Oxbow Conservation Area Management proposal 200001500

FY07-09 proposal 200001500

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Oxbow Conservation Area Management
Proposal ID	200001500
Organization	Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
Short description	The 1,022-acre Oxbow Conservation Area project is a mitigation property acquired by the CTWSRO through BPA funding. This proposal aims to continue the O&M, M&E, and habitat improvement projects on this valuable anadromous fish property.
Information transfer	Data and information collected from the Project helps supports several state and federal agencies with research studies and management of natural resources. Information, such as management plan, HEP reports, aquatic habitat survey reports, and monitoring and evaluation reports from the project will be shared through reports to BPA annually. Current programs using information collected from the project include ODFW for fish and wildlife management, USBR for instream flow assessment, GSWCD for project demonstrations, ODEQ for TMDL sampling, and other BPA mitigation programs. Project also uses the BPA Pisces Database and uploads annual reports to the BPA website.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Brian Cochran	Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservatio	oxbowca@ortelco.net
All assigned contacts
Brian Cochran	Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservatio	oxbowca@ortelco.net
Brian Cochran	Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservatio	oxbowca@ortelco.net
Brad Houslet	Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs	bhouslet@wstribes.org

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Columbia Plateau / John Day

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
44.65172	118.67624	Middle Fork John Day River	1,022 acre property, located about 25 miles from Prairie City, OR. Comprised of 4+ river miles and 1+ tributary miles. Along MFJD River miles 55 to 59.

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Chinook Mid-Columbia River Spring ESU
primary: Steelhead Middle Columbia River ESU
secondary: Pacific Lamprey
secondary: Interior Redband Trout
secondary: All Wildlife
Additional: Columbia spotted frog, HEP species: white-tailed deer, mink, mallard, yellow warbler, black-capped chickadee, and western meadowlark.

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments
2005	Habitat protection, enrolled 103.6 acres in CREP, completed dredge tailings restoration, identified channel restoration project, weed control, monitoring, fencing improvements, road improvements, etc.
2004	Habitat protection, leased two water rights instream, aquatic inventory assessment survey, proper functioning condition survey, grazing program assessment, management plan drafting continued, tailings restoration funding secured, etc.
2003	Continued property habitat protection, fencing improvements, grazing program improvements, irrigation planning, management plan drafting, status monitoring, started public hunting program, more weed control, etc.
2002	Continued activities including: habitat protection, management planning, O&M, monitoring, HEP survey, started conservation grazing program, planting, weed control, solicitation of tailings remediation design, planning passage restoration projects, etc.
2001	Acquired property in April, protected habitat values, completed MOA with BPA, began management planning, established monitoring activities, acquired cultural resources, vegetation, and facilities information, and O&M activities.
2000	Coordinated Oxbow Ranch - Middle Fork John Day River property acquisition funding with BPA; submitted project proposal; completed NEPA compliance checklist.

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
BPA	200104101	Forrest Conservation Area Management	The Project is similar, being another acquisition for fish and wildlife mitigation. Forrest and Oxbow Conservation Areas share the same management plan
BPA	199801800	John Day Watershed Restoration	Provides technical support, assists with some monitoring, assists with planting material collection, shares staff and equipment at times
BPA	198402100	John Day Habitat Enhancement	Involved with past riparian fencing, facilitated Oxbow floodplain restoration project planning and funding
BPA	199801600	Escapement/Productivity Spring Chinook	Assists with monitoring spring chinook populations and spawning activities on the property.
BPA	199306600	Oregon Fish Screens Project	Maintains Oxbow property's eight existing screen. The project as assisted funding of replacement screens.
Other: The Nature Conservancy	[no entry]	Dunstan Homestead Preserve	The Nature Conservancy owns a 1,200-acre property about 1-mile below Oxbow's lower boundary. Project management is very similar to the Oxbow Project. Tribes and TNC work together on management activities, monitoring, restoration, and share equipment at times.
Other: Bureau of Reclamation	[no entry]	Middle Fork John Day River Habitat Restoration Project	The Bureau is providing survey and design of Large Woody Debris placement and dike/riprap removal projects on the Oxbow Conservation Area
Other: Bureau of Reclamation	[no entry]	Butte Creek Fish Passage survey and design	The Bureau is providing funding and expertise for survey and design of Butte Creek confluence channel reconfiguration project for fish passage, located on the Oxbow Conservation Area.
Other: Farm Services Agency	[no entry]	Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program	Oxbow property enrolled 103.6 acres into the CREP program to enhance river riparian corridors with extensive planting, two water developments, and new riparian fences with 180-foot buffers.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy
Improve riparian and instream habitat	Increase anadromous fish habitat values through annual tree planting activities and installing large wood instream in 2007-2008	John Day	Enhance riparian and instream habitat by instream activities and riparian habitat by adding large wood instream, supplemental planting of riparian vegetation, and removal of stream-constraining rip-rap where necessary.
Manage forest stands for increased vigor	Increase habitat and promote old growth ponderosa pine and mixed conifer communities on the property through prescribed fire, thinning activities, and active management of insect mortality areas.	John Day	Ponderosa Pine Biological Objective 2 - 4: develop and assign recommended practices based on needs, guide restoration of communities; Mixed conifer Bio Obj 4: Target enhancement and restoration of degraded habitat
Protect Existing High Quality Habitat	Continue to protect existing habitat values and fish and wildlife populations through regulated public access, property O&M, riparian protection, fish screens on diversion points, careful irrigation, and monitoring of conditions	John Day	Protect existing high quality habitat Areas, install fish screens on water diversions, Flow restoration through instream leases and irrigation efficiency improvements
Restore Salmonid passage to Butte Creek	Remedy fish passage barrier at the confluence of Butte Creek for all life stages of fish by 2007.	John Day	Improve Fish Passage (Priority 4 - Very High) by modification of channel configuration for juvenile passage restoration. Project location is on the Middle Fork tract in Camp Creek 5th field HUC the highest priority of the 5 Middle Fork John
Restore straightened and entrenched channel	Project seeks to restore 0.75 mile section of dredged river through channel restoration to add complexity, increase holding pools, increase spawning habitat and dissipate stream energy by 2009.	John Day	Instream Activities, Riparian habitat improvements, flow restoration, passage (into Ruby Creek)
Restore stream base flows	Lease three water rights instream and manage other water right usage to prioritize aquatic habitat	John Day	Flow restoration (Priority 4 – Very High) Flow restoration through instream water right leases and floodplain aquifer recharge. Flow restoration is located in Camp Creek 5th Field HUC as a highest priority.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element name	Work element title	Description	Start date	End date	Est budget
Develop and Negotiate Water Right Transaction	Lease water rights instream	Lease water rights for Beaver Creek, Butte Creek, and Granite Boulder Creek instream	9/1/2007	11/30/2007	$500
Biological objectives Restore stream base flows			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Project administration and support	Plan, budget, and administer to the project, ensuring fulfillment of project goals and objectives, maintain property facilities, manage data storage, comply with BPA contractor policy, etc.	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$63,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Manage forest stands for increased vigor Protect Existing High Quality Habitat Restore Salmonid passage to Butte Creek Restore straightened and entrenched channel			Metrics
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation	Obtain NEPA and SHPO compliance	Performance of required documentation and consultation of project efforts (including cultural resource surveys) to ensure cultural, environmental, and jurisdictional requirements have been met and permitted.	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$50,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Manage forest stands for increased vigor Protect Existing High Quality Habitat Restore Salmonid passage to Butte Creek Restore straightened and entrenched channel			Metrics
Increase Instream Habitat Complexity	Large Woody Debris placement project	Using data provided from existing design work, place numerous log structures in the river in specific locations to enhance proper function, promote sinuosity, and increase instream habitat complexity	7/15/2007	8/30/2008	$70,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * # of stream miles treated: 4.04 * # of structures installed: 70 * End lat of treated reach: 44.65893 * End long of treated reach: 118.69502 * Start lat of treated reach: 44.64101 * Start long of treated reach: 118.63901
Install Fish Passage Structure	Butte Creek Fish Passage enhancement project	Install fish ladder or redirect stream channel to allow passage for all life stages to remedy multiple channels with 2-3 foot drop at confluence with river. (Design Funded 2005, completed 2006)	7/15/2007	8/30/2007	$30,000
Biological objectives Restore Salmonid passage to Butte Creek			Metrics * Does the structure remove or replace a fish passage barrier?: Yes * Was barrier Full or Partial?: Partial Adult, full juvenile * If installing a ladder, does the ladder meet NOAA specs for attraction flow, pool dimensions, jump height, etc?: Yes, if design requires ladder * # of miles of habitat accessed: 5.5
Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel	Ruby to Beaver creek river channel restoration project	Channel restoration project will add habitat, complexity, and function to a severely entrenched and straightened a 3/4-mile reach of the MFJD River, altered by past dredge mining. Outside funding will be sought in addition to BPA funds. Design and data collection currently funded and underway.	7/15/2008	10/30/2009	$200,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Restore straightened and entrenched channel			Metrics * # of stream miles before treatment: 0.75 * # of stream miles treated, including off-channels, after realignment: 1.1 * Start lat of treated reach: 44.6466 * Start long of treated reach: 118.66399 * End lat of treated reach: 44.65172 * End long of treated reach: 118.67724
Install Fish Screen	Replace non-compliant screens	Replace four old screens on property, cost-share with OWEB	2/1/2007	9/30/2009	$20,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * Does the screen meet NOAA/FSOC specs?: Yes * Is the screen New or a Replacement?: Replacement * Flow rate at the screen diversion allowed by the water right: Ruby: 1.6 cfs, GB1: 0.7 cfs, GB2: 1 cfs, GB3: 1cfs * Quantity of water protected by screening, as determined by what is stated in the water right or calculated based on flow rate: 745.6 acre-feet/per, with one right not limited.
Conduct Controlled Burn	Assist with Sunshine burn project through Ragged Pasture Controlled Burn	Participate in multi-landownership controlled burn on 50-acres of property. May harvest limited trees to improve stand vigor.	2/1/2007	11/30/2007	$24,000
Biological objectives Manage forest stands for increased vigor Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Install Fence	Protect Property from Livestock trespass through boundary fencing	Fence sections of the east side of the property, adding cattleguards where needed.	4/1/2007	11/30/2007	$14,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * # of miles of fence: 0.50
Plant Vegetation	Plant deficient riparian corridors with trees and shrubs	Collection and planting of cuttings or other plants along riparian lands deficient in adequate shade, proper function, and/or diversity.	4/1/2007	5/30/2009	$45,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * # of riparian miles treated: 1.5
Remove vegetation	Invasive Weed Control/Management	Consists of Best Management Practices for the control/eradication of invasive plant populations in riparian and uplands.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$48,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * # of acres treated: 1000
Maintain Vegetation	Grazing lease, planted tree and shrub protection	Project will maintain property vegetation through browse protection activities to enhance riparian. Project will also continue property careful grazing activities to control weeds, enhance grass, provide income	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$18,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Manage forest stands for increased vigor Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage	Property O&M of facilities, conditions	Maintenance of buildings, habitat, irrigation, fences, and other facilities; construct equipment storage building, acquire mid size tractor and implements	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$131,000
Biological objectives Manage forest stands for increased vigor Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Investigate Trespass	Investigate Trespass and resource damage	Ensure public access regulations are followed and trespassing cattle are removed immediately	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$6,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Coordination	Attend North Fork John Day Watershed Council and other organizations	Participate as a member of NFJD Watershed Council and attend other natural resource-oriented events/committees/working groups	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$11,100
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Provide Public Access/Information	Regulate public access, maintain access road, hunting programs, signing & information	Maintain property access through regulation that protects habitat, allow limited turkey, deer and elk hunting, road maintenance, maintain signs and brochures, and record public use information.	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$21,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Outreach and Education	Public and Tribal natural resource education and opportunity	Allow and promote education and volunteer programs through the project.	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$15,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics * # of general public reached: 7000 * # of students reached: 1000
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Collection of ongoing monitoring data	Monitoring includes stream temperature, bird surveys, photo-point monitoring, stream flow collection, snorkeling fish counts, scour chain data collection, weather data, etc.	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$36,000
Biological objectives Improve riparian and instream habitat Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics Focal Area: Property (1,022 acres) Primary R, M, and E Type: status and trend monitoring Secondary R, M, and E Type: Project Implementation/compliance
Prepare HEP Report	Project follow-up HEP Survey and Report	Complete HEP survey as required as part of the MOA between BPA and Tribes to evaluate property wildlife habitat	4/15/2009	1/31/2010	$7,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Produce Annual Report	Annual Reporting	Produce annual reports for each performance period	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$4,100
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics
Produce Status Report	Complete Milestone reports	Use BPA Pisces to complete and submit quarterly (or as required) milestone reports on project activities	2/1/2007	1/31/2010	$3,000
Biological objectives Protect Existing High Quality Habitat			Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Travel	GSA vehicle, per diem, vehicle insurance	$7,000	$7,100	$7,200
Supplies	office, non-office supplies, equipment, parts, fuel, etc	$17,500	$10,500	$11,700
Personnel	Supervisor -1 month annually	$4,100	$4,150	$4,200
Fringe Benefits	27.765%for FICA, SUI, WCC, 401k, Fringe, Retirement; 12.77% for seasonal	$14,082	$14,243	$14,381
Overhead	Administration costs	$35,100	$35,500	$36,000
Capital Equipment	Mid-size tractor with implements for property management	$42,000	$0	$0
Other	Sub-contracting for project implementation -burn, large wood, channel restoration, etc.	$47,214	$70,000	$200,000
Other	Utilities, operations, services	$4,500	$4,700	$4,900
Other	Cultural Resource Surveys	$10,661	$12,450	$10,000
Personnel	Project Manager	$35,900	$36,200	$36,600
Personnel	Limited Duration Technician - 5 months annually	$9,609	$9,780	$9,780
Personnel	Secretary - 3.5 months annually	$6,400	$6,450	$6,500
Capital Equipment	Equipment storage building	$30,000	$0	$0
Other	Water right lease fees	$300	$0	$0
Totals		$264,366	$211,073	$341,261

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$816,700
Total work element budget:	$816,700

Cost sharing

Funding source/org	Item or service provided	FY 07 est value ($)	FY 08 est value ($)	FY 09 est value ($)	Cash or in-kind?	Status
Bureau of Reclamation	Ruby to Beaver Channel restoration design	$150,000	$0	$0	In-Kind	Under Development
Bureau of Reclamation	Large Wood design and study	$60,000	$0	$0	In-Kind	Confirmed
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission	Butte Creek Fish Passage implementation	$10,000	$0	$0	Cash	Under Development
Totals		$220,000	$0	$0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $133,000
FY 2011 estimated budget: $133,000

Comments: Property O&M, M&E, and some implementation

Future O&M costs: The nature of the Project is based in property protection and enhancement of habitat values, so O&M is an integral aspect of the project funding. O&M costs can be roughly estimated to annually cost $115,000.

Termination date: Not identified
Comments: As per memorandum of agreement with BPA, project funding is to continue for the life of the hydropower system. Major restoration projects should be completed by 2012. As major management burdens lessen and restoration projects are addressed, annual budget needs will lessen.

Final deliverables: Naturally sustainable, highly productive habitat, offering high quality rearing, adult holding and spawning instream habitat for anadromous and resident fish; plus excellent terrestrial habitat for wildlife.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget	FY08 budget	FY09 budget	Total budget	Type	Category	Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$200,070	$200,070	$200,070	$600,210	Expense	ProvinceExpense	Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$200,070	$200,070	$200,070	$0		ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This is a well-prepared proposal that is making progress toward its well-stated and well-justified objectives. The Oxbow Conservation Area was purchased as a high priority project in 2001 with BPA mitigation funds by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Tribes). The Project has since received BPA annual funding for O&M as part of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Tribes and BPA. The Oxbow property is located in the Camp Creek 5th Field HUC in the John Day subbasin. The subbasin plan identifies the Middle Fork John Day River as the highest priority subwatershed for the John Day subbasin. The valuable property holds a high concentration of adult spring Chinook salmon through the high temperatures and low flows of the summer months in its deep pools. The conservation area offers spawning and rearing habitat to Chinook, summer steelhead and bull trout as well as access to the five fish-bearing perennial tributaries that come into the property from National Forest lands. Technical and scientific background: The proposal contains good detail of riparian and in-stream problems requiring remediation and describes in some detail past accomplishments. A list of monitoring activities is presented and an M&E document is referenced. The proponents gave adequate responses to past ISRP questions and concerns. In particular, monitoring and evaluation on the Oxbow Ranch appears to be well coordinated with ongoing ODEQ and ODFW monitoring projects for the John Day basin. This section contains a quite complete description of the Oxbow Conservation Area, including habitat conditions and context. It also contains material that would be more appropriately placed in the sections on project history, objectives and methods. The section on spring Chinook contains a statement that the fish are protected under MSFCMA, when the reference should be to ESA. The table on fish distribution should contain some citation to sources. Overall the section contains good description of the fish and wildlife species and assessments done on their abundance and habitat. Helpful photos are provided. A good description of habitat issues that need to be addressed by the activities proposed in this project is also provided: dredge tailings, fish passage, riparian trees and shrubs, non-native plants and forest health. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The proposal establishes good rationales and significance through linkages to the 2000 Fish and Wildlife Program and to the John Day Subbasin Plan. The area in which Oxbow CAP is located is identified as the highest priority for restoration in the subbasin plan. Recovery strategies identified as highest priority in the subbasin plan are consistent with activities contained in the proposed project. The Oxbow CAAP has developed a draft management plan which is under review at BPA. Goals and objectives of that plan are reflected in this proposal. The proposal also notes links to the USFS and NC management plans for the Middle Fork John Day, with ODFW management plans, with the Grant County SWCD, the watershed council, and with Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi-Wa-Kish-Wit. Relationships to other projects: The proposal lists several other projects to which this project is directly linked and with which it shares resources. A table identifies specific activities that are shared with other projects. Project history: A history of project development and various funding issues affecting project scale is presented. This is followed by a description of project results by category such as habitat protection, fencing, planting, fish screening, etc. The project clearly has implemented a substantial amount of restoration work. It would be helpful to have a little more evaluation of what these actions mean in the overall context; e.g.; where is the area now relative to where it was, and needs to be. Objectives: The proposal contains a number of biological objectives that link the subbasin plan and Oxbow CAP management plan. Several work elements are associated with each objective. The objectives are quite general in specification (e.g. "restore stream base flows) but contain a work element that is quite specific (obtain instream leases for water rights). Time lines are specified. Specific details are contained in the work element metrics (admin and budgeting section). Tasks (work elements) and methods are broadly described, but seemingly appropriate. Several work elements are associated with each objective. Some of the work elements are presented in general, rather than specific terms (e.g. install fence) but do contain discussion that establish the intention, context and rationale in more detail. Other work elements (e.g. replace 4 fish screens) are specific and measurable. All work elements have specific time lines attached. The objectives and work elements cover a lot of ground and consist of reasonable activities, with reference to their motivation in management plans and to monitoring activities (e.g. the grazing plan, water conditions, fish counts, etc). Specific details are contained in the work element metrics (admin and budgeting section). Monitoring and evaluation: M&E is conducted in a separate grazing management plan. M&E of project results for fish and habitat is also a separate work element. Data are collected and monitoring conducted on stream temperature, bird surveys, habitat condition, stream flow, fish counts, weather, etc. Descriptions of monitoring efforts contained in Section B provide additional detail of the type of assessment, monitoring and evaluation that is part of this project. It would be useful to see the Oxbow Conservation Area Management Plan to see how the monitoring is integrated to inform decision making on the area as a whole. There is quite a bit of monitoring laid out, but not very good indication of what they are looking for in terms of responses. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Facilities and personnel are well situated in place with strong ties to related projects. Also note cost-sharing with the Nature Conservancy and other institutions. Information transfer: Good description of not only routine reporting to BPA, but also specific details on information sharing and coordination with other projects and agencies. Benefit to focal and non-focal species is well described. Project restoration activities will provide realizable benefits to spring Chinook, steelhead, redband trout and lamprey. Habitat restoration actions will also benefit frogs, white-tail deer, mink, mallard, yellow warbler, black-capped chickadee and western meadowlark. It is reasonable to expect that these benefits will persist over the long term.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable