FY07-09 proposal 200705500

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Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleEntiat River - UPA - Lower Entiat River Off-Channel Restoration Project
Proposal ID200705500
OrganizationChelan County Conservation District (SWCD)
Short descriptionThe Lower Entiat River Off-Channel enhancement project will provide 0.28 miles of off-channel habitat to benefit Upper Columbia ESA listed steelhead, spring Chinook, and bull trout. An irrigation channel will be enhanced for rearing and spawning habitat.
Information transferPublic Information: Project information will eventually be available on the Chelan County Conservation District web-site, and new EKO-system project tracking website that the District is starting to utilizet. Pisces will be used for data transfers to BPA. Highlights may also be published in District newsletters, Entiat Watershed Planning Unit informational mailings/minutes, and progress reports.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Rich Malinowski Chelan County Conservation District rich.malinowski@wa.nacdnet.net
All assigned contacts
Rich Malinowski Chelan County Conservation District rich.malinowski@wa.nacdnet.net
sarah walker Chelan County Conservation District sarah-walker@wa.nacdnet.org

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Columbia Cascade / Entiat

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
47.6909 120.3159 Entiat River Lower Entiat River Off Channel Restoration

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Chinook Upper Columbia River Spring ESU
secondary: Coho Unspecified Population
secondary: Pacific Lamprey
secondary: Sockeye All Populations
secondary: Steelhead Upper Columbia River ESU
secondary: Westslope Cutthroat
secondary: Bull Trout
secondary: Rainbow Trout
secondary: Mountain Whitefish
secondary: Other Resident
Additional: Sculpin Dace

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 200500400 Whitehall Wells The Whitehall Diversion project is located in the Entiat subbasin, lower Entiat Assessment Unit, and will benefit Upper Columbia steelhead, spring chinook and bull trout. The goal of this project is to prevent juvenile fish from being diverted into an out-of-stream irrigation system. The objectives include eliminating four unscreened surface irrigation diversions and replacing them with three wells, which will provide BPA with a HIP BiOp metric credit of four (4). One of the surface water diversions and associated sump and pump for irrigation water lies within the off-channel area proposed for restoration. Completion of the Whitehall wells project will enable full off-channel restoration. This project is part of the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit's overall strategy for restoration of salmonid populations within the lower Entiat AU.
BPA 200500300 Entiat Four Mile-Wells The Entiat 4 Mile diversion is located in the lower Entiat Assessment Unit of the Entiat subbasin, and will benefit Upper Columbia steelhead, spring Chinook and bull trout. The goal of this project is to prevent juvenile fish from being diverted into an out-of-stream irrigation system and to eliminate impacts due to the annual maintenance of an instream pushup dam. The objectives include eliminating a surface irrigation diversion and replacing it with two wells, which will provide BPA and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) with a Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) BiOp metric credit of one (1). Wells were chosen over a new fish screen based on biological benefits and costs. Long-term biological benefits are provided by completely eliminating the surface diversion and the potential for fish entrainment in a fish screen. Construction costs for a new fish screen were estimated at $150,000, which does not include other costs associated with implementing and maintaining a fish screening project. Construction costs for a well are estimated at $20,000 each. The diversion currently consists of a pushup dam that diverts water into an off-channel pond. Water is then pumped into a pressurized system for irrigation. There are 3 different irrigators who use water from this surface diversion, and each has multiple water rights. Some irrigated acreage was taken out of orchard production less than 5 years ago. Therefore, approximately 144 acre-feet will be put into a water trust so it is not subject to relinquishment. No water will be set aside for conservation savings. The project is part of the Entiat Watershed Planning Unit's overall approach to salmonid population restoration within the lower Entiat AU.
PCSRF - WSRFB 00-1167 Jon Small Off-Channel Rearing WDFW, trout unlimited and a private landowner created a rearing pond, fed by a groundwater upwelling, and off-channel connection to the mainstem Entiat River within the lower Entiat Assessment Unit. The project was designed and implemented to increase juvenile salmonid off-channel rearing and overwintering habitat, and address a primary limiting factor for salmonid production in the lower Entiat River. Similar off-channel rearing pond connection will occur in the Lower River Off-Channel Restoration.
PCSRF - WSRFB 04-1503 Entiat R. BridgeToBridge Reach The Chelan County Conservation District is the Project Sponsor for the “Bridge-to-Bridge” (B-to-B) reach restoration project in the lower Entiat River (~RM 3.2 to RM 4.4). Other project partners include Chelan County, WDFW, USFWS, members of the UCSRB Regional Technical Team, and BOR. This area is the highest priority restoration area in WRIA 46. Past activities that have altered the lower Entiat River include logging, dams, stream clearing; channelization, filling & flood control protection works. Riparian vegetation has been removed by fire & development. The B-to-B effort addresses lack of off-channel rearing habitat, temperature extremes & habitat simplicity. It will restore geomorphology, floodplain function, habitat complexity/diversity, off-channel habitat and shading, benefiting adult & juvenile Chinook, steelhead & coho. At the end of Phase 3, the reach will be restored to its geomorphic potential (e.g. now 0.3 pools/mi., restored to 9 pools/mi.). The EWPU supports this 3-phase project, developed via 10 years of planning. Actions proposed are based on geomorphic, biologic, hydrologic & thermal analyses. Funding for Phase 1 will be used to: (a) restore ~1000 contiguous ft. of riparian vegetation to improve stream temperatures, bank condition, cover, nutrient inputs; (b) enhance juvenile off-channel rearing habitat via rock/LWD placement in ~700 ft. irrigation ditch; (c) install 2 instream structures to direct flow to the off-channel habitat and restore resting pools in the lowest portion of the reach. A ditch outfall structure will also be added.
Other: BPA 200731800 UPA - Knapp-Wham Hanan Detwiler Irrigation System Consolidation The Chelan County Conservation District and BOR are working with the Knapp-Wham and Hanan Detwiler partnership irrigation systems to consolidate and improve their irrigation systems. The KW and HD ditch companies are the largest water users in the lower Entiat River, and the primary candidate for irrigation system improvements within the Entiat subbasin. An appraisal report has been completed by BOR; preliminary and final design work is being conducted via Bureau of Reclamation funding and technical assistance. The Hanan Detwiler and Knapp-Wham Ditch Companies are located in the Entiat watershed, and serve irrigators with water from the Entiat River. The irrigators served by the ditches are primarily commercial orchardists, with apples and pears being the main crops. Both ditch companies have diversions that require significant annual in-stream maintenance, and may also act as partial barriers to fish passage during periods of low flow. The two ditches, which are both adequately screened (as per WDFW) have expressed interest in consolidating their operations. This would mean using just one point of diversion (Knapp-Wham) to serve the two systems, and eliminating part or all of the Hanan Detwiler Ditch and serving its irrigators with the Knapp-Wham system, wells, or a combination of both. At a minimum, this project will replace completely eliminate one diversion that constitutes a partial barrier and creating a single point of diversion with improved passage and habitat enhancement aspects for endangered species. The ESA listed species that use this reach of the Entiat are Spring Chinook, Summer Steelhead, and Bull Trout. Additionally, up to approximately 2 CFS or more of carriage water would be eligible to be put in trust.
Other: BPA 200705400 UPA - Entiat River Stillwater Restoration Project The Stillwater reach (River Mile 16.2-25.8) of the mainstem Entiat River lies within the Middle Entiat River Assessment Unit (AU). This area is the primary spring Chinook spawning area in the Entiat subbasin. The Stillwater Restoration Project is located at RM 21.4 of the Entiat River and will benefit federally endangered Upper Columbia River spring Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), as well as endangered steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) threatened bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), Non-listed salmonids and resident fish species will also benefit from the project. The goals of the Stillwater Restoration Project are to protect existing spawning grounds, enhance instream habitat complexity, restore 1500 feet of severely eroding streambank and reduce associated sediment delivery to critical spawning areas, and reestablish native riparian vegetation. The objectives include: 1) design and placement of approximately 365 pieces of LWD/logs instream in the Entiat River and 2) planting approximately 550 feet of native riparian vegetation. The Stillwater Restoration Project will provide Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and BOR with a Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) BiOp metric credit of 0.56 miles for the stream complexity limiting factor and 0.1 mile for the riparian enhancement limiting factor.
Other: BPA 200723100 UPA - Entiat subbasin riparian enhancement program This programmatic application will help restore streamside riparian vegetation within the Entiat subbasin to: increase habitat complexity and LWD recruitment; stabilize localized areas of accelerated bank erosion; and increase site-specific shade to help reduce summer stream temperatures and provide winter insolation. The project also includes fencing in specific tributaries to exclude sheep from streams that provide ESA listed salmonid habitat
BPA 200301700 Integrated Status/Effect Progr The Entiat Effectiveness Monitoring Study will measure the extent to which the Bridge-to-Bridge Habitat Restoration Project in the lower Entiat River affects (a) fish habitat, (b) fish habitat utilization, and (c) the productivity of salmonid fishes in the Entiat Subbasin, and will test aspects of the Monitoring Strategy for the Upper Columbia Basin (Hillman 2004) that pertain to effectiveness monitoring. Surveys of fish habitat and fish habitat utilization supported by this Study will be synthesized with separately-funded, yet compatible, agency monitoring programs to include all of the indicators specified for study in Hillman (2004). Coordination with landowners and the local Watershed Planning Unit are built into this Study design. The Study will monitor treatment and control reaches of the Entiat Subbasin, and utilize an ecological landscape classification system that has been recently developed (by BPA and Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board) to support effectiveness monitoring, and quantify Project-related changes in several indicators: Ideally, the Study will be implemented over a 10 year period. This duration is dependent upon funding. To start, a minimum of five years participation has been solicited from willing private landowners. An extended monitoring time frame is necessary to account for at least two salmonid generations (4-5 years per generation), to capture pre and post-restoration project conditions, interannual variability, long-term channel adjustments resulting from the restoration project, and possible changes to restoration project features that might arise from periodic factors like large runoff events.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
Off-channel areas provide juvenile refugia Restore 0.28 miles of lower AU off-channel habitat to provide juvenile rearing habitat and refuge during high-flow events. Entiat • Increase off-channel habitats where feasible • Evaluate the use of irrigation ditches as a means to increase rearing habitat
Structures allow upstream/downstream passage Replace one of three culverts along the 0.28 mile irrigation channel to a fish friendly culvert. Entiat Maintain and improve fish passage throughout the Assessment Unit.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Manage and Administer Projects Manage and Administer Project Manage ground efforts and manage subcontractors associated with implementing project. 11/1/2006 12/30/2007 $8,687
Biological objectives
Metrics
Produce Design and/or Specifications Engineering Design of 4 log v-weirs Site visit, measurements, and engineering design of the four (4) log-structures to be placed in the irrigation channel, design of diversion structure, and rootwad placement. 12/1/2006 3/30/2007 $6,203
Biological objectives
Metrics
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation Complete neccessary permit applications Complete the following permit applications: J.A.R.P.A. NEPA 3/1/2007 3/30/2007 $3,799
Biological objectives
Off-channel areas provide juvenile refugia
Metrics
Increase Instream Habitat Complexity Restore Irrigation Ditch to provide juvenile and spawning habitat. The removal of instream sump pumps and enhancing the diversison structure will provide increased habitat diversity and reduced entrainment losses. 6/1/2007 10/30/2007 $24,677
Biological objectives
Off-channel areas provide juvenile refugia
Metrics
* # of stream miles treated: 0.28 miles
* # of structures installed: 1 -LWD
* Start lat of treated reach: 47 69.20
* Start long of treated reach: 120 31.20
* End lat of treated reach: 47 68.94
* End long of treated reach: 120 31.61
Install Fish Passage Structure Remove three small culverts and replace with one larger culvert One current driveway culvert is impassable and will be replaced with a fish friendly culvert. 10/1/2007 10/30/2007 $0
Biological objectives
Structures allow upstream/downstream passage
Metrics
* # of miles of habitat accessed: 0.10 miles
* Does the structure remove or replace a fish passage barrier?: Yes
* Was barrier Full or Partial?: Full
Develop Pond Create off-channel pond The off-channel pond located along the irrigation channel will be improved upon by installing a turnout and return system. 11/1/2006 11/30/2007 $0
Biological objectives
Off-channel areas provide juvenile refugia
Metrics
Plant Vegetation Plant vegetation around disturbed shoreline. Plant native vegetation on streambank at structures. 10/1/2007 10/30/2007 $1,006
Biological objectives
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Pisces Status Reporting Updating Pisces Program 11/1/2006 12/30/2007 $6,631
Biological objectives
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Produce Status Report Produce web-site, photo gallery, EKO-System, Budget Analysis, Quartley Report. 12/1/2006 12/30/2007 $3,577
Biological objectives
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Fish Surveys Fish Spawning Surveys 12/30/2006 12/30/2007 $5,388
Biological objectives
Off-channel areas provide juvenile refugia
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectivenss Research

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Personnel [blank] $19,140 $2,836 $0
Fringe Benefits [blank] $7,568 $1,204 $0
Supplies [blank] $17,750 $0 $0
Travel [blank] $1,025 $450 $0
Overhead [blank] $9,097 $898 $0
Totals $54,580 $5,388 $0
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $59,968
Total work element budget: $59,968
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
Bureau of Reclamation Technical Review $1,500 $0 $0 In-Kind Confirmed
US Forest Service Localized Expertise $350 $0 $0 In-Kind Confirmed
WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Technical Review $350 $0 $0 In-Kind Confirmed
Totals $2,200 $0 $0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $0
FY 2011 estimated budget: $0
Comments:

Future O&M costs:

Termination date:
Comments:

Final deliverables:

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

ISRP Response - 200705500-Entiat River-UPA Lower Entiat River Off-Channel Restoration Project Jun 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]
$55,000 $5,000 $0 $60,000 Expense ProvinceExpense Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$55,000 $5,000 $0 $0 ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Response requested

NPCC comments: The ISRP believes the proposal has merit, but is requesting that the following concerns be addressed before a funding recommendation can be made. Execution of this proposal is contingent upon completion of the Whitehall Sump project, and final plans for this off-channel restoration project are still to be completed. This proposal is to improve approximately 1/4 mile of irrigation channel in the lower Entiat River in order to improve winter rearing opportunities in a section of river lacking in winter habitat. The proposal asserts that salmon and steelhead will use the irrigation channel once movement barriers (an irrigation dam and driveway culverts) have been eliminated and habitat complexity has been increased. This assertion is based on the observation of a coho redd at the downstream end and observations of occasional juveniles. The technical background section provides a good description of the site, although it did not give quantitative information about what carrying capacity for fish the irrigation canal could have or what water quality parameters might limit production. An estimate of the increased rearing capacity for target species should be provided in the response. Actual modifications to the irrigation canal include stream diversion (to connect a wetland), LWD addition, culvert replacement, and spawning gravel placement. Of the objectives given, the wetland pond reconnection, eliminating the movement barriers, and replanting native vegetation tasks seem to have the most potential. According to the narrative, the only monitoring that will be accomplished is a presence-absence fish survey. Much more could be done to document whether this project achieved its objectives, especially use by salmon in the winter - the primary objective of this project. A more complete monitoring plan should be included in the proposal. The ISRP will likely recommend funding completion of the plans and pre-treatment data collection, with final approval pending completion of the Whitehall Sump project, plans for the off channel work, and expanded monitoring. Before the ISRP can make its final recommendation, a response is needed on the issues raised above especially concerning monitoring and evaluations and clarification of benefits to fish of providing the quarter-mile, off-channel habitat.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: The ISRP thanks the project sponsors for clarifying the role of ISEMP in monitoring the effects of the proposed enhancement project. The information collected in the surveys will be very helpful in determining this project's effectiveness, assuming that ISEMP monitoring will actually include the side channel itself. Questions about the potential benefits of the work to focal species remain, however. In their response, project sponsors compare the abundance of Chinook and redband trout (RBT)/steelhead in side- and mainstem channels elsewhere in the Entiat River. From 2005 ISEMP snorkel surveys they noted that there was an approximate 10-fold increase in fish density (Chinook and RBT/steelhead) in side channels compared to the main river, with fish densities in side channels averaging 1.1 per square meter. They further state that the site of this proposal compares in features to the nearby Knapp-Wham irrigation channel, which contained 550 Chinook and RBT/steelhead per 1,000 square meters in 2005. This statement implied that the Knapp-Wham channel represents the potential summer rearing capacity for the site in question once restoration work was completed. When the 0.55 fish/square meter target is applied to the 521 square meters of channel and pond habitat made available in this project, the result is an annual incremental increase in rearing capacity of 287 Chinook and RBT/steelhead. However, project sponsors project an annual increase of 564 juveniles, not 287. They may have derived this figure from the product of 1.1 fish per square meter (from natural side channel surveys) and 521 square meters of newly available habitat according to the proposal (1.085 x 521 = 565). However, in order to achieve a target of 564 juveniles, this project site would need to have twice the rearing capacity of the Knapp-Wham site, and there was no explanation why this should be so. Therefore, the ISRP is still uncertain what the improved capacity of this short irrigation channel would be after the culverts are fixed, the log structure is installed, and riparian plantings are completed. Equally important, in this type of proposal, the sponsors should be able to relate their project to subbasin objectives for habitat improvement and adult projections on a quantitative basis. For example, in this case, the sponsors anticipate being able to produce approximately 300-600 juvenile anadromous salmonids by the habitat project they are proposing. If these are actually smolts, and if there is a 0.5% SAR, then this project will produce 1.5-3 adults annually. Nevertheless, as the project sponsors point out, this is a modest proposal with modest costs, and the monitoring should be adequate if this site is actually included in the ISEMP Entiat monitoring effort.