FY07-09 proposal 200703300
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Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Monitor sub adult and adult bull trout passage through Lower Granite, Little Goose and Lower Monumental juvenile bypass facilities. |
| Proposal ID | 200703300 |
| Organization | US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) |
| Short description | Enumerate bull trout passage through Lower Snake River dams' juvenile bypass systems. Evaluate as a potential source of take through the incidental barging of migratory bull trout. Determine most likely origin of bull trout utilizing these facilities. |
| Information transfer | Annual reports will be submitted to BPA and cooperating agencies. Findings will be reported at regional or state conferences. Any PIT tag information will be submitted to PTAGIS for dissemination. |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
Contacts
| Contact | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Form submitter | ||
| Carrie Bretz | Idaho Fishery Resource Office-USFWS | carrie_bretz@fws.gov |
| All assigned contacts | ||
| Carrie Bretz | Idaho Fishery Resource Office-USFWS | carrie_bretz@fws.gov |
| Carrie Bretz | Idaho Fishery Resource Office-USFWS | carrie_bretz@fws.gov |
| Carrie Bretz | Idaho Fishery Resource Office-USFWS | carrie_bretz@fws.gov |
| Mike Faler | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | micheal_faler@fws.gov |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Mainstem/Systemwide / Systemwide
| Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 463345 | 1183211 | Lower Monumental Dam | |
| 463938 | 1172537 | Lower Granite Dam | |
| Salmon River | Sampling will occur in tributaries of the Salmon River | ||
| South Fork Clearwater River | Sampling will occur at tributaries of the South Fork Clearwater River. | ||
| Tucannon River | Sampling will occur on the full length of the Tucannon River. | ||
| 463515 | 1180130 | Little Goose Dam |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Bull TroutSection 4. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishments |
|---|
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
| Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other: USACE | [no entry] | Evaluate bull trout migration between the Tucannon River and mainstem Snake River using streamwidth passive integrated transponder tag interrogations systems. | This study uses PIT tags to track the migration of bull trout between the Tucannon River and the mainstem Snake River. Objectives are to determine migration timing and relative proportion of the Tucannon River bull trout population that utilize the mainstem Snake River and to determine the effects of the hydropower system on migration behaviors. Interrogation of PIT tags at Lower Snake River dams originating from the Tucannon River would validate the mainstem Snake River as a migration corridor for bull trout. |
| BPA | 200200600 | Evaluate bull trout movements in the Tucannon and Lower Snake rivers. | A companion study to the Tucannon streamwidth passive integrated transponder antenna study utilizing both PIT tags and radio tags to track the migration of bull trout between the Tucannon River and the mainstem Snake River. Bull trout radio tagged in the Tucannon River have been tracked into the mainstem Snake River, however, the inability to radio track in the reservoirs created by the dams creates a data gap once bull trout leave the Tucannon River. Sampling for bull trout at Lower Snake River dams increases our ability to locate migrating bull trout and determine the likelihood of entrainment if the bull trout travel through the juvenile bypass system. |
| Other: AVISTA/USFWS | R-20413 | Genetic analyses of bull trout from the Clark Fork River: A two-phase project to identify region of origin of fish captured below mainstem dams. | This study establishes protocols for the genetic assignment of bull trout captured at dams. This study is part of a multi-agency effort to develop a genetic baseline for all the Columbia River and Snake River bull trout populations. The protocols used in this study will be used in the collection and analysis of DNA collected from bull trout within the Clearwater and Salmon River basins and bull trout collected at the Lower Snake dams. In return, our proposed research will supplement the current genetic inventory for the establishment of a genetic baseline of Columbia and Snake River bull trout populations. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
| Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Determine origin of bull trout collected at dams. | Utilize genetic assignment methods to identify most likely origin of bull trout collected at juvenile facilities. Facilitate establishment of genetic baseline for bull trout within the Clearwater, Salmon and Snake River basins. | Lower Snake | Addresses strategies adopted in the 2000 FCRPS BiOp and Bull Trout Recover Plan. |
| Establish bull trout sampling protocols at dams. | Coordinate sampling protocols with operations managers to facilitate increased sampling and documentation of bull trout utilizing juvenile facilties. | Lower Snake | Addresses strategies adopted in the 2000 FCRPS BiOp and Bull Trout Recovery Plan. |
| Identify potential sources of take. | Determine the proportion of bull trout that are diverted to transportation raceways and if the likelihood of transportation is a function of size. Record occurrences of injury or mortality. | Lower Snake | Addresses strategies adopted in the 2000 FCRPS BiOp and Bull Trout Recovery Plan. |
| Investigate bull trout usage of juvenile facility. | Determine the quantity, extent and timing, size and age class of bull trout usage of Lower Snake River juvenile fish passage facilities. | Lower Snake | Addresses strategies adopted in the 2000 FCRPS BiOp and Bull Trout Recovery Plan. |
| Track bull trout distribution. | PIT tags will be used to track fish passage through other hydropower facilites or remote sites with PIT tag technologies. | Lower Snake | Addresses strategies adopted in the 2000 FCRPS BiOp and Bull Trout Recovery Plan. |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
| Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop RM&E Methods and Designs | Establish protocols to increase the likelihood of detecting bull trout at juvenile passage facilities. | [Work Element Description Not Entered] | 4/1/2007 | 9/30/2007 | $37,573 |
|
Biological objectives Establish bull trout sampling protocols at dams. |
Metrics |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect data pertaining the number, size/age class, arrival time, origin of bull trout utilizing the juvenile bypass system. | Enumerate the number of bull trout found within the juvenile bypass system through subsampling. Collect data on length, weight and condition. Develop a length-frequency table and age at length ratio. Record date of sampling to determine arrival time at juvenile facilities. | 4/1/2007 | 9/30/2010 | $56,360 |
|
Biological objectives Investigate bull trout usage of juvenile facility. |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Documentation of all bull trout collected at dams. |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine the proportion of bull trout that are diverted to the transportation raceways. | Calculate the potential number of bull trout that are barged using subsample data. Determine if size is a factor in the potential for barging in relation to in-river release. Record instance of mortality and injury. | 4/1/2007 | 9/30/2010 | $56,360 |
|
Biological objectives Identify potential sources of take. |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Collect biological data on bull trout collected. |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect tissue samples for genetic analysis. | The collection of tissue samples of bull trout captured at the dams and at sampling sites will allow for genetic analysis of most likely point of origin. | 4/1/2007 | 4/1/2009 | $75,146 |
|
Biological objectives Determine origin of bull trout collected at dams. |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Collect 100 tissue samples from bull trout. |
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| Mark/Tag Animals | PIT tag bull trout collected in Snake River tributaries. | [Work Element Description Not Entered] | 3/1/2007 | 6/1/2009 | $75,146 |
|
Biological objectives Determine origin of bull trout collected at dams. |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: PIT tag bull trout. |
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| Mark/Tag Animals | Use PIT tags to track bull trout movements after release for juvenile bypass facility. | PIT tag bull trout collected at juvenile bypass facility. Query PTAGIS database to identify bull trout tagged at Lower Snake River dams interrogated at other hydropower facilities or remote PIT antenna sites. | 4/1/2007 | 9/30/2010 | $75,146 |
|
Biological objectives Track bull trout distribution. |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Document PIT tag interrogations. |
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Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
| Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | 1 GS-5 Seasonal technician for 9 months of FTE. | $22,600 | $23,731 | $26,162 |
| Personnel | 1 GS-9 Fishery Biologist for 6 months. | $22,488 | $23,612 | $24,793 |
| Supplies | PIT tags (3000), PIT tag Pocket readers (10), PIT tagging supplies, laptop computer, genetic sampling supplies | $11,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Travel | Accomodations near Lower Granite, Little Goose and Lower Monumental Dam | $3,200 | $3,200 | $3,200 |
| Overhead | Indirect (25.5%) | $28,835 | $23,108 | $24,401 |
| Other | Subcontracted genetic analysis | $7,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Travel | Lodging | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Personnel | 1 GS-12 Fishery Biologist for 2 months. | $9,225 | $9,686 | $10,171 |
| Fringe Benefits | 1 GS-5 Seasonal technician | $1,858 | $1,951 | $2,151 |
| Fringe Benefits | 1 GS-9 Fishery Biologist | $9,912 | $10,407 | $10,927 |
| Fringe Benefits | 1 GS-12 Fishery Biologist | $4,794 | $5,034 | $5,285 |
| Travel | Purchase vehicle for travel to and from dams and reporting station | $18,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Totals | $141,912 | $113,729 | $120,090 | |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
| Total itemized budget: | $375,731 |
| Total work element budget: | $375,731 |
Cost sharing
| Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | $0 | $0 | $0 | |||
Section 9. Project future
|
FY 2010 estimated budget: $5,830 FY 2011 estimated budget: $5,830 |
Comments: FY2010 costs cover the final analysis and report preparation. |
Future O&M costs: We do not anticipate any future operations or maintenance cost relating to this project.
Termination date: 09/30/2010
Comments: Termination date coincides with expected completion of annual report.
Final deliverables: A final report will be submitted to BPA and cooperating agencies in FY2010.
Section 10. Narrative and other documents
| 20070330 ISRP response | Jul 2006 |
Reviews and recommendations
| FY07 budget | FY08 budget | FY09 budget | Total budget | Type | Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Expense | Basinwide | Do Not Fund |
| NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Basinwide | ||
ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)
Recommendation: Response requested
NPCC comments: The proponents need to provide convincing evidence that a significant problem exists for bull trout passage at the Lower Snake River dams' juvenile bypass systems. A response is requested to include some preliminary estimates of the number of bull trout potentially impacted and summarized data from the Battelle report (2004) that may strengthen the justification for this project. Along these lines, a task should be added for collection of data to make a real estimate of the significance of this problem. The goals of the tasks stated in the proposal are reasonable (i.e. establish sampling protocols, determine the extent and timing of bull trout occurrence at Lower Granite, and identify sources of take within juvenile bypass operations). However, the methods that are going to be used to estimate these effects are not described in sufficient detail to determine how the tasks will be specifically accomplished. Other comments: Technical and scientific background: The proponents cite a Battelle report (2004) to establish that direct mortality and incidental barging of bull trout may be a significant cause of decline of these populations. However, no specific information is provided on the evidence used to decide on the scale of the problem. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The need to better understand how the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) affects bull trout was identified in the Fish and Wildlife Program mainstem amendments, the USFWS bull trout recovery plan, and the FCRPS BiOp is adequately presented. Relationships to other projects: The proponents need to identify the ongoing projects that are essential to executing the research project. Section D clearly states that cooperation will be needed and that they are going to depend on other juvenile collection projects to PIT tag bull trout. However, they state "establishment of a cooperative effort with the researchers would increase the sample size." Is this a statement that they have the cooperation, or is it a suggestion that they might pursue cooperation? Objectives: The objectives in Section F. are too task specific (i.e. establish sampling protocols that will increase the likelihood of detecting any bull trout utilizing juvenile passage facility). Objectives are needed that relate to improving the status of bull trout populations, with specific timeframes. Tasks (work elements) and methods: The goals of the tasks are reasonable (i.e. establish sampling protocols, determine the extent and timing of bull trout occurrence at Lower Granite, and identify sources of take within juvenile bypass operations). However, the methods that are going to be used to estimate these effects are not described in sufficient detail. How do the sponsors propose to achieve the goals of these tasks and work elements? Monitoring and evaluation: This is a research/monitoring project to evaluate bull trout use of bypass systems at Snake River dams. The details of the work elements section are not sufficient to evaluate whether the estimates of loss, barging, etc., will have the necessary precision or bias. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: The proponents indicate they will collect tissues for genetic analysis, although the reason for doing this is not developed in the proposal and relationships with projects genotyping bull trout are not indicated. Further, PIT tagging by other projects appears to be essential for this project to succeed, but the relationships to the projects that might perform this task are insufficiently described. Consequently, it is not possible to confirm that the facilities, equipment, and personnel to complete the entire project are sufficient.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Not fundable
NPCC comments: In response to a request by the ISRP, the sponsors of the proposal provided summarized information (from a 2004 report by Battelle PNNL) of bull trout presence in fish ladders and juvenile bypass facilities at three lower Snake River dams. The small number of fish actually recorded and the very roughly expanded estimates based on a 0.4-100% sampling rates are not enough evidence to conclude that a significant problem exists for bull trout passing lower Snake River dams or that significant numbers of bull trout may be unintentionally transported down-river on barges. In addition, the proposal does not adequately demonstrate that the methods they plan to employ will be sufficient to estimate the parameters they identify in their tasks. They fail to show that the sampling scheme (sampling in the juvenile bypass systems) coupled with the planned PIT tagging is actually sufficient to estimate the number of bull trout and the proportion of bull trout that end up in smolt barges. The project sponsors are advised to conduct a focused demonstration or pilot study (within the Corp's AFEP Program) at one of the lower Snake River dams (i.e., Lower Granite Dam) to produce data indicating the potential significance of bull trout entrainment into smolt transportation barges.