FY07-09 proposal 200714800

Jump to Reviews and Recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleMonitoring and Models for Restoration and Adaptive Management of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin
Proposal ID200714800
OrganizationUS Geological Survey (USGS) - Cook
Short descriptionA metapopulation model for white sturgeon will help managers to evaluate restoration strategies (e.g., harvest regulation, translocation, stocking) for this species, and indicate how monitoring data might best be used to provide feedback.
Information transferInformation transfer will occur through two workshops with stakeholders throughout the CR basin. We propose to organize a symposium, in coordination with CBFWA, that will serve as a forum for research on CRB white sturgeon, leading to an edited collection of publications. Results of the proposed research will also be included in this collection.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Mike Parsley U.S. Geological Survey michael_parsley@usgs.gov
All assigned contacts
Michele Beeman U.S. Geological Survey michele_beeman@usgs.gov
Mark Bevelhimer Oak Ridge National Laboratory bevelhimerms@ornl.gov
Yetta Jager Oak Ridge National Laboratory jagerhi@ornl.gov
Yetta Jager Oak Ridge National Laboratory jagerhi@ornl.gov
Mike Parsley U.S. Geological Survey michael_parsley@usgs.gov
Mike Parsley U.S. Geological Survey michael_parsley@usgs.gov
Mike Parsley U.S. Geological Survey michael_parsley@usgs.gov
Mike Parsley U.S. Geological Survey michael_parsley@usgs.gov
Victoria Shope Oak Ridge National Laboratory shopevc@ornl.gov

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Mainstem/Systemwide / Systemwide

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
Columbia, Snake, and Kootenai rivers Work will be applicable to all resident populations of white sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin and to the anadromous population in the lower Columbia River

Section 3. Focal species

primary: White Sturgeon All Populations

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 198605000 Evaluate Sturgeon Physical Hab This proposal is intricately linked to 198605000 as it will use population and harvest monitoring data generated by 198605000. Feedback will assist managers with developing management actions.
BPA 198806500 Kootenai R White Sturgeon Inve This project will use data from past white sturgeon stock assessment activities on the Kootenai River. Feedback will assist managers with selecting effective restoration measures.
BPA 199502700 Lake Roosevelt Sturgeon This project will use past monitoring and assessment data to provide feedback to managers for use in selecting restoration measures.
BPA 199700900 Eval Sturgeon Pop - Snake R (L This project will use white sturgeon population assessment data collected from the middle Snake River to assist managers with developing and prioritizing restoration measures.
BPA 200105800 Removal of Ghost Fishing Nets Feedback from model will provide insight on severity of loss of sturgeon productivity to ghost nets.
Other: USACOE [no entry] Behavior of white sturgeon near hydroprojects and fishways The USACOE funded research on white sturgeon passage at The Dalles Dam will privide valuable Information on upstream and downstream passage by white sturgeon. This information will be incorporated into the Population Viability Analysis model.
Other: Idaho Power Co. [no entry] PVA Analysis of White Sturgeon in the Middle Snake River This project would benefit from IPC-funded development of a PVA model for this species. IPC has also monitored populations in the Middle Snake River. This information is already incorporated into the existing model.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
Basinwide integration Conduct a basin-wide assessment of white sturgeon growth, population status and trends. Kootenai Estimate population changes, size, condition and age structure changes in burbot, white sturgeon, redband and bull trout, and mountain whitefish post nutrient treatment.
Basinwide integration Conduct a basin-wide assessment of white sturgeon growth, population status and trends. Upper Middle Columbia Reduce threats to the long-term persistence of populations and their habitat, ensuring the security of multiple interacting groups of white sturgeon, and providing habitat ...
Basinwide integration Conduct a basin-wide assessment of white sturgeon growth, population status and trends. Upper Middle Columbia Biological Objective 5: Improve current knowledge base on white sturgeon throughout the Upper Middle Mainstem of the Columbia River Watershed.
Basinwide integration Conduct a basin-wide assessment of white sturgeon growth, population status and trends. Middle Snake Evaluate the limiting factors to recruitment of white sturgeon
Basinwide integration Conduct a basin-wide assessment of white sturgeon growth, population status and trends. Middle Snake Continue to monitor success of white sturgeon spawning and early life history survival. ...Conduct periodic population assessment.
Implement PVA model Implement a metapopulation model to conduct population viability analysis for the Columbia River Basin. Kootenai Evaluate program success and appropriateness of goals and objectives with an individual-based demographic and population genetic model.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Kootenai Implement “demographic restoration” and “early life history research” stocking methods to maximize demographic and genetic vigor, and to address critical uncertainties overshadowing natural recruitment and population recovery.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to the desired future condition. Kootenai Restore natural recruitment
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Upper Middle Columbia Determine effects of hydro-electirc project on all life stages. ...Determine the effects of a supplementation progam on the current population.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Columbia Gorge Manage white sturgeon in Bonneville Reservoir for sustainable harvest.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Columbia Gorge Consider transplants into Bonneville Reservoir or hatchery supplementation if prolonged recruitment failures pose risks to white sturgeon productivity in Bonneville Reservoir. Information needed.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Columbia Gorge Provide passage facilities or transplant operations that offset the observed net downstream movement white sturgeon and ensure opportunities for genetic interchange. Information needed.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Columbia Gorge Consider Bonneville Reservoir as a potential donor population for upstream areas that have reduced productivity or are at risk due to recruitment limitations. Information needed.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Columbia Continue management for a viable population that will maintain sufficient abundance to meet the continued cultural, economic, and ecological needs.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Columbia Continue to monitor and manage Columbia River fisheries at sustainable levels, ensuring adequate spawner abundance through consistent recruitment to adulthood and protecting adult spawners from significant impacts.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Columbia Continue as appropriate to trap and transport juvenile sturgeon from the lower Columbia into upstream reservoirs to utilize available habitats and offset recruitment failures in impoundments .
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Restore and maintain sustainable naturally producing populations ...that support tribal and non-tribal harvest and cultural and economic practices while protecting the biological integrity and the genetic diversity.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Supplement less productive impounded WS populations through capture of juvenile WS from below Bonneville Dam and transporting them into The Dalles and John Day reservoirs to compensate for year
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Identify the need for and evaluate the success of LMM WS population recovery activities. Sustainable tribal and sport harvest is dependent upon periodic population status updates. Expand the periodic stock assessment program into McNary pool, the H
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Continue to monitor harvest levels and adjust fishing regulations as necessary between Bonneville and McNary Dams. Expand annual angler survey program to McNary pool, the Hanford Reach, and eventually to Priest Rapids Pool .
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia [Continue supplementation of the] sturgeon population in Priest Rapids Pool with hatchery fish. Consider using hatchery fish to supplement The Dalles and John Day WS populations.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Improve upstream passage. Improve spawning success in upstream reservoirs.
Provide feedback to managers Identify adaptive policies predicted to bring white sturgeon populations closer to desired future conditions. Lower Middle Columbia Capture and transport sturgeon from downstream to upstream reservoirs.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Submit/Acquire Data 1.1 USGS - Compile and summarize data for all river segments in the Columbia River basin USGS will compile and summarize data for all river segments in the Columbia River basin, including white sturgeon population estimates, length-weight and age-length relationships, survival rates, and migration rates, physical data describing river segments, reservoirs, hydroprojects, and passage facilities and historical records of daily temperature and flow below each hydroproject, habitat data for each life stage, where such information is available, hydrologic conditions required for spawning, and the historical proportion of females spawning, historical information describing management variables (angling regulations and catch data, hatchery operations, and stocking). 4/1/2007 4/1/2008 $110,419
Biological objectives
Basinwide integration
Metrics
Coordination 1.2a USGS - Conduct a workshop for stakeholders. This project will begin with a workshop in the Pacific Northwest. Workshop goals will include answering the following questions: (1) What regional patterns and differences exist among white sturgeon populations in the CRB that you would expect a model to reproduce?, (2) How does the current Snake River PVA model need to be changed to represent other CRB populations?, and (3) What kinds of management questions would you like to be able to address using the model? Questionaires will be distributed to solicit information and opinions in a formal manner. 6/1/2007 4/1/2008 $36,164
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Coordination 1.2b ORNL - Conduct a workshop for stakeholders. Conduct a workshop for stakeholders, possibly in coordination with a periodic Sturgeon meeting held by CBFWA. Presentations will help us to learn about each population and its management. Participants will be asked to define desirable future conditions for white sturgeon populations and prioritize policies, particularly those that are amenable to adaptive management. 6/1/2007 4/1/2008 $32,269
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment 1.3a USGS - Improve our understanding of how differences among river segments relate to differences in white sturgeon growth, status and trends. Integrate data from various studies that have been conducted along the Columbia (upper and lower basin) and Snake River for use in a metapopulation model for white sturgeon. USGS will be responsible for maintaining contacts with stakeholders in the CRB by hosting a workshop held in the first year of this project, by attending meetings related to other CRB projects funded by BPA, and by initiating conversations as needed. This effort will benefit the overall BPA program for this species by gathering and integrating information from resource agencies in each section of the Columbia River. By suggesting how monitoring data can be used in future to meet systemwide goals for white sturgeon, this project seeks to make data acquired in future become even more valuable to managers. 4/1/2008 9/30/2009 $182,878
Biological objectives
Basinwide integration
Metrics
Produce Inventory or Assessment 1.3b ORNL - Improve our understanding of how differences among river segments relate to differences in white sturgeon growth, status and trends. Describe and explain basinwide differences in white sturgeon growth and population trends. This research will be a collaborative effort involving all researchers supplying data. 4/1/2008 9/30/2009 $49,574
Biological objectives
Basinwide integration
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data 2.1 ORNL - Incorporate new features into the Snake River PVA model needed to represent the CRB. Adapting the existing Snake River PVA model to represent the broader geographic scope of the CRB will require additions and changes to the model. In addition, some of the current model’s assumptions may not hold for CRB populations. Suggestions of this sort may arise at the first workshop. Although we are not in a position to anticipate all additions needed, we anticipate that the CRB model will need to simulate the following new processes: (1) supplementation or stocking, (2) locks and downstream passage facilities, and (3) branching river topology. 4/1/2007 4/1/2008 $31,007
Biological objectives
Implement PVA model
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research
Focal Area: Hydrosystem
Analyze/Interpret Data 2.2 ORNL - Analyze data to produce the input parameters required by the PVA model to represent spawning and incubation Implementing the Snake River PVA model requires that the data compiled above from different studies be processed into a form usable by the model. Because the model is hierarchical, temperature and flow data for each reach are combined with other information, including habitat suitabilities, to obtain parameters needed to simulate survival during spawning and incubation. 10/1/2007 9/30/2008 $31,006
Biological objectives
Implement PVA model
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data 2.3 ORNL - Calibrate the modified PVA model to data for populations and river segments in the CRB. The next step will be to calibrate the model to CRB data. We will compare model predictions over a historical period with monitoring data describing population status in the various river segments and reservoirs of the CRB. We will seek patterns of discrepancy between model predictions and monitoring data that lead to improved representation of processes in the model. 4/1/2008 4/1/2009 $44,617
Biological objectives
Implement PVA model
Metrics
Coordination 3.1a USGS - Conduct a second meeting with resource managers. Resource managers will be invited to attend a second workshop specifically for the purpose of presenting results and soliciting feedback to proceed with applying the model to a management question of interest to the group. First, we will present results of model calibration and discuss potential solutions to any outstanding questions. Second, the group will be asked to define a systemwide management goal (or undesirable conditions to avoid) and to choose a policy as a focus. 4/1/2009 4/1/2010 $25,480
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Coordination 3.1b ORNL - Conduct a second meeting with resource managers. Resource managers will be invited to attend a second workshop specifically for the purpose of presenting results and soliciting feedback to proceed with applying the model to a management question of interest to the group. First, we will present results of model calibration and discuss potential solutions to any outstanding questions. Second, the group will be asked to define a systemwide management goal (or undesirable conditions to avoid) and to choose a policy as a focus. 4/1/2009 4/1/2010 $19,453
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report 3.2a USGS - Organize a symposium to publish basinwide research results for white sturgeon.. We will coordinate with CBFWA to organize a symposium, possibly at the Western Division AFS meetings in summer 2008. The primary purpose of this symposium will be to facilitate a collaborative effort to characterize regional patterns in growth, status, and trends in white sturgeon. We will arrange for publication of results as a collection of journal papers or an AFS symposium publication. 4/1/2009 9/30/2010 $25,480
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report 3.2b ORNL - Organize a symposium to publish basinwide research results for white sturgeon.. We will coordinate with CBFWA to organize a symposium, possibly at the Western Division AFS meetings in summer 2009. The primary purpose of this symposium will be to facilitate a collaborative effort to characterize regional patterns in growth, status, and trends in white sturgeon. We will arrange for publication of results as a collection of journal papers or an AFS symposium publication. 4/1/2009 9/30/2010 $19,453
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data 3.3 ORNL - Incorporate proposed monitoring feedbacks (adaptive policies) into the model. The main question to be answered by this task is, “How can monitoring data best be used to inform policy?”. We will develop a general function to represent feedback between population status and future policy for a management concern highlighted by resource managers. Parameters to be added will include a time lag between information describing population status and policy adjustment and uncertainty in population status. 4/1/2009 4/1/2010 $25,937
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data 3.4 ORNL - Solve for adaptive policies. If those participating in the 2nd workshop decide to use the model to compare fixed options, we will run scenarios with the alternatives of interest. If, however, workshop participants decide to examine adaptive policies, we will conceptualize the adaptive policy as a response function that has two parts: a trigger threshold – a specific measure of population status that triggers a response in policy, and a policy response. We hope to use optimization methods to identify adaptive policies that [the model predicts] will move the system toward a desired future condition. We will develop a general function to represent feedback between population status and future policy. Parameters to be added will include a time lag between information describing population status and policy adjustment and uncertainty in population status. Depending on which policies we decide to include based on workshop recommendations, other model parameters will also be needed. 4/1/2009 4/1/2010 $64,842
Biological objectives
Provide feedback to managers
Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Supplies ORNL, computer upgrades (2 nodes in FY07, 2 nodes in FY08, publication costs/software in 2009) $8,000 $8,000 $2,000
Travel ORNL - trips to west coast at ~2,000/trip/person+OH, FY07-3 trips, FY08-1 trip, FY09-4 trips $6,000 $2,000 $8,000
Overhead ORNL OH assuming from BPA (not WFO), no DOE FAC $17,646 $35,412 $35,763
Personnel ORNL - Jager, FY07-0.1 FTE, FY08-0.25 FTE, FY09-0.26 FTE; Bevelhimer, FY07-0.07 FTE, FY08-0.11 FTE, FY09-0.11 FTE $25,581 $60,855 $65,040
Fringe Benefits ORNL - Jager and Bevelhimer $7,311 $17,668 $18,882
Personnel USGS $36,320 $80,078 $54,853
Fringe Benefits USGS $10,896 $24,023 $16,456
Supplies USGS workshop costs $6,000 $500 $6,500
Travel USGS $7,650 $3,300 $14,340
Overhead USGS $27,878 $49,421 $42,206
Totals $153,282 $281,257 $264,040
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $698,579
Total work element budget: $698,579
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
Idaho Power Co Snake River modeling support $95,000 $95,000 $0 Cash Under Development
Totals $95,000 $95,000 $0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $70,108
FY 2011 estimated budget: $70,108
Comments: The final year will be devoted to completing publications, and finalizing the publication of the proposed Symposium.

Future O&M costs: None.

Termination date: 30 Sept 2011
Comments: Final publication of manuscripts in peer reviewed journals will occur beyond the termination date of the contract.

Final deliverables: Final Report - A Population Viability Analysis Model for Columbia River Basin White Sturgeon. Manuscripts: Invited papers included in the proposed "Symposium on the Status, Trends, and Management of white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River Basin." including: (1) Bevelhimer et al. paper on "Comparison of growth and bioenergetics modeling"; (2) Jager, Parsley et al. paper on "Simulated adaptive management of white sturgeon." and others.

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

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable (Qualified)

NPCC comments: This proposal to assemble the basin's monitoring information on sturgeon, their habitat, and the efforts underway to manage sturgeon appears worthwhile. The ISRP has been asking for coordinated efforts among the sturgeon researchers, and the proposal intends to collect relevant data from all of them. One thing they likely will find is that the habitats differ among subpopulations, and likewise the management strategies. The metapopulation model is a reasonable framework for assembling the information, although strictly speaking it is hard to see the currently isolated populations as a functioning metapopulation. The model would build on a similar model developed for white sturgeon in the Snake River above the Hells Canyon Project, where remnant populations still exist, primarily above Brownlee Reservoir. A strong point, again from the perspective of the ISRP's desire to see the sturgeon researchers cooperate, is the planned workshop for planning the model. The existing Snake model considers spawning rates, rates of export of larvae from one reservoir to the next downstream, upstream movement of adults (negligible), water quality (mainly temperature and DO), the bioenergetics of sturgeon growth (using a bioenergetics submodel), etc. It does not include specific habitat factors such as the hypothesized riparian connection for egg and larval survival, although these could be included in an updated version for the whole basin. There seems to be room in such a model for the conservation hatchery outputs on the Kootenai, as well as egg mortality in the silty substrate there. Translocation such as is done in the lower Columbia can be included. A key to model success will be the discussions about what to include in it (models will only manipulate the factors put in them, not instigate new ones). The model can serve as a valuable conceptual framework rather than an exercise in precise mathematical formulation and prediction. The model has another advantage for the Fish and Wildlife Program. It is one case where Idaho Power has done the initial work and would contribute funding to the BPA effort. This cooperation would be almost unique and something to foster. The ISRP finds this proposal Fundable (Qualified). The qualification is how the model would be used as a tool for assembling the data and making management recommendations, and whether it is intended to be a computational predictor or a guide. The sponsors also need to establish that the project has the support of the various researchers in the basin from whom the monitoring and research data will have to come. The results of data assembly, model assembly, model runs, and assessments need to be discussed in follow-up workshops with fish managers, and not just lead to a publication for the authors.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable (Qualified)

NPCC comments: This proposal to assemble the basin's monitoring information on sturgeon, their habitat, and the efforts underway to manage sturgeon appears worthwhile. The ISRP has been asking for coordinated efforts among the sturgeon researchers, and the proposal intends to collect relevant data from all of them. One thing they likely will find is that the habitats differ among subpopulations, and likewise the management strategies. The metapopulation model is a reasonable framework for assembling the information, although strictly speaking it is hard to see the currently isolated populations as a functioning metapopulation. The model would build on a similar model developed for white sturgeon in the Snake River above the Hells Canyon Project, where remnant populations still exist, primarily above Brownlee Reservoir. A strong point, again from the perspective of the ISRP's desire to see the sturgeon researchers cooperate, is the planned workshop for planning the model. The existing Snake model considers spawning rates, rates of export of larvae from one reservoir to the next downstream, upstream movement of adults (negligible), water quality (mainly temperature and DO), the bioenergetics of sturgeon growth (using a bioenergetics submodel), etc. It does not include specific habitat factors such as the hypothesized riparian connection for egg and larval survival, although these could be included in an updated version for the whole basin. There seems to be room in such a model for the conservation hatchery outputs on the Kootenai, as well as egg mortality in the silty substrate there. Translocation such as is done in the lower Columbia can be included. A key to model success will be the discussions about what to include in it (models will only manipulate the factors put in them, not instigate new ones). The model can serve as a valuable conceptual framework rather than an exercise in precise mathematical formulation and prediction. The model has another advantage for the Fish and Wildlife Program. It is one case where Idaho Power has done the initial work and would contribute funding to the BPA effort. This cooperation would be almost unique and something to foster. The ISRP finds this proposal Fundable (Qualified). The qualification is how the model would be used as a tool for assembling the data and making management recommendations, and whether it is intended to be a computational predictor or a guide. The sponsors also need to establish that the project has the support of the various researchers in the basin from whom the monitoring and research data will have to come. The results of data assembly, model assembly, model runs, and assessments need to be discussed in follow-up workshops with fish managers, and not just lead to a publication for the authors.