UPA Entiat Subbasin Riparian Enhancement Program proposal 200723100

FY07-09 proposal 200723100

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	UPA Entiat Subbasin Riparian Enhancement Program
Proposal ID	200723100
Organization	Chelan County Conservation District (SWCD)
Short description	Riparian projects are being proposed in the Entiat subbasin to benefit Upper Columbia spring Chinook, steelhead and bull trout. Funding is requested for Tillicum Creek Fence and potential programmatic riparian projects.
Information transfer	Public Information: Chelan County Conservation District website. EKO-system project tracking portal (in development). CCCD newsletters and reports.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Rich Malinowski	Chelan County Conservation District	rich.malinowski@wa.nacdnet.net
All assigned contacts
Peggy Entzel	Chelan County Conservation District	peggy.entzel@wa.nacdnet.net
Rich Malinowski	Chelan County Conservation District	rich.malinowski@wa.nacdnet.net

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Columbia Cascade / Entiat

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
47.39	120.13	Entiat River	riparian areas adjacent to the Entiat River, from mouth to Entiat Falls
47.44	120.22	Mad River	riparian areas along the Mad River
47.4451	120.2344	Tillicum Creek	Tillicum Creek Fence

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Steelhead Upper Columbia River ESU
secondary: Chinook Upper Columbia River Spring ESU
secondary: All Resident Fish
secondary: Westslope Cutthroat
secondary: Bull Trout
secondary: All Wildlife
Additional: Red-eyed Vireo, American Beaver, Yellow-breasted Chat

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
BPA	200500400	Whitehall Wells	The Whitehall Wells diversion project is located in 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. The objectives include eliminating four unscreened surface irrigation diversions and replacing them with three wells.
BPA	200500300	Entiat Four Mile-Wells	The Entiat 4 Mile diversion is located in 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.
Other: Bureau of Reclamation	[no entry]	Knapp-Wham & Hanan-Detwiler Ditch Consolidation	Project feasibility and preliminary design work is being conducted via Bureau of Reclamation funding and technical assistance in FY 2003 through 2006. 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 potentially eliminating part or all of the Hanan Detwiler Ditch if its customers can be adequately served by the Knapp-Wham system, wells, or a combination of both. At a minimum, this project will replace two diversions that constitute at least partial barriers and replacing them with a single diversion with improved passage 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, and channel complexity could potentially be added at the former Hanan Detwiler diversion and side channel site.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Indian Creek Flood Repair	1995. Involved repair of spring runoff damage on the Indian Creek crossing on the Tillicum Road; Treatments included trash rack removal, road surface repair, ditch and culvert cleaning and fill slope reconstruction.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Tillicum-Miners Road Rehab	1996. Involved road drainage improvement (drain dips, culverts) cut slope stabilization, surfacing and revegetation on the lower Indian Creek Road, just above lamb load out site.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Indian Creek Culvert Replacements	(at lamb load out site): Involved the replacement of the two existing, round corrugated metal culverts that were fish passage barriers with open bottoms arch culverts.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Lake Creek Area Road Rehab	Involved reshaping/resurfacing of a portion of the Tillicum Creek Road (above Tillicum Creek crossing- above lamb load out site).
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Tillicum Fan Restoration	(sheep turnout site): Involved revegetation work on the alluvial fan at the mouth of Tillicum Creek; Treatments included soil decompaction (moldboard plow, disc, harrow), grass seeding, alfalfa cultivation, tree planting and noxious weed removal. Completed in 1997 as part of the Entiat Area Road Rehab Project.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Entiat Channel Restoration Project	1997. Involved a variety of in-channel and bank treatments in association with riparian corridor roads and stream crossings in the Stormy, Potato, Mud and Indian Creek drainages (above lamb load out site)
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Entiat Area Road Rehabilitation	Involved drainage improvement and stabilization work on lower Shady Pass and in the Silver-Pope, Mud, Tillicum and Indian Creek drainages; Treatments included… completion of restoration work on the Tillicum fan site, which included removal of litter/metal debris and an unsafe wooden structure, removal of old concrete structures, bridge abutment and toe slope stabilization, installation of vehicle barriers, spot surfacing, noxious weed removal, native grass seeding and shrub planting.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Tillicum-Moe Road Rehab	1998. (Just up-valley from lamb load out site): Road improvements on Road #5810 Mode Ridge and Road #5800 Tillicum Creek Road. This work included construction and reconstruction of drain dips, road drainage improvements, spot surfacing, ditch pulling of 3.21 miles of road #5810. Project also included insloping of existing road prism for drainage improvement, spot surfacing, ditch cleaning, and general blading and shaping of 5.16 miles of road #5800.
Other: U.S. Forest Service	[no entry]	Indian Creek Dispersed Site Rehab	1999. (at lamb load out site): Decompaction, traffic control and revegetation of dispersed campsite/sheep bedding area at the mouth of Indian Creek, including rework of outlet rock on lower arch.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy
Exclude sheep from grazing along Mad River, tribs	Construct approximately 0.7 miles of fence to exclude sheep from grazing along the Mad River, Tillicum Creek and Indian Creek. Supports the following Subbasin Management Objectives: Water Quality (Sediment): "Decrease or maintain sediment loads to less than 12% fines in spawning gravels throughout the AU by 2020";"Decrease substrate embeddedness conditions in the mainstem and tributaries by 2020;and Riparian Conditions: "Reduce impacts from development and livestock management within the riparian area by 2015; Improve riparian vegetation corridors and associated stream canopies where they have been degraded to a minimum of 75% of the estimated historic condition where feasible by 2025; Increase/maintain the number of large trees (site potential tree height) and complex riparian communities that will eventually increase the natural recruitment of LWD by 2025."	Entiat	(Sediment): Reduce localized streambank erosion.(Contaminants): Prevent direct access of livestock to streams via fencing. (Riparian):Prevent direct access of livestock to streams via fencing.
Facilitate livestock watering	Develop watering facilities and/or hardened access to facilitate livestock watering.Supports the following Subbasin Management Objectives: Water Quality (Sediment): "Decrease or maintain sediment loads to less than 12% fines in spawning gravels throughout the AU by 2020";"Decrease substrate embeddedness conditions in the mainstem and tributaries by 2020;and Riparian Conditions: "Reduce impacts from development and livestock management within the riparian area by 2015; Improve riparian vegetation corridors and associated stream canopies where they have been degraded to a minimum of 75% of the estimated historic condition where feasible by 2025; Increase/maintain the number of large trees (site potential tree height) and complex riparian communities that will eventually increase the natural recruitment of LWD by 2025."	Entiat	(Sediment): Reduce localized streambank erosion.(Contaminants): Prevent direct access of livestock to streams via fencing. (Riparian):Protect/ enhance riparian vegetation along unstable stream banks; Protect/enhance fluvial processes,floodplain function.
Restore riparian conditions along Tillicum creek	Plant 0.1 miles of native vegetation with a buffer width of at least 35 feet to restore riparian conditions along Tillicum Creek. Supports the following Subbasin Management Objectives: Water Quality (Sediment): "Decrease or maintain sediment loads to less than 12% fines in spawning gravels throughout the AU by 2020";"Decrease substrate embeddedness conditions in the mainstem and tributaries by 2020;and Riparian Conditions: "Reduce impacts from development and livestock management within the riparian area by 2015; Improve riparian vegetation corridors and associated stream canopies where they have been degraded to a minimum of 75% of the estimated historic condition where feasible by 2025; Increase/maintain the number of large trees (site potential tree height) and complex riparian communities that will eventually increase the natural recruitment of LWD by 2025."	Entiat	(Temperature):Moderate summer water temperatures by improving riparian conditions (Sediment):Reduce localized streambank erosion.Riparian):Increase nutrient recruitment of detritus from riparian vegetation by increasing riparian growth,floodplain conn.

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	NEPA	USFS will conduct NEPA on USFS land	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$16,500
Biological objectives			Metrics
Install Fence	Labor to construct fence	[Work Element Description Not Entered]	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$56,097
Biological objectives			Metrics
Install Fence	Vehicles/machinery to install fence.	[Work Element Description Not Entered]	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$6,900
Biological objectives			Metrics
Plant Vegetation	Plant Vegetation	Native riparian vegetation will be planted to produce a functioning riparian buffer	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$73,008
Biological objectives			Metrics
Maintain Vegetation	Water and weed plants	Plantings will be watered and weeds will be removed to ensure plant survival.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$10,825
Biological objectives			Metrics
Other	132: Produce Annual Report	Produce annual report that includes implementation and effectiveness monitoring results.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$5,337
Biological objectives			Metrics
Other	185: PISCES	Produce PISCES status report on monthly or quarterly basis	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$10,020
Biological objectives			Metrics
Coordination	Coordination	[Work Element Description Not Entered]	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$6,633
Biological objectives			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Manage and Administer Contracts	Manage and Administer Contracts	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$38,007
Biological objectives			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	USFS reviews contract with CCCD	[Work Element Description Not Entered]	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$2,070
Biological objectives			Metrics
Produce Design and/or Specifications	Generate planting and fence designs	Tillicum Creek fence design, plus design for potential riparian enhancement proposals.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$10,170
Biological objectives			Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Personnel	Salaries	$9,844	$9,844	$9,844
Fringe Benefits	Benefits	$4,237	$4,237	$4,237
Supplies	Copies	$477	$477	$477
Supplies	Legal	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500
Supplies	Culverts, logs, supplies	$20,208	$26,400	$26,400
Travel	Travel	$607	$607	$607
Overhead	Indirect	$3,333	$3,333	$3,333
Other	Planning and Design	$3,390	$3,390	$3,390
Other	Permitting	$5,500	$5,500	$5,500
Other	Maintain Veg	$265	$5,280	$5,280
Other	Vehicles	$2,300	$2,300	$2,300
Other	Construction Labor	$18,699	$18,699	$18,699
Other	Review grants and agreements	$690	$690	$690
Other	Adjustment: budget is off by $3	$3	$0	$0
Totals		$71,053	$82,257	$82,257

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$235,567
Total work element budget:	$235,567

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
U.S. Forest Service	Work Element 157	$6,553	$6,553	$6,553	In-Kind	Confirmed
Totals		$6,553	$6,553	$6,553

Section 9. Project future

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

Comments:

Future O&M costs:

Termination date: September 2009
Comments:

Final deliverables: PISCES report. Annual report can be obtained from the Chelan County Conservation District.

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]
$83,333	$83,333	$83,334	$250,000	Expense	ProvinceExpense	Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$83,333	$83,333	$83,334	$0		ProvinceExpense
Comments: ISRP fundable qualified: Use increase in funding to more fully develop the plans as per the ISRP comments. Implement Tillicum Creek work. Bonneville should address comment about fencing costs during contracting.

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable in part

NPCC comments: The Tillicum Creek fencing is justified, with conditions. The programmatic section is not justified until assessments and thoughtful plans are available. The ISRP therefore recommends that base funds be provided for completion of the assessments, evaluation of livestock exclusion alternatives, and monitoring plans. This proposal is to construct 0.7 mile of pole fence, off-channel stock watering facilities, and about 0.1 mile of riparian tree plantings along three sites on Tillicum Creek, Indian Creek and Mad River. The goal is to exclude sheep from the riparian zone and channels at a time when steelhead, salmon, or resident trout are spawning or rearing. The proposal does not estimate how many steelhead or Chinook actually use the areas for which fencing is planned, but there is no question that sheep grazing has damaged riparian vegetation, although stream temperatures have not reached hazard thresholds. Additional fine sediment has been attributed to streambank damage, but the percent of fine sediment in spawning gravels has not been measured so the extent of current damage to spawning areas cannot be determined with precision. The fence-building objective is clearly explained, but the proposal suggests no biological or habitat performance metrics for judging project effectiveness. The buck and pole fence is more visually and environmentally appealing than a wire fence, but it is being proposed for an area that has a history of severe fires, and this fence type is highly vulnerable to wildfire damage. Since the fencing work will consist of three segments, it is possible that livestock could reach the streams through an area that is unfenced if the herd is not continuously monitored. The cost of this approach also creates concerns for the more general programmatic proposal in that few miles of riparian area could be fenced under the program if fencing costs over $80,000 per mile as it does in the Tillicum Creek project. Another possible issue with the programmatic element of the project was the indication that bank stabilization would be considered as one of the treatments. Bank armoring may be an appropriate restoration technique in some cases, but it has been greatly overused and is a prime reason why some rivers have become disconnected from their floodplains. Bank armoring projects should receive thorough review before implementation. Riparian monitoring will be limited to periodic photos. Fish population response will include presence/absence surveys and redd counts. It will be difficult to document population-level responses to this project with only one-year pretreatment data. Monitoring the recovery of riparian vegetation to sheep exclusion through vegetation surveys would yield valuable information on the fence’s effectiveness.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable in part