FY07-09 proposal 199801700
Jump to Reviews and Recommendations
Section 1. Administrative
Proposal title | North Fork/Mid-John Day Fish Passage Improvement |
Proposal ID | 199801700 |
Organization | Monument & Wheeler SWCDs |
Short description | We will replace problematic irrigation diversions and culverts in the Lower North Fork and Mid-mainstem John Day Watersheds with fish-friendly structures that ensure fish passage and improve riparian habitat while efficiently meeting landmanagers' needs. |
Information transfer | This project focuses on completing on-the-ground habitat improvement work with direct and immediate benefits to anadramous and resident fish. Results of successful restoration projects will be highlighted in newsletters, reports, and other publications of the Monument and Wheeler SWCDs and the Mid-John Day, Bridge Creek and North Fork John Day Watershed Councils. Success stories will be highlighted in local and regional media. The primary use of monitoring data will be to guide implementation of this project, but if monitoring shows broadly-applicable results, it may be summarized in project-generated reports made available to interested parties. |
Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
Contacts
Contact | Organization | |
---|---|---|
Form submitter | ||
Alex Conley | North Fork John Day Watershed Council | nfjdwc@centurytel.net |
All assigned contacts | ||
Alex Conley | North Fork John Day Watershed Council | nfjdwc@centurytel.net |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Columbia Plateau / John Day
Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
---|---|---|---|
44.5654856 N | 120.1446231 W | Bridge Creek | Mitchell High School Diversion |
44.5138486 N | 120.1497489 W | Bridge Creek | Hashknife Upper Diversion Pipeline Phase #1 |
44.5138486 N | 120.1497489 W | Bridge Creek | Hashknife Upper Diversion Pipeline Phase #2 |
44.6066732 N | 120.2174494 W | Bridge Creek | Woodward Bridge |
44.5178015 N | 120.1480143 W | Bridge Creek | Old MItchell Diversion |
45.0575811 N | 120.3681897 W | Butte Creek | Stanley Culvert |
44.9550393 N | 120.1353561 W | Butte Creek | Forestry Diversion |
44.9802094 N | 120.1325141 W | Butte Creek | Wild Turkey Diversion/Culvert |
44.9394750 N | 120.1237190 W | Butte Creek | Bear Hollow Culvert |
45.0003901 N | 120.2229964 W | Butte Creek | Fossil Culvert Step-pools |
44.9802094 N | 120.15000084 W | Butte Creek | Kinzua Culvert |
44.7881 N | 119.4034 W | Cottonwood | Upper Ditch Diversion & Pipeline |
44.8054 N | 119.4150 W | Cottonwood Creek | 2 Standard Layflat Diversions |
44.7919 N | 119.4037 W | Cottonwood Creek | Lower Cottonwood Ditch Diversion |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Steelhead Middle Columbia River ESUsecondary: Chinook Mid-Columbia River Spring ESU
secondary: Pacific Lamprey
secondary: Interior Redband Trout
Section 4. Past accomplishments
Year | Accomplishments |
---|---|
2005 | 8 fish-friendly diversions installed (3 on North Fork, 5 on Cottonwood Creek) and designs completed for 8 more to be completed in 2006. Improvements completed on 2 earlier installations. Extensive work completed in Wheeler County using non-BPA funds |
2004 | Five fish-friendly diversions installed, eliminating the need for four push-up dams. Additional design options explored. |
2003 | Designs developed and lead staff turnover; no field work beyond monitoring and maintenance. |
2002 | Further installations delayed as design issues in FY 2001 installations were addressed. |
2001 | Two more fish-friendly diversions installed on Lower North Fork John Day based on a revised design approved by NOAA. |
2000 | Installation of more fish-friendly diversions delayed due to Mid-Columbia steelhead listing and associated need for consultation with NOAA. |
1999 | First two fish-friendly irrigation diversions installed on Lower North Fork John Day. |
1998 | Project initiated. |
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
---|---|---|---|
OWEB - State | 204-259 | Lillicrop Upland Stockwater | This project provided exclusion fencing along Nelson Creek, an important tributary of Bridge Creek and also installed off-channel water developments and cross fencing to improve upland grazing management eliminating sediment and nutrients entering the stream system. |
OWEB - State | 205-081 | Hashknife Irrigation | Replacement of middle diversion structure and converting open pipe to ditch on the Hashknife Ranch opening up fish passage further up Bridge Creek and improving irrigation efficiency to allow more water in stream. this was the middle diverson on same reach as one of this proposal's projects. |
OWEB - State | 205-088 | Butte Cr Riparian Restoration | Replaced failing diversion, exclusion fence and converted open irrigation ditch to pipe. This project is located mid-way on Butte Creek opening up passage for all life stages of salmonids. Adds to this proposal's project goals of opening up fish passage. |
OWEB - State | 205-091 | Nelson Cr Diversion Replacemen | Another riparian improvement on important tributary to Bridge Creek. Reducing sediment and improving irrigation efficiency. |
OWEB - State | 205-092 | L Bridge Cr Diversion Improvem | Replaces a push-up dam diversion with a fish friendly diversion structure and adds a fish screen into system. This is located on lower Bridge Creek which will open up stream to all life stages of salmonids. |
OWEB - State | 205-205 | Sweet Diversion Replacement | Push-up dam replacement to a fish-friendly structure and converted failing open ditch to pipe. This is located at the beginning of the headwaters of Bridge Creek and fits in with our prioritization of fish passage fixes on this stream. |
OWEB - State | 205-206 | Hashknife Bridge | A failing, undersized and perched culvert was replaced with a bridge. This was another prioritized project for fish passage on Bridge Creek headwaters allowing connectivity and all life stages of salmonids to access quality habitat. |
OWEB - State | 206-144 | City of Fossil Culvert Replace | This is the first of several in-city culverts (one included in this proposal) opening up passage and connecting Butte Creek habitat for all life stages of salmonids. A part of the Butte Creek prioritization plan. |
OWEB - State | 206-151 | Butte Cr WS Juniper Abatement | Although not dealing with fish passage, this juniper removal project will treat 1,156 acres directly adjacent to Butte Creek, improving flow and hydrology. |
PCSRF - OWEB | 204-308 | Butte Cr Watershed Assessment | Due to be completed in June 2006, information from this assessment, even while in-process, added to the Butte Creek project prioritization process. |
Other: NOAA/American Rivers | [no entry] | City of Fossil Culvert Replacement #2 | Another in-city culvert that was a part of the Butte Creek fish passage prioritization process. This project is scheduled for implementation during the 2006 in-stream work window. |
BPA | 199801800 | John Day Watershed Restoration | Working in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs four fish passage barrier culverts on lower Butte Creek were funded as a part of this proposal for the 2006/2007 contract. This fits right in with the Butte Creek fish passage project priortization. |
BPA | 199801700 | Gravel Push-Up Dam Removal Low | Predecessor to this project which has already installed 17 fish-friendly irrigation diversions on the North Fork and Cottonwood Creek, and which is scheduled to replace 8 more in 2006 (See section 4). |
OWEB - State | 25-04-012 | DeRoos Ditch Conversion | Irrigation efficiency project on Holmes Creek, one of our secondary priorities. |
BPA | 198402100 | John Day Habitat Enhancement | ODFW project which has installed numerous riparian buffers in the priority areas for this project. |
BPA | 199306600 | Oregon Fish Screens Project | Installs fish screens on irrigation diversions in the project area; work will be coordinated with diversion replacements done under our project. |
BPA | 200003100 | Enhance North Fork John Day Ri | CTUIR project that has established riparian buffers that incorporate fish friendly diversions established by this project. |
BPA | 200203400 | Wheeler Co Riparian Buffers | Project that works to establish CREP buffers in priority watersheds in Wheeler County that may complement habitat improvements under this project. |
OWEB - State | 25-04-011 | Davidson Juniper Thinning Proj | Juniper thinning project in Cottonwood Watershed that may contribute to improved baseflows. |
OWEB - State | 25-04-010 | Hunt Juniper Thinning Project | Juniper thinning project in Cottonwood Watershed that may contribute to improved baseflows. |
OWEB - State | 204-052 | North Fork John Day WSC Suppor | Provides basic operaing support to project sponsor, reducing the amount of overhead that must be charged to this BPA project. |
OWEB - State | 204-412 | Deer Cr Upland Waters Project | Grazing management project aimed at improving riparian conditions in one of our priority watersheds. |
OWEB - State | [no entry] | Current Proposals | Several proposals currently under consideration to thin juniper and improve grazing management in this project's priority areas. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
---|---|---|---|
A. Minimize artificial passage barriers | Irrigation diversions and poorly designed road crossings can block upstream migration of adult spawners and instream movements of juveniles in search of refugia in which to pass critical periods of low flow and high temperature. This project aims to remove such artifical barriers and replace them with fish-friendly structures that meet landowner/operator needs while ensuring unimpeded fish passage. Measurable indicators of progress include the number of barriers eliminated and the percent of known barriers within each stream system that have been eliminated. | John Day | Strategy A: Improve Fish Passage |
B. Moderate extreme stream temperatures | Maintenance of push-up dams and other temporary diversion structures and undersized culverts often require regular instream use of heavy equipment, which can break down streambanks, compact substrates, and retard establishment of riparian vegetation. Hydrologic changes associated with these structures can degrade stream channel form. Replacement structures will be designed to eliminate undesired disturbance to surrounding riparian areas, allowing for channel narrowing and increased shade, which in turn will reduce water temperatures. Numeric indicators of progress towards this objective include the number of sites where the need for regular disturbance is eliminated, and the linear feet of stream and bank now protected from such disturbance. | John Day | Strategy D: In-Stream Activities Strategy E: Riparian Habitat Improvements |
C. Minimize unnatural rates of erosion | When push-up dams wash out each year with the return of high flows, and when undersized culverts cause scouring or plug, overflow and/or blow out, excessive amounts of sediment are eroded from the structure site and released into the stream. Replacement structures will minimize such erosion. The main numeric indicator of progress is the number of sites stabalized. | John Day | Strategy D: In-Stream Activities Strategy E: Riparian Habitat Improvements |
D. Improve base flows | Higher summer base flows significantly improve conditions for rearing salmonids. We will implement selected irrigation efficiency projects to reduce the amount of water diverted for irrigation. The main indicator will be the estimated reduction in water diverted. | John Day | Strategy C2: Irrigation Efficiency Projects |
E. Prevent entrainment in irrigation systems | Entrappment in irrigation water delivery systems can be a major source of mortality and stress to fish. We will ensure that all irrigation diversions installed or replaced as part of this project incorporate up-to-date fish screens that meet all state and federal specifications. Numeric indicators of progress towards this objective include the number of new screens installed and the percent of diversions in each stream system that have up-to-date screens installed. | John Day | Stategy B: Install Fish Screens on Water Diversions |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Obtain Required Permits and Clearances | Work with BPA to assure NEPA and ESA clearances; obtain DSL and Corps permits for instream work, and make any required changes to water right certificates. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $30,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Install Fish Passage Structure | Culvert replacement/correction | Replace problem culverts or create passage through existing culverts in good condition. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $273,385 |
Biological objectives A. Minimize artificial passage barriers B. Moderate extreme stream temperatures C. Minimize unnatural rates of erosion |
Metrics * Does the structure remove or replace a fish passage barrier?: yes * Was barrier Full or Partial?: partial * If installing a ladder, does the ladder meet NOAA specs for attraction flow, pool dimensions, jump height, etc?: yes * # of miles of habitat accessed: Restore connectivity on 40+ stream miles |
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Install Fish Screen | Install Fish Screens on Irrigation Pumps | Install NOAA approved fish screen | 1/1/2009 | 12/30/2009 | $1,500 |
Biological objectives E. Prevent entrainment in irrigation systems |
Metrics * Does the screen meet NOAA/FSOC specs?: yes * Is the screen New or a Replacement?: new * Quantity of water protected by screening, as determined by what is stated in the water right or calculated based on flow rate: .25 cfs |
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Remove/Install Diversion | Remove/Install Diversion | Remove problematic irrigation diversions and replace with fish friendly structures | 1/1/2007 | 12/30/2009 | $265,945 |
Biological objectives A. Minimize artificial passage barriers B. Moderate extreme stream temperatures C. Minimize unnatural rates of erosion |
Metrics * # of miles of habitat accessed: Connectivity restored on 40+ stream miles |
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Coordination | Coordinate Design, Installation, Maintenance and Evaluation of Fish-Friendly Structures | This Work Element covers staff time spent working with landowners, contractors and others to plan out potential projects. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $30,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Identify and Select Projects | Locate and Assess Potential Project Sites | Each year we will assess and prioritize possible future project sites. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $3,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Manage and Administer Projects | Manage and administer individual projects | Manage logistics of individual fish-friendly structure installations | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $196,884 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Manage and Administer Projects | Manage and administer overall BPA contract | General management and administration of BPA contract | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $31,500 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Produce Design and/or Specifications | Produce designs and specifications for fish-friendly structures | Includes engineering surveys, designs, specifications and installation oversight. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $133,350 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Produce Plan | Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for Fish-Friendly Structure | Each year a short monitoring plan will be developed that assesses the results of previous years' monitoirng and identifies monitoring activities to be conducted in the upcoming year. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $3,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Produce Annual Report | Produce Annual Reports | [Work Element Description Not Entered] | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $4,500 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Produce Status Report | Produce Quarterly Reports | [Work Element Description Not Entered] | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $3,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Analyze/Interpret Data | Cataloging and Interpretation of Photo and Temperature Data | Process, catalogue and analyze results of photo monitoring and temperature monitoring. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $3,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics Secondary R, M, and E Type: Processing and assessment of photomonitoring data Secondary R, M, and E Type: Processing and assessment of temperature data |
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Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Photo Point and Temperature Monitoring | Set up and rephotograph photo-monitoring sites; conduct instantaneous temperature monitoring and deploy, audit and retrieve temperature loggers. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $4,500 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics Secondary R, M, and E Type: Photomonitoring of Project Implementation |
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Install Pipeline | Convert open ditch to pipeline | Convert open ditch to pipeline to increase water savings and keep more water instream during irrigation seasons | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $345,200 |
Biological objectives D. Improve base flows |
Metrics * Estimated # of miles of primary stream reach improvement: 8 miles * Amount of unprotected water flow returned to the stream by conservation in cfs: 2-6 cfs depending on season |
Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overhead | Fiscal admin & general overhead | $57,345 | $55,975 | $39,114 |
Personnel | Technician (0.5 FTE) | $30,150 | $31,950 | $28,125 |
Personnel | Project managers (0.6 FTE) | $25,200 | $27,300 | $22,400 |
Other | Contract Engineering | $42,375 | $43,125 | $38,625 |
Other | Contracted Construction Labor & Equipment | $105,800 | $107,600 | $92,375 |
Supplies | Construction materials (steel, pipe, rock, etc) | $255,925 | $232,770 | $92,610 |
Totals | $516,795 | $498,720 | $313,249 |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: | $1,328,764 |
Total work element budget: | $1,328,764 |
Cost sharing
Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City of Fossil | Equipment and Man Power | $0 | $5,000 | $5,000 | In-Kind | Under Development |
Landowner | Equipment and Man Power | $20,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | In-Kind | Under Development |
NRCS | Cash | $70,000 | $70,000 | $40,000 | Cash | Under Development |
OWEB | Cash | $80,000 | $150,000 | $100,000 | Cash | Under Development |
USFWS | Consultation | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | In-Kind | Under Development |
Wheeler County Rd Dept. | Equipment and Man Power | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | In-Kind | Under Development |
Totals | $197,500 | $272,500 | $182,500 |
Section 9. Project future
FY 2010 estimated budget: $350,000 FY 2011 estimated budget: $350,000 |
Comments: Ample work is available to continue the project at a steady rate into out years. |
Future O&M costs: Long-term operations and maintenance costs are the responsibility of the owners/operators of the improved diversion and road crossing structures. During the life of the project we will strive to work with owner/operators to ensure that structures installed as part of this project perform as intended, but no specific commitments will be made that extend beyond the project period.
Termination date: None
Comments: This project is ongoing; as passage barriers in our intial priority areas are addressed, we will move on to our next tier of projects. It is anticipated that approximately a decade of work at this rate would be required to address all significant artificial passage barriers in our work areas.
Final deliverables: As individual fish-friendly structures are installed, we will provide detailed reports on their installation and subsequent operation.
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] | ||||||
$423,666 | $405,591 | $320,120 | $1,149,377 | Capital | ProvinceCapital | Fund |
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
$93,129 | $93,129 | $93,129 | $279,387 | Expense | ProvinceExpense | Fund |
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
$93,129 | $93,129 | $93,129 | $0 | ProvinceExpense | ||
Comments: Expense portion of project. This work will be funded as part of project 199801800. |
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NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
$423,666 | $405,591 | $320,120 | $0 | ProvinceCapital |
ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This well-written project proposal describes activities to improve habitat connectivity and riparian habitat conditions in selected tributaries to the North Fork and Mid-mainstem of the John Day River by replacing between 18 and 25 problematic irrigation diversions, culverts, and other artificial structures with fish-friendly structures. The culverts were identified through a prioritization process. The focal species include Mid-Columbia Summer Steelhead, redband trout, specific life histories of Mid-Columbia Spring Chinook, and Pacific Lamprey. This is a solid proposal that demonstrates its activities are linked to priority needs from regional and subbasin planning documents and that is making steady progress toward achieving its objectives. Much of the proposal and planned work is straightforward with simple monitoring planned to document that anticipated results are actually achieved. No termination date is identified for the project even though sponsor comments indicate that approximately 10-13 years work will be needed to address passage issues in the John Day Basin. Even though such a termination date is uncertain and is some years out, a termination date should be identified for projects, rather than leaving them open-ended. The ISRP has a programmatic concern on all projects proposing culvert replacement. 1. Prioritization of specific culvert? 2. How much habitat is made available? 3. What is the "quality" of the habitat? This project has addressed these concerns within its proposal. Technical and scientific justification: Fixing fish passage barriers is the focus of this project. Primary barriers are culverts and push-up dams. Excellent descriptions of problems with push-up dams and culverts at the specific watershed sites to be addressed by this project are included in the proposal. These are effectively illustrated with maps, graphs, and photographs of problem areas and fish-friendly alternatives. Push-up dams and old makeshift diversion dams are to be replaced with removable flashboard dams and/or rock step-pool weirs, while poorly-installed culverts and other problematic road crossings (collapsed log bridges, etc) will be replaced with properly-sized culverts, bottomless arch culverts or small bridges. Funding is requested for $1,328,764 over the 3-year project period. Priority areas are consistent with those identified in the John Day Subbasin Plan. Fish passage has been identified in the subbasin plan as a high-priority limiting factor. Relationship of activities under this project to the Fish and Wildlife Program and to the subbasin plan is clear. The actions in this project are directly tied to specific priority restoration strategies in the subbasin plan. The proposal also discusses relationship to the draft recovery plan (not yet released) for Mid-Columbia steelhead. Project actions relate to RPA 149 in the 2000 BiOp. Relationships to other projects: Examples are given of other projects this group works with: ODFW fish screens, multi-agency riparian habitat restoration, Oregon Water Trust irrigation efficiency projects, other SWCD upland conservation. The project will build on previous passage work of these SWCDs and others. Project history: To date, this project has replaced 15 problematic irrigation diversions with fish friendly alternatives, with another 8 scheduled for replacement in 2006 (Map G). This represents over 60% of the problematic diversions in the initial project area. As initially developed, the project focused on eliminating push-up dams on the lower mainstem of the North Fork John Day. In 2003, sponsors started to emphasize works in tributaries, as low-flow passage barriers typically have much more impact in small streams that do provide summer habitat to salmonids. Objectives: Five project objectives are clearly specified with quantitative measures of progress. Brief but clear descriptions of the intent of each objective are included. Timelines are not included. Tasks (work elements) and methods: Work elements are specifically described. Methods have previously demonstrated effectiveness. Note is made of the need for voluntary cooperation of landowners, and that this may limit project success. However, a history of positive working relationships of the SWCD and landowners make failure unlikely. Monitoring and evaluation: The project includes basic monitoring of effectiveness of actions -- habitat response to project implementation. Population response monitoring is done by other projects (ODFW, NOAA/BOR). Work elements are included for project effectiveness monitoring to collect data on: site changes (photopoints) and stream temperature. Monitoring, data collection, and analysis are done in collaboration with Monument SWCD. Primary use of project-generated monitoring is to assess effectiveness and guide project implementation. The project also includes a monitoring component, which aims to 1) document the changes at project sites over time through photo monitoring, and 2) determine whether in fact push-up dams result in warming of downstream flows. Photo documentation has show gradual riparian recovery at the sites of old push-up dams. The temperature monitoring that has been collected has documented that specific types of push-up dams (in particular, ones that create long artificial side-channels in summer low flow conditions) can elevate water temperatures. Other types of push up dams do not have as clear a temperature signal. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Facilities are reasonable. A history of collaboration among SWCDs and among SWCDs and landowners make these groups uniquely qualified to implement these types of projects on private lands. Information transfer: Project results to be reported in SWCD newsletters, reports and other publications of the SWCDs and watershed councils, local and regional media. If monitoring shows broadly applicable results, sponsors intend to summarize in more broadly distributed reports.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This well-written project proposal describes activities to improve habitat connectivity and riparian habitat conditions in selected tributaries to the North Fork and Mid-mainstem of the John Day River by replacing between 18 and 25 problematic irrigation diversions, culverts, and other artificial structures with fish-friendly structures. The culverts were identified through a prioritization process. The focal species include Mid-Columbia Summer Steelhead, redband trout, specific life histories of Mid-Columbia Spring Chinook, and Pacific Lamprey. This is a solid proposal that demonstrates its activities are linked to priority needs from regional and subbasin planning documents and that is making steady progress toward achieving its objectives. Much of the proposal and planned work is straightforward with simple monitoring planned to document that anticipated results are actually achieved. No termination date is identified for the project even though sponsor comments indicate that approximately 10-13 years work will be needed to address passage issues in the John Day Basin. Even though such a termination date is uncertain and is some years out, a termination date should be identified for projects, rather than leaving them open-ended. The ISRP has a programmatic concern on all projects proposing culvert replacement. 1. Prioritization of specific culvert? 2. How much habitat is made available? 3. What is the "quality" of the habitat? This project has addressed these concerns within its proposal. Technical and scientific justification: Fixing fish passage barriers is the focus of this project. Primary barriers are culverts and push-up dams. Excellent descriptions of problems with push-up dams and culverts at the specific watershed sites to be addressed by this project are included in the proposal. These are effectively illustrated with maps, graphs, and photographs of problem areas and fish-friendly alternatives. Push-up dams and old makeshift diversion dams are to be replaced with removable flashboard dams and/or rock step-pool weirs, while poorly-installed culverts and other problematic road crossings (collapsed log bridges, etc) will be replaced with properly-sized culverts, bottomless arch culverts or small bridges. Funding is requested for $1,328,764 over the 3-year project period. Priority areas are consistent with those identified in the John Day Subbasin Plan. Fish passage has been identified in the subbasin plan as a high-priority limiting factor. Relationship of activities under this project to the Fish and Wildlife Program and to the subbasin plan is clear. The actions in this project are directly tied to specific priority restoration strategies in the subbasin plan. The proposal also discusses relationship to the draft recovery plan (not yet released) for Mid-Columbia steelhead. Project actions relate to RPA 149 in the 2000 BiOp. Relationships to other projects: Examples are given of other projects this group works with: ODFW fish screens, multi-agency riparian habitat restoration, Oregon Water Trust irrigation efficiency projects, other SWCD upland conservation. The project will build on previous passage work of these SWCDs and others. Project history: To date, this project has replaced 15 problematic irrigation diversions with fish friendly alternatives, with another 8 scheduled for replacement in 2006 (Map G). This represents over 60% of the problematic diversions in the initial project area. As initially developed, the project focused on eliminating push-up dams on the lower mainstem of the North Fork John Day. In 2003, sponsors started to emphasize works in tributaries, as low-flow passage barriers typically have much more impact in small streams that do provide summer habitat to salmonids. Objectives: Five project objectives are clearly specified with quantitative measures of progress. Brief but clear descriptions of the intent of each objective are included. Timelines are not included. Tasks (work elements) and methods: Work elements are specifically described. Methods have previously demonstrated effectiveness. Note is made of the need for voluntary cooperation of landowners, and that this may limit project success. However, a history of positive working relationships of the SWCD and landowners make failure unlikely. Monitoring and evaluation: The project includes basic monitoring of effectiveness of actions -- habitat response to project implementation. Population response monitoring is done by other projects (ODFW, NOAA/BOR). Work elements are included for project effectiveness monitoring to collect data on: site changes (photopoints) and stream temperature. Monitoring, data collection, and analysis are done in collaboration with Monument SWCD. Primary use of project-generated monitoring is to assess effectiveness and guide project implementation. The project also includes a monitoring component, which aims to 1) document the changes at project sites over time through photo monitoring, and 2) determine whether in fact push-up dams result in warming of downstream flows. Photo documentation has show gradual riparian recovery at the sites of old push-up dams. The temperature monitoring that has been collected has documented that specific types of push-up dams (in particular, ones that create long artificial side-channels in summer low flow conditions) can elevate water temperatures. Other types of push up dams do not have as clear a temperature signal. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Facilities are reasonable. A history of collaboration among SWCDs and among SWCDs and landowners make these groups uniquely qualified to implement these types of projects on private lands. Information transfer: Project results to be reported in SWCD newsletters, reports and other publications of the SWCDs and watershed councils, local and regional media. If monitoring shows broadly applicable results, sponsors intend to summarize in more broadly distributed reports.