurate with BPA's goal of achieving enhancement through off-site mitigation and with salmon recovery for the Columbia River. And its tributaries.

Hypothesis to be tested
(1) Exclusion of cattle, riparian restoration, and instream erosion control measures will arrest channel and riparian degradation, raise the water table and restore function to the wet meadow habitat. (2) Functional and economical stream crossings can be designed that will pass juvenile and adult fish effectively over a wide range of flows.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
NEPA and tribal hydraulic code compliance will be coordinated with the Yakama Nation/Yakama Agency interdiscipliry team, and is not expected to cause delays. Adverse weather could alter the implementation schedule.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
Increased riparian heath and vigor along with more pools will provide an increase in quantity and quality of available rearing habitat. additional spawning habitat for coho and steelhead will also be a result of this project.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
At present the utilization of Klickitat River spring chinook and steelhead is sport, commercial, ceremonial, and subsistence fisheries. Present utilization of resident fish is recreational fisheries within the Closed Area of the reservation. The conservation potential for all stocks identified is high.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
The assumed historic utilization of Klickitat River spring chinook, steelhead and resident fish is ceremonial and subsistence fisheries.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Increase natural production of salmonids commensurate with YKFP goals through reconnection, stabilization and restoration of juvenile rearing and adult spawning habitat.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Utilization of the upper Klickitat meadow reaches and tributaries is the basis for a major ongoing adult passage project downstream (Castile Falls)

Indirect biological or environmental changes
The restoration of wet meadow habitat will benefit a variety of wildlife species.

Physical products
Approximately 2 miles of fencing. One cattle guard on the Klickitat River Road. New crossing structures for highest-priority tributary crossings. Local instream materials as needed in 5.4 miles of the upper Klickitat River. Revegetated streambanks in the same reach, and in vicinity of crossing construction.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Water temperature, downstream flow, downstream sedimentation.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
A rrower channel with overhanging vegetation will be less vulnerable to wide fluctuations in temperature, creating better fish habitat. Flow conditions downstream should improve as flow is slowed in project reaches. Any increase in hydraulic capacities of road crossings should decrease scouring and downstream sediment deposition.

Measure of attribute changes
Parameters in "H" above are significant but difficult to quantify in a project of this scope.

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
The ongoing Klickitat Passage/Habitat Prelimiry Design Project (#9506800) has a monitoring and evaluation component that is already collecting baseline data and will assess the biological responses to this project.

Information products
(See above)

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
(See above)

Data analysis and evaluation
(See above)

Information feed back to management decisions
This project has a short duration whereas monitoring may result in conclusions only over the long term. Such conclusions would influence other projects.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
Only through monitoring beyond the life of the project (which is anticipated).

Evaluation
The condition of riparian vegetation will be easy to assess. Standard protocols are in use for making inventories of stream features usable to fish. The monitoring program envisioned under YKFP will be capable of assessing changes in size and productivity of target fish populations.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
Adaptive management is the cornerstone of the overall fisheries enhancement program for the Klickitat Subbasin.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
Although the project is located in an area closed to the public, it is expected to contribute to fisheries resources used by people from a wide area of the Northwest. The Yakama Indian Nation has been successful in publicizing its fisheries restoration efforts in a variety of media.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
YIN project personnel will coordinate the Americorps Volunteer Program for contribution of manpower. Equipment will be shared with the lower Klickitat River project (5512800) . The Yakama Agency Forest Engineer will assist with road crossing design.

Section 8. Costs and FTE

How does percentage apply to direct costs
to total direct project costs, excluding capital equipment and construction subcontracts