FY07-09 proposal 200709700

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Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleRestoring connectivity to a floodplain wetland on Multnomah Channel
Proposal ID200709700
OrganizationDucks Unlimited, Inc.
Short descriptionA creek will be realigned into its historic channel to maintain water in a wetland and run a fish ladder. A fish ladder will be installed adjacent to an existing water-control structure to increase connectivity between Multnomah Channel and the floodplain
Information transferThis site is part of a long-term monitoring program designed to assess juvenile salmon use of seasonal floodplain wetland habitat, fish passage capability through water-control structures, fish passage opportunity relative to hydrologic connectivity with the floodplain, amphibian use, bird use, and vegetation response to holding water on the floodplain and riparian planting. Pre-project monitoring has been done as well as monitoring after a water-control structure was installed. The water-control structure temporarily decreased hydrologic connectivity between Multnomah Channel and the floodplain wetland. After this last phase of the restoration, monitoring will be done to ensure that this temporary problem is resolved. Results from this monitoring program have been reported in annual reports and distributed to a list of agency biologists and other interested individuals. Results have also been presented at various conferences including Oregon Chapter American Fisheries Society, Society for Ecological Restoration, and others. After the final phase has been completed and monitoring results of hydrologic connectivity, riparian re-growth, beaver activity, bird and other anumal and use assessed, a report will be written and more conference presentation will likely follow. Results from the last phase of this project will also be used as a case study in a project to write best management practices for use of water-control structures in floodplain wetlands where salmon are present.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Cynthia Baker Ducks Unlimited, Inc cbaker2@ducks.org
All assigned contacts
Cynthia Baker Ducks Unlimited, Inc cbaker2@ducks.org
Kamala Netter Ducks Unlimited knetter@ducks.org
Randy VanHoy Ducks Unlimited VanHoy@ducks.org

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Lower Columbia / Willamette

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
45o41'22.82"N 122o52'6.93"W Multnomah Channel floodplain wetland on west bank of Multnomah Channel

Section 3. Focal species

primary: All Wildlife
secondary: Chinook Lower Columbia River ESU
secondary: Chinook Upper Willamette River ESU
secondary: Coho Lower Columbia River ESU

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
Other: DU OR-12-2 North Unit Sauvie Island Enhancement of 400 acres of seasonal emergent and forested wetlands for waterfowl, native herpatiles, and juvenile salmonids.
Other: DU OR-12-5 Burlington Bottoms This site is upstream of the proposed project. This site provides nearby off-channel habitat for rearing salmon, which they can access via a tidal channel. It also provides habitat for waterfowl.
Other: DU OR-12-10 Racetrack and Gay Lakes Enhancement Two emergent wetlands on Sauvie Island; provide nearby migration and wintering habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds, and nesting/brooding habitat for waterfowl.
Other: DU OR-32-1 Smith and Bybee Wetlands This site is on the Columbia Slough, which is located near the proposed project. This site provides resting and feeding and rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. This 1200 acre wetland also provides brooding, migration and winter habitat for waterfowl. There are native turtles and amphibians as well as otter and beaver present.
Other: DU OR-32-2 Multnomah South This sites is immediately to the south of the proposed site. Crabtree Creek currently runs through this wetland. This creek was diverted to the south years ago but used to run through the north wetland. There is currently too much water running through the fishway to the south and not enough to the north. The propsed project is very much related to this site.
Other: DU OR-76-1 Elledge, North Sauvie Island This site is near the proposed site and provides brooding, migration and winter habitat for waterfowl as well as habitat for other aquatic and terrestrial animals.
Other: DU OR-107-1 Scappoose Bottoms, Teal Slough Enhanced 25 acres of wapato wetlands, restored 100 acres of tidal emergent and forested wetlands along Scappoose Creek to benefit ducks, geese, swans, numerous native hepatiles, and juvenile salmon.
Other: DU OR-107-2 Hogan Ranch Wetland Enhancement This site is adjacent to Teal Slough, and has restored an additional 130 acres of tidal emergent and forested wetlands.
Other: DU OR-126-1 Enyart Bottoms This site is immediately upstream of the proposed project. McCarthy Creek runs through a wetland and drains into Multnomah Channel. This site provides nearby off-channel habitat for rearing salmon and habitat for waterfowl.
Other: DU WA-020-3 Shillapoo Lake This site is across the Columbia River from the proposed site but near enough for waterfowl to migrate back and forth on a daily basis.
Other: DU WA-056-1 Vancouver Lake This site is across the Columbia River from the proposed site and provides nearby waterfowl brooding, miration and winter habitat.
Other: DU WA-56-2 LaCenter Bottoms This site is three miles up from the mouth of the Lewis River, which drains into the Columbia River at the downstream tip of Sauvie Island. This site provides juvenile salmon winter and spring rearing habitat. It also provides brooding, migration and winter habitat for waterfowl. Beaver have been observed at this site.
Other: ODFW 10800203000-10 Spring Chinook Salmon in the Willamette and Sandy Rivers ODFW PIT tags juvenile Chinook above Willamette Falls. We scan all salmonids for PIT tags during fish monitoring.
BPA 200303600 CBFWA Monitor/Eval Program We will inform CSMEP of our fish monitoring activities.
BPA 200400200 PNAMP Funding We will inform PNAMP of our fish monitoring activities.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
effectiveness monitoring monitor fish passage through the fish ladder and monitor hydrologic connectivity of the river and floodplain Willamette Evaluate the effectiveness of site-specific restoration efforts
enhance wetland Install a flow splitter to control water to the north and south wetlands and also back up 20 acres of water at the north end of the south wetland Willamette Restore physical habitats by increasing water volumes at key times and increasing the extent and duration of flow interaction with the hyporheic zone
increase hydrologic connectivity restore hydrologic connectivity and increase juvenile salmon rearing habitat Willamette connect favorable habitats (connect fish to off-channel habitat by reconnecting rivers with floodplains)
provide inflow to wetland Putting Crabtree Creek back into its historic channel to flow through the wetland will keep the wetland full during the winter and spring and make more habitat for wetland species Willamette Achieve more natural flow and water regime (maintain natural water level and soil moisture regime)
riparian improvement plant riparian vegetation along realigned historic channel of Crabtree Creek Willamette restore physical habitat (woody debris recruitment and stream temerature control)

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Enhance Floodplain Install a flow splitter A flow splitter will be installed at the road prism to control flow between the north and south wetlands and to increase inundation to 50 acres of wetland during the winter and spring. 7/1/2007 10/1/2007 $2,500
Biological objectives
enhance wetland
Metrics
* # of acres treated: 50
Plant Vegetation Plant native trees along the newly excavated section of Crabtree Creek Plant native trees along x feet of the excavated channel, totalling x acres of new trees in the riparian zone. 9/1/2007 11/1/2007 $10,000
Biological objectives
riparian improvement
Metrics
* # of acres of planted: 50
Realign, Connect, and/or Create Channel Redirect a portion of water flow from the current Crabtree Creek into it's historic channel Excavate a 2400-foot swale from Crabtree Creek to the 12 ft. elevation in the north wetland. 7/1/2007 10/1/2007 $17,500
Biological objectives
provide inflow to wetland
Metrics
* # of stream miles treated, including off-channels, after realignment: 0.5
Install Fish Passage Structure Install fish ladder adjancent to an existing water-control structure in the north wetland A portion of Crabtree Creek will be realigned to run through the north wetland, which has an existing water-control structure. This structure limits hydrologic connectivity between the river and floodplain. The fish ladder will be installed to provided a means for fish and other aquatic biota passage into and out of the wetland. 6/1/2008 10/15/2008 $160,000
Biological objectives
increase hydrologic connectivity
Metrics
* If installing a ladder, does the ladder meet NOAA specs for attraction flow, pool dimensions, jump height, etc?: Yes
Analyze/Interpret Data analyze fish and hydrology data for report Data from the pressure transducers and the data from the two-way fish trap in the fish ladder will be analyzed and presented in a report. 7/1/2009 8/1/2009 $5,000
Biological objectives
effectiveness monitoring
Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Other Channel excavation $17,500 $0 $0
Other install fish ladder $0 $40,000 $0
Supplies fish ladder $0 $120,000 $0
Personnel monitoring $0 $0 $5,000
Other tree planting $10,000 $0 $0
Other install flow splitter $2,500 $0 $0
Totals $30,000 $160,000 $5,000
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $195,000
Total work element budget: $195,000
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
NFWF engineering design $30,000 $0 $0 Cash Confirmed
NFWF construction management $0 $10,000 $0 Cash Confirmed
NRCS (WHIP) flow splitter $10,000 $0 $0 Cash Confirmed
NRCS (WHIP) culvert $4,500 $0 $0 Cash Confirmed
NRCS (WHIP) tree planting $15,500 $0 $0 Cash Confirmed
NRCS (WHIP) channel excavation $80,000 $0 $0 Cash Confirmed
ODFW R&E monitoring $0 $0 $15,000 Cash Confirmed
Totals $140,000 $10,000 $15,000

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $19,032
FY 2011 estimated budget: $19,032
Comments: one more year of monitoring and a report FY2010

Future O&M costs: Metro, the landowner will continue paying for operation and maitenance at the site. Other confirmed funding sources will pay for additional monitoring and report preparation.

Termination date: 9/30/2009
Comments: By September 2009, this final construction will be complete. Habitat monitoring may continue but will be funded by other means. Metro, the landowner will continue paying for operation and maitenance at the site.

Final deliverables: The fish ladder will be installed, one year of post-project monitoring on fish passage through the ladder will be complete as well a hydrologic connectivity, 0.5 miles of stream will connect the north and south wetland units, and 50 acres of riparian area will be planted.

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]
$0 $0 $0 $0 Expense ProvinceExpense Do Not Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0 $0 $0 $0 ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This project will restore 100 acres of tidal wetland. Restoration of such areas in the Lower Willamette River is identified as a priority in the Willamette Subbasin Plan with significance for the restoration of Upper Willamette River spring Chinook, a listed species. CREP identified loss of wetlands and habitat as a key limiting factor. The US Army Corps of Engineers report on ecosystem approaches to habitat restoration also identifies a need to restore wetland habitat in the estuary, which is also tied to the ODFW Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. A creek will be realigned into its historic channel to maintain water in the wetland. A fish ladder will be installed adjacent to an existing water-control structure to increase connectivity between Multnomah Channel and the floodplain. The proposal contains excellent photos and maps and a very persuasive description of the present conditions and need for resolution. The proposal does a good job referencing priorities in the Willamette Subbasin Plan. This is a collaborative project with Metro, who owns the land. In addition, collaboration and coordination with ODFW and City of Portland Environmental Services is also described. The project seems to fit well with ongoing wetlands restoration projects in this area. Information on wildlife population response to similar wetlands enhancement projects is effectively described. Good links to previous work that led to this project are given. The cost:benefit match is appropriate. Objectives are clearly linked to restoration actions in the subbasin plan, but the proposal could do a better job of being more specific (e.g. Objective 1 states the project will "Increase water supply to the north wetland..." How much? How will they measure potential benefit?). Work elements for the four objectives are clear quantitative descriptions, with work allocation among partners clearly described. Techniques are described generally. Monitoring of restoration effectiveness is one of the project's objectives. Monitoring of hydrologic and fish passage effects is well described in the four work elements. Specific details and timelines are given. Facilities are adequate. Existing collaborative relationships between Ducks Unlimited and other groups indicate they are an appropriate entity to conduct this project. Results from the last phase of this project will be used as a case study in a project to write best management practices for use of water-control structures in floodplain wetlands where salmon are present. As part of an ongoing monitoring program, results from the restoration activities at this site will be reported in annual reports distributed to agencies and presented at professional meetings. A final report will include a summary of best management practices for this type of restoration. Focal species are only generally stated as “all wildlife” but this type of restoration should have quite a significant benefit in restoring a relatively large acreage of lowland riparian and floodplain habitat and most native fish and wildlife associated with those habitats. Other species, not listed as focal species, are likely to benefit in the long-term from improved and expanded wetland habitat.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This project will restore 100 acres of tidal wetland. Restoration of such areas in the Lower Willamette River is identified as a priority in the Willamette Subbasin Plan with significance for the restoration of Upper Willamette River spring Chinook, a listed species. CREP identified loss of wetlands and habitat as a key limiting factor. The US Army Corps of Engineers report on ecosystem approaches to habitat restoration also identifies a need to restore wetland habitat in the estuary, which is also tied to the ODFW Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. A creek will be realigned into its historic channel to maintain water in the wetland. A fish ladder will be installed adjacent to an existing water-control structure to increase connectivity between Multnomah Channel and the floodplain. The proposal contains excellent photos and maps and a very persuasive description of the present conditions and need for resolution. The proposal does a good job referencing priorities in the Willamette Subbasin Plan. This is a collaborative project with Metro, who owns the land. In addition, collaboration and coordination with ODFW and City of Portland Environmental Services is also described. The project seems to fit well with ongoing wetlands restoration projects in this area. Information on wildlife population response to similar wetlands enhancement projects is effectively described. Good links to previous work that led to this project are given. The cost:benefit match is appropriate. Objectives are clearly linked to restoration actions in the subbasin plan, but the proposal could do a better job of being more specific (e.g. Objective 1 states the project will "Increase water supply to the north wetland..." How much? How will they measure potential benefit?). Work elements for the four objectives are clear quantitative descriptions, with work allocation among partners clearly described. Techniques are described generally. Monitoring of restoration effectiveness is one of the project's objectives. Monitoring of hydrologic and fish passage effects is well described in the four work elements. Specific details and timelines are given. Facilities are adequate. Existing collaborative relationships between Ducks Unlimited and other groups indicate they are an appropriate entity to conduct this project. Results from the last phase of this project will be used as a case study in a project to write best management practices for use of water-control structures in floodplain wetlands where salmon are present. As part of an ongoing monitoring program, results from the restoration activities at this site will be reported in annual reports distributed to agencies and presented at professional meetings. A final report will include a summary of best management practices for this type of restoration. Focal species are only generally stated as “all wildlife” but this type of restoration should have quite a significant benefit in restoring a relatively large acreage of lowland riparian and floodplain habitat and most native fish and wildlife associated with those habitats. Other species, not listed as focal species, are likely to benefit in the long-term from improved and expanded wetland habitat.