FY07-09 proposal 200205300
Jump to Reviews and Recommendations
Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Assess Salmonids Asotin Cr Ws |
| Proposal ID | 200205300 |
| Organization | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) |
| Short description | The goal of this project is to assess the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed. This project implements the RM&E criteria in the Asotin Subbasin Plan for ESA-listed species, primarily steelhead trout, and Chinook salmon. |
| Information transfer | Timely data collection and dissemination is an important part of this project. Annual and Quarterly Status Reports will be submitted to BPA in the Pisces (electronic) format. Written or oral summaries will be provided to co-managers, subbasin planners and other interested parties, for inclusion in planning efforts. Data will also be submitted to the StreamNet database, if possible. |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
Contacts
| Contact | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Form submitter | ||
| Kent Mayer | Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife | mayerkcm@dfw.wa.gov |
| All assigned contacts | ||
| Kent Mayer | Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife | mayerkcm@dfw.wa.gov |
| Mark Schuck | WDFW | schucmls@dfw.wa.gov |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Blue Mountain / Asotin
| Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asotin River | The juvenile and adult trapping sites are located at road km 6.6 (NE quarter, Section 26, Township 10 North, Range 45 East). |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Steelhead Snake River ESUsecondary: Chinook Snake River Spring/Summer ESU
secondary: Bull Trout
Section 4. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishments |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Fabricated and operated a weir-trap to sample and estimate the anadromous salmonid population in Asotin Creek. Captured >500 adult and > 7,000 juvenile steelhead. Surveyed adults per redd. First year PIT tagging. Submitted Quarterly Status Reports to BPA. |
| 2004 | Installed and operated a rotary screw trap to sample and estimate the juvenile salmonid population Asotin Creek. Captured >8,000 juvenile steelhead and >1,800 Chinook salmon. Submitted Quarterly Status and Annual Reports electronically to the BPA website. |
| 2003 | Hired a Project Biologist. Established Clarkston field office. Began implementation of BPA Project #2002-053-00, Assess Salmonids in the Asotin Creek Watershed. Obtained required ESA and state environmental permits to cover proposed work in Asotin Creek. |
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
| Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPA | 199401805 | Asotin Enhancement/Restoration | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of BPA Project No. 1994-018-05 (i.e., protect and enhance fish habitat in the subbasin, under the Asotin Creek Model Watershed Plan, to restore naturally-producing populations of summer steelhead and spring Chinook salmon. This project addresses limiting factors currently affecting anadromous salmonids in the Asotin Creek Subbasin. |
| BPA | 200205400 | Protect & Restore Asotin Cr Ws | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of BPA Project No. 2002-054-00 (i.e., decommission unnecessary roads within the Asotin Creek subbasin that contribute sediments to the system, which may negatively affect salmonid egg survival. Ultimately, to protect and restore the ecological and biological functions of the Asotin Creek watershed, to assist in the recovery of anadromous fish species). |
| Other: LSRCP | - | LSRCP Funded Snake River Basin Monitoring and Evaluation | This project will provide estimates of adult and juvenile salmonid abundance in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used to supplement the LSRCP Funded Monitoring and Evaluation efforts in the Snake R. basin (i.e., monitoring the effects of ongoing hatchery supplementation and harvest augmentation hatchery production on natural populations. Monitoring occurs in the Asotin, Grande Ronde, Snake and Walla Walla Subbasins). Note: This is a cost-share item. |
| BPA | 200600500 | Asotin Creek Wildlife Area O&M | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of BPA Project No. 2006-005-00 (i.e., restoration of riparian areas on the South Fork of Asotin Creek and George Creek, by controlling noxious weeds, planting native vegetation, and maintaining boundary fencing). |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 01-1233 | Asotin Creek Six-Year Seed Program | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of PCSRF/WA Project No. 01-1233 (i.e., upland sediment reduction project on prioritized acres, to reduce sediment delivery to stream channels). |
| Other: WA Conservation Commission | - | Conservation Reserve Enhancement (CREP) Program | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of the Washington Conservation Commission-funded Conservation Reserve Enhancement (CREP) Program (i.e., maintenance funding for riparian fences, alternative water developments, and tree planting within CREP buffers. Improve riparian buffer health to reduce water temperatures and improve overall watershed system function). |
| Other: WA Dept. of Ecology | - | Riparian Restoration Program | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of the Washington Department of Ecology-funded riparian restoration program (i.e., water quality improvements including riparian fence, alternative water developments and planting native vegetation. Reduce impacts from livestock usage along salmon-bearing streams). |
| Other: WA Dept. of Ecology | - | Water Quality Monitoring Program | This project assesses the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed, which will be used as a generalized indicator of improving watershed health resulting from the activities of the Washington Department of Ecology-funded Water Quality Monitoring Program (i.e., water quality monitoring and riparian protection projects, including fencing, alternative water developments, and tree planting. Improve riparian buffer health to reduce water temperatures and improve overall watershed system function). |
| BPA | 199801900 | Wind River Watershed | The Wind River project represents a similar approach to monitoring population status in another Province. The recovery of Wind River wild steelhead through a multi-agency, collaborative watershed assessment, restoration, and monitoring and evaluation program. Steelhead monitoring and evaluation is conducted by WDFW in an approach consistent with the approach on Asotin Creek, but in a larger river system. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
| Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answer critical data needs for VSP attributes | This is an RM&E project designed to enumerate adult salmonids entering Asotin Creek to spawn and to estimate the juvenile migrant population and emigration patterns. | Asotin | Estimate the abundance, productivity, survival rates, and temporal and spatial distribution of ESA-listed species, primarily steelhead trout (O. mykiss), and secondarily Chinook salmon. Research critical uncertainties unique to the Asotin Creek Subbasin. |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
| Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage and Administer Projects | Administrative Duties | Management and administrative work in support of the on the ground efforts and BPA's programmatic requirements, such as metrics, statements of work, WDFW science meetings and continuing education. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $58,500 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
||||
| Produce Status Report | Status Reports | Indicate the status of contract milestones (WE #185). | 4/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $12,000 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
||||
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Submit 4(d) Research Application | Submit a Scientific Research and Take Authorization 4(d) Application and Report, and obtain Environmental Compliance clearance for 2007. | 10/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $12,000 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
||||
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Data Collection | Collect data to estimate the abundance, productivity, survival rates, and temporal and spatial distribution of steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in Asotin Creek, above George Creek. Spreadsheets of the data will be structured to increase the utility of the Asotin Creek database. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $521,799 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
||||
| Mark/Tag Animals | Fish Tagging Activities | Capture and bio-sampling activities in support of the placement of marks/tags (PIT and Floy) on anadromous salmonids in Asotin Creek. Transfer PIT tag metadata (including tag numbers, fish bio- and release data) to the regional PTAGIS database. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $42,000 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
||||
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Data Analysis | Assess the status of anadromous salmonid population in Asotin Creek, primarily by enumerating the adult population and estimating juvenile emigration and early life stage survival. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $63,000 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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| Produce Annual Report | Annual Report | A final Annual Report for FY06 and a draft Annual Report for FY07, that includes details of accomplishments for each work element in the FY06 and FY07 contracts, respectively. | 1/1/2007 | 12/31/2009 | $46,500 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
| Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | Biologist 3 Salary ($4,482) dependent on funding of resistivity counter (Objective #2) | $102,803 | $102,171 | $106,207 |
| Fringe Benefits | Biologist 3 Benefits ($1,434) dependent on funding of resistivity counter (Objective #2) | $32,897 | $32,695 | $33,986 |
| Supplies | Includes items for Objective 2 (Resistivity Counter, George Creek) and Objective 3 (PIT tag array, Asotin Creek). Also includes vehicle gas/lease | $84,723 | $24,723 | $25,465 |
| Travel | [blank] | $940 | $970 | $1,000 |
| Capital Equipment | Objective 2, Resistivity Counter for George Creek | $29,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Overhead | @ 28.9% | $63,973 | $46,402 | $48,164 |
| Other | PIT tags (3,000 @ $2.06-$2.25/tag) | $6,180 | $6,750 | $6,750 |
| Totals | $320,516 | $213,711 | $221,572 | |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
| Total itemized budget: | $755,799 |
| Total work element budget: | $755,799 |
Cost sharing
| Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSRCP | Spawning surveys | $4,500 | $4,700 | $4,900 | In-Kind | Confirmed |
| Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife | Scale Reading | $3,000 | $3,100 | $3,200 | In-Kind | Confirmed |
| Totals | $7,500 | $7,800 | $8,100 | |||
Section 9. Project future
|
FY 2010 estimated budget: $229,770 FY 2011 estimated budget: $229,770 |
Comments: Average 3.7% increase for FY10 and FY11. |
Future O&M costs: This RM&E project assesses anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed. According to the ISRP, it will take 10-15 years to establish a population baseline suitable for trend analysis and to answer critical data needs for VSP attributes.
Termination date:
Comments:
Final deliverables:
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] | ||||||
| $212,000 | $212,000 | $212,000 | $636,000 | Expense | ProvinceExpense | Fund |
| NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $212,000 | $212,000 | $212,000 | $0 | ProvinceExpense | ||
ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: The proposal is excellent, especially the reporting of progress to date. The installation of the resistivity counter is a positive step and should help enumerate adult Chinook and steelhead escapements, particularly in combination with the juvenile PIT tag effort. Technical and scientific background: The goal of this project is to assess the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed. Much of Asotin Creek and its tributaries have been straightened, diked or relocated. Many habitat restoration projects have been completed or are ongoing in the Asotin Creek watershed with state (Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Washington Conservation Commission) and federal (BPA) funding. More than $1.5 million has been spent on habitat restoration projects in the Asotin Creek Subbasin. The data suggests that Asotin Creek – above eight FCRPS dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers – has a highly productive and resilient population of naturally-producing summer steelhead, which may be an important nursery of the Snake River steelhead ESU. Fish management in Asotin Creek, directed by Washington’s Wild Salmonid Policy (WSP 1997), is focused on the protection and restoration of wild steelhead (lower Snake River ESU) and bull trout. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designated the Asotin Creek Subbasin a wild steelhead refuge in 1997 and has planted no hatchery fish since 1998. Limited efforts have been made to assess the salmonid populations in the subbasin. Most of the data used by the co-managers for fish management are from limited research, monitoring, and evaluation (RM&E) activities conducted with funds from the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP). Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: This project implements the research, monitoring and evaluation (RM&E) criteria specified in the Asotin Subbasin Plan by providing estimates of abundance, productivity, survival rates, and temporal and spatial distribution of ESA-listed species, primarily summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and secondarily spring Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha). The project also implements reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) 180 in the NMFS 2000 and 2004 Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinions (BiOp) for population status monitoring and review of status change over time. This project is designed to enumerate adult salmonids entering Asotin Creek to spawn and to estimate the juvenile migrant population and emigration patterns Relationships to other projects: As a result of the several associated projects in the Asotin subbasin, a sizeable investment has now been made toward understanding salmonids in Asotin Creek. Allowing the project to continue until relevant metrics can be described for a small system with a relatively large steelhead population has significant potential value. This is underscored by early project data that show substantially more adults and juvenile out-migrants in the system than were expected (ASP 2004, p5. 15; 45). Understanding the population dynamics of the Asotin Creek steelhead population can be instructive for understanding small-river summer steelhead biology throughout the Interior Columbia basin and the potential of these smaller systems to contribute to recovery. Project history: A detailed and thorough recounting of project history and accomplishments is provided. Objectives: Five objectives clearly defined and linked to Asotin Subbasin Plan Tasks (work elements) and methods: Detailed methods with sound scientific principles and explained and referenced. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: The basic infrastructure needed to complete the proposed work elements is already in place. Information transfer: An Annual Report will be submitted to BPA as a deliverable work product, which will include an abstract, introduction, description, methods, results, discussion, summary, and list of expenditures, in the Pisces format. Quarterly status reports will also be submitted to BPA in Pisces. Written or oral summaries will be provided to co-managers, subbasin planners and other interested parties, as necessary/requested, for inclusion in Asotin Subbasin planning efforts. The data from this project will also be submitted to the StreamNet database, if possible. Benefit to focal and non-focal species: For the steelhead Snake River ESU, this assessment work should provide benefits including improved knowledge of species/habitat relationship. The baseline data collected for each focal species under this project is needed to refine fish return and management goals, and to assist in the establishment of future numeric fish population goals as outlined in the Asotin Subbasin Plan (ASP 2004, p. 160). In addition, assessing the Asotin Creek steelhead population may provide a better understanding of limiting factors that affect similar or adjacent populations. Moreover, data from this project could be used to help determine if regional recovery efforts to stabilize and rebuild steelhead populations would be best spent on within-subbasin projects or out-of subbasin actions (i.e., FCRPS modifications). Rebuilding the bull trout population and eventually reintroducing spring Chinook are goals for the Subbasin. Understanding the steelhead population trend may allow managers to initiate recovery actions directed toward these populations at the appropriate time.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: The proposal is excellent, especially the reporting of progress to date. The installation of the resistivity counter is a positive step and should help enumerate adult Chinook and steelhead escapements, particularly in combination with the juvenile PIT tag effort. Technical and scientific background: The goal of this project is to assess the status of anadromous salmonid populations in the Asotin Creek watershed. Much of Asotin Creek and its tributaries have been straightened, diked or relocated. Many habitat restoration projects have been completed or are ongoing in the Asotin Creek watershed with state (Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Washington Conservation Commission) and federal (BPA) funding. More than $1.5 million has been spent on habitat restoration projects in the Asotin Creek Subbasin. The data suggests that Asotin Creek – above eight FCRPS dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers – has a highly productive and resilient population of naturally-producing summer steelhead, which may be an important nursery of the Snake River steelhead ESU. Fish management in Asotin Creek, directed by Washington’s Wild Salmonid Policy (WSP 1997), is focused on the protection and restoration of wild steelhead (lower Snake River ESU) and bull trout. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designated the Asotin Creek Subbasin a wild steelhead refuge in 1997 and has planted no hatchery fish since 1998. Limited efforts have been made to assess the salmonid populations in the subbasin. Most of the data used by the co-managers for fish management are from limited research, monitoring, and evaluation (RM&E) activities conducted with funds from the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP). Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: This project implements the research, monitoring and evaluation (RM&E) criteria specified in the Asotin Subbasin Plan by providing estimates of abundance, productivity, survival rates, and temporal and spatial distribution of ESA-listed species, primarily summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and secondarily spring Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha). The project also implements reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) 180 in the NMFS 2000 and 2004 Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinions (BiOp) for population status monitoring and review of status change over time. This project is designed to enumerate adult salmonids entering Asotin Creek to spawn and to estimate the juvenile migrant population and emigration patterns Relationships to other projects: As a result of the several associated projects in the Asotin subbasin, a sizeable investment has now been made toward understanding salmonids in Asotin Creek. Allowing the project to continue until relevant metrics can be described for a small system with a relatively large steelhead population has significant potential value. This is underscored by early project data that show substantially more adults and juvenile out-migrants in the system than were expected (ASP 2004, p5. 15; 45). Understanding the population dynamics of the Asotin Creek steelhead population can be instructive for understanding small-river summer steelhead biology throughout the Interior Columbia basin and the potential of these smaller systems to contribute to recovery. Project history: A detailed and thorough recounting of project history and accomplishments is provided. Objectives: Five objectives clearly defined and linked to Asotin Subbasin Plan Tasks (work elements) and methods: Detailed methods with sound scientific principles and explained and referenced. Facilities, equipment, and personnel: The basic infrastructure needed to complete the proposed work elements is already in place. Information transfer: An Annual Report will be submitted to BPA as a deliverable work product, which will include an abstract, introduction, description, methods, results, discussion, summary, and list of expenditures, in the Pisces format. Quarterly status reports will also be submitted to BPA in Pisces. Written or oral summaries will be provided to co-managers, subbasin planners and other interested parties, as necessary/requested, for inclusion in Asotin Subbasin planning efforts. The data from this project will also be submitted to the StreamNet database, if possible. Benefit to focal and non-focal species: For the steelhead Snake River ESU, this assessment work should provide benefits including improved knowledge of species/habitat relationship. The baseline data collected for each focal species under this project is needed to refine fish return and management goals, and to assist in the establishment of future numeric fish population goals as outlined in the Asotin Subbasin Plan (ASP 2004, p. 160). In addition, assessing the Asotin Creek steelhead population may provide a better understanding of limiting factors that affect similar or adjacent populations. Moreover, data from this project could be used to help determine if regional recovery efforts to stabilize and rebuild steelhead populations would be best spent on within-subbasin projects or out-of subbasin actions (i.e., FCRPS modifications). Rebuilding the bull trout population and eventually reintroducing spring Chinook are goals for the Subbasin. Understanding the steelhead population trend may allow managers to initiate recovery actions directed toward these populations at the appropriate time.