FY07-09 proposal 200710300
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Section 1. Administrative
Proposal title | Skookumchuck Watershed |
Proposal ID | 200710300 |
Organization | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) |
Short description | DRAFT: The Skookumchuck Watershed project is a multi-phased effort to protect a right bank tribuatry of the Columbia River that supports threatened steelhead. |
Information transfer | N/A |
Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
Contacts
Contact | Organization | |
---|---|---|
Form submitter | ||
Mark Teske | WA State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife | teskemst@dfw.wa.gov |
All assigned contacts |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Columbia Cascade / Columbia Upper Middle
Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
---|---|---|---|
N47 1.55 | W120 2.33 | Skookumchuck Creek | T 18 N R22 E S15 Section 9, S half S 3, S half S 5, N half of N half S 8,Ehalf of E half ofS11 |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Steelhead Upper Columbia River ESUAdditional: Shrub steppe obligates
Section 4. Past accomplishments
Year | Accomplishments |
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Section 5. Relationships to other projects
Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
---|---|---|---|
Other: Grant County PUD | None | Grant County PUD Mitigation | Compliments Protection and enhancement of habitat of listed species |
Section 6. Biological objectives
Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
---|---|---|---|
Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal | Overall goal of complimenting implementation of existing mitigation programs | Upper Middle Columbia | Goal: Use NPPC fish and wildlife mitigation programs to compliment the implementation of the Mid Columbia HCP, FERC license mitigation programs and other fish and wildlife efforts in a region wide context |
Biological Objective #2 | Maintianing or increasing populations of shrub steppe obligates based on recovery plan objectives and utilizing umbrella species concept as management tool | Upper Middle Columbia | Implement federal, state and tribal management plans, other conservation plans or recovery plans |
Habitat Objective # 3 | Maintain and/or enhance habitat function on existing shrub steppe. | Upper Middle Columbia | Improving weed control livestock grazing practices and road management on existing shrub steppe |
Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal | Provide sufficient quantity and quality shrubsteppe habitat to support the diversity of wildlife as represented by sustainable focal species populations. Emphasis should be placed on managing sagebrush dominated shrubsteppe and steppe/grassland dominated shrubsteppe toward conditions identified in the Recommended Future Conditions in the assessment section of this (UMM) document | Upper Middle Columbia | See Habitat Objective # 3 |
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 | Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation for enhancement activities including T&E and Cultural Resource review. | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $1,343 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Improve/Relocate Road | Improve/Relocate Roads | Improve/Relocate stream-adjacent roads | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $5,370 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics * # of road miles improved, upgraded, or restored: 2 miles of road |
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Install Fence | Install Stock Fence | Install stock fence to protect project area from trespass cattle | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $12,890 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics * # of miles of fence: 10 miles of fence |
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Plant Vegetation | Riparian plantings | Riparian plantings along degraded portions of stream. | 11/15/2008 | 2/15/2009 | $10,742 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics * # of riparian miles treated: miles of riparian planted |
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Maintain Vegetation | Control Weeds | Control weeds on project area | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $8,056 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
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Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage | Maintain Stock Fence | Maintain existing stock fence to keep out trespass cattle | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $4,028 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
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Provide Public Access/Information | Maintain Informational Signs, Reader Boards and Kiosks | Check and replace, as needed, boundary/informational signs and update information on reader boards and kiosks. | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $1,343 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
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Lease Land | Purchase Skookumchuck Watershed Phase 2 | Acquire (fee title) the targeted parcels and fold ownership and management into adjoining wildlife areas | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $700,000 |
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Coordination | Fire protection, PILT, and Weed assessments | Fire protection contracts, County Payments in Lieu of Taxes, and County Weed Assessments. | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $13,427 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
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Manage and Administer Projects | Manage Projects and Administrative duties | Coordinated and responsive actions consistent with management/mitigation goals and objectives. | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $3,625 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
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Manage and Administer Projects | Produce Status and Annual Reports | Produce Quarterly and Annual Reports | 10/1/2008 | 9/30/2009 | $800 |
Biological objectives Aquatic Fish: Columbia River : Goal Terrestrial/Wildlife: Shrubsteppe: Goal |
Metrics |
Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Supplies | Land Acquisition | $700,000 | $0 | $0 |
Personnel | Personnel for managing property | $0 | $8,500 | $8,850 |
Fringe Benefits | Personnel benefits for managing property | $0 | $2,135 | $2,220 |
Supplies | Supplies for managing property - Goods and Services | $0 | $6,000 | $6,273 |
Other | Fire protection, PILT, Weed Assessments on acquired property | $0 | $6,200 | $6,200 |
Overhead | Doesn't include indirect on land acquisition | $0 | $7,363 | $7,883 |
Totals | $700,000 | $30,198 | $31,426 |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: | $761,624 |
Total work element budget: | $761,624 |
Cost sharing
Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | 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: $15,120 FY 2011 estimated budget: $15,120 |
Comments: O&M for the acquisition |
Future O&M costs: O&M will need to continue to protect the investment.
Termination date: None
Comments: O and M are needed to protect the investment.
Final deliverables: A protected landcape at the targeted location with funtctioning habitat.
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 (Qualified)
NPCC comments: This proposal would benefit from a much more thorough treatment of the planned monitoring elements. A better description of methods to be employed to assess habitat changes (photo points, wildlife use) in response to actions such as removing a road, reducing grazing impacts or riparian plantings should be included. Contingencies for monitoring fish populations if the WDFW native fishes proposal is not funded also should be addressed. In addition, a more comprehensive description of the objectives and work elements would improve the proposal. Regardless, the contribution this land purchase will make to the preservation of shrub-steppe habitat in this area of the Upper Middle Mainstem Columbia (UMM) subbasin indicates that the project is very worthwhile. Although the ISRP is not requesting a response, the project would be strengthened by addressing the following comments. Technical and scientific background: A fairly lengthy background section is provided. The case they make for this land acquisition project from the standpoint of establishing a large, contiguous block of shrub-steppe habitat is compelling. Less convincing is the argument for steelhead. There is relatively little information provided to indicate either the abundance of steelhead utilizing this stream or the significance of these fish to the diversity or meta-population dynamics of the upper Columbia evolutionary significant unit (ESU). There are some statements made indicating that the Skookumchuck steelhead are important but no evidence is provided to indicate that this is the case. There is one statement in the "Genetics" section that current knowledge about straying and natal stream fidelity supports the importance of this population to the ESU. But what is known about these subjects is never presented. The other argument made to support the significance of this stream to steelhead is the observation that some proportion of the steelhead passing Priest Rapids Dam does not pass Rock Island Dam. The failure of the fish to appear at Rock Island is taken as an indication of tributary habitat use somewhere between the two dams. However, the decline in steelhead may be due to mortality or even spawning in mainstem habitats. Also, two different values for the proportion of fish disappearing between the dams are presented in the proposal: 23.14% on page 5 and 13.8% on page 10. This inconsistency further clouds the issue of the significance of Skookumchuck Creek to steelhead. Despite the less than convincing argument for steelhead, the background information does make the case sufficiently that this should be a worthwhile project. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: This section is complete. The fit with the priorities in the subbasin plan is evident and the relationship to other regional programs is also clear. Relationships to other projects: There is an ongoing effort to purchase other land in the Skookumchuck watershed for conservation purposes. The proposed project is a perfect complement to these other programs and may be a key piece, as the proposed purchase will secure land lower in the watershed, near the confluence with the Columbia. Also, ties with some proposed fish monitoring efforts in the subbasin are logical links and these are described. Objectives: The objectives are listed but very little detail is provided in this section. Some of the supporting information on the objectives can be gleaned from the background section at the beginning of the proposal. Tasks (work elements) and methods: The description of the work elements is very brief, simply a short list. The methods are more administrative than technical. This project is primarily a land acquisition. Some description of plans for management of the area should have been included. There are some management plans mentioned that apparently apply to the purchased land (Area Wildlife Management Plan, WDFW Habitat Conservation Plan), but no specifics on these plans are given. Monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring is covered by reference to another proposal, which might not get funded. This monitoring effort will focus on fish populations in the Upper Middle Mainstem Columbia subbasin. There is no indication of a process for monitoring wildlife. Perhaps the wildlife plans mentioned above will include some monitoring but this is not clear from the proposal. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Not much information is given, but since the effort would be mostly administrative, it seems adequate. Information transfer: There is no mention of an information transfer process. Benefits to focal and non-focal species: Steelhead is given as the focal species for this proposal, and the purchase of the land may contribute to their conservation, assuming this watershed proves to be important for this species. However, given the contribution the purchase of this land would make to the conservation effort being mounted in the surrounding area, this project should have a significant beneficial impact on shrub-steppe wildlife populations. There are very few non-focal species as the project lists all shrub-steppe obligates as part of the focal species list. Because this is a land purchase, with little deliberate manipulation of habitat, negative impacts are very unlikely.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable (Qualified)
NPCC comments: This proposal would benefit from a much more thorough treatment of the planned monitoring elements. A better description of methods to be employed to assess habitat changes (photo points, wildlife use) in response to actions such as removing a road, reducing grazing impacts or riparian plantings should be included. Contingencies for monitoring fish populations if the WDFW native fishes proposal is not funded also should be addressed. In addition, a more comprehensive description of the objectives and work elements would improve the proposal. Regardless, the contribution this land purchase will make to the preservation of shrub-steppe habitat in this area of the Upper Middle Mainstem Columbia (UMM) subbasin indicates that the project is very worthwhile. Although the ISRP is not requesting a response, the project would be strengthened by addressing the following comments. Technical and scientific background: A fairly lengthy background section is provided. The case they make for this land acquisition project from the standpoint of establishing a large, contiguous block of shrub-steppe habitat is compelling. Less convincing is the argument for steelhead. There is relatively little information provided to indicate either the abundance of steelhead utilizing this stream or the significance of these fish to the diversity or meta-population dynamics of the upper Columbia evolutionary significant unit (ESU). There are some statements made indicating that the Skookumchuck steelhead are important but no evidence is provided to indicate that this is the case. There is one statement in the "Genetics" section that current knowledge about straying and natal stream fidelity supports the importance of this population to the ESU. But what is known about these subjects is never presented. The other argument made to support the significance of this stream to steelhead is the observation that some proportion of the steelhead passing Priest Rapids Dam does not pass Rock Island Dam. The failure of the fish to appear at Rock Island is taken as an indication of tributary habitat use somewhere between the two dams. However, the decline in steelhead may be due to mortality or even spawning in mainstem habitats. Also, two different values for the proportion of fish disappearing between the dams are presented in the proposal: 23.14% on page 5 and 13.8% on page 10. This inconsistency further clouds the issue of the significance of Skookumchuck Creek to steelhead. Despite the less than convincing argument for steelhead, the background information does make the case sufficiently that this should be a worthwhile project. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: This section is complete. The fit with the priorities in the subbasin plan is evident and the relationship to other regional programs is also clear. Relationships to other projects: There is an ongoing effort to purchase other land in the Skookumchuck watershed for conservation purposes. The proposed project is a perfect complement to these other programs and may be a key piece, as the proposed purchase will secure land lower in the watershed, near the confluence with the Columbia. Also, ties with some proposed fish monitoring efforts in the subbasin are logical links and these are described. Objectives: The objectives are listed but very little detail is provided in this section. Some of the supporting information on the objectives can be gleaned from the background section at the beginning of the proposal. Tasks (work elements) and methods: The description of the work elements is very brief, simply a short list. The methods are more administrative than technical. This project is primarily a land acquisition. Some description of plans for management of the area should have been included. There are some management plans mentioned that apparently apply to the purchased land (Area Wildlife Management Plan, WDFW Habitat Conservation Plan), but no specifics on these plans are given. Monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring is covered by reference to another proposal, which might not get funded. This monitoring effort will focus on fish populations in the Upper Middle Mainstem Columbia subbasin. There is no indication of a process for monitoring wildlife. Perhaps the wildlife plans mentioned above will include some monitoring but this is not clear from the proposal. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: Not much information is given, but since the effort would be mostly administrative, it seems adequate. Information transfer: There is no mention of an information transfer process. Benefits to focal and non-focal species: Steelhead is given as the focal species for this proposal, and the purchase of the land may contribute to their conservation, assuming this watershed proves to be important for this species. However, given the contribution the purchase of this land would make to the conservation effort being mounted in the surrounding area, this project should have a significant beneficial impact on shrub-steppe wildlife populations. There are very few non-focal species as the project lists all shrub-steppe obligates as part of the focal species list. Because this is a land purchase, with little deliberate manipulation of habitat, negative impacts are very unlikely.