FY07-09 proposal 200736000
Jump to Reviews and Recommendations
Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Columbia River/Cowlitz River Eulachon Research and Monitoring Plan (ERMP) |
| Proposal ID | 200736000 |
| Organization | Steward and Associates |
| Short description | The ERMP addresses critical information needs for improved management of eulachon in the Columbia River and its tributaries. This effort is consistent with sub-basin planning objectives, and anticipates needs related to a potential ESA status review. |
| Information transfer | The results produced by the ERMP will be shared with multiple state, tribal and federal management agencies, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), NOAA-Fisheries and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Natural Resources Department (CTNRD). This information will have multiple applications, including: 1) Improving eulachon fisheries management in the Columbia River and its tributaries; 2) Avoiding and minimizing adverse effects from various management activities (e.g., Columbia River dredging, sediment and water resources management in the Cowlitz River) on smelt spawning habitat, and; 3) Providing the necessary information for a probable Endangered Species Act (ESA) status review. The information produced by the |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
Contacts
| Contact | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Form submitter | ||
| Dustin Hinson | Steward and Associates | dhinson@stewardandassociates.com |
| All assigned contacts | ||
| Greg Bargmann | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | BARGMGGB@dfw.wa.go |
| Dustin Hinson | Steward and Associates | dhinson@stewardandassociates.com |
| Maureen Small | Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | smallmps@dfw.wa.gov |
| Cleve Steward | Steward and Associates | csteward@stewardandassociates.com |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Columbia Estuary / Columbia Estuary
| Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia River | Columbia River research and monitoring actions will be implemented in the mainstem between the Elochoman River and the Sandy River. | ||
| Cowlitz River | Cowlitz River research and monitoring activities will be implemented in the Cowlitz River below the Toutle River. |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Other AnadromousAdditional:
Section 4. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishments |
|---|
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
| Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPA | 200300700 | Lwr Col River/Est Eco Monitor | ERMP will rely on recently completed Columbia River bathymetric mapping and channel characterization to select stratified random sampling sites for surveying eulachon spawning distribution. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
| Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Determine Eulachon Population Structure | Objective 1 will be addressed by conducting a multiyear microsatellite DNA analysis of Cowlitz River and Columbia River eulachon spawning aggregations to determine the degree of population differentiation present. | Lower Columbia | Obj. Eu.PO.13. |
| 2) Implement and refine method for estimating spaw | Objective 2 will be addressed by refining proven methods for estimating eulachon spawning abundance for application on the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers. These methods have been applied effectively on large river systems in British Columbia. | Lower Columbia | Obj. Eu.PO.13. Strat. F.S3. Measure F.M5 |
| 3) Identify spawning distribution | Objective 3 will be addressed using previously applied WDFW/ODFW techniques for identifying spawning locations. The ERMP will employ a systematic stratified sampling design to identify preferred spawning locations in the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers. | Lower Columbia | Obj. Eu.PO.1. Obj. Eu.PO.5. Obj. Eu.PO.8. Obj. Eu.PO.15. Strat. EI.S7. Strat. EH.S3. Measure EH.M10. Measure EI.M13. Citical Uncertainty Research Need 34 |
| 4) Identify environmental triggers for spawning | Key environmental triggers, including flow rates and temperature, are believed to trigger smelt spawning. Additional research is required to determine what environmental conditions actually precipitate spawning. This will allow for improved prediction of spawning runs and better fisheries management. | Lower Columbia | Obj. Eu.PO.15. Critical Uncertainty Research Need 34. |
| 5) Investigate causes of incubation mortality | Low abundance of Cowlitz eulachon suggests low incubation success. We will monitor several environmental parameters to attempt to identify possible causes, including DO, water temperature, and sediment deposition rates. | Lower Columbia | Obj. Eu.PO.1. Obj. Eu.PO.5. Measure EH.M10. |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
| Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze/Interpret Data | Annual and Final Project Reporting | Annual reporting tasks will include description of all monitoring activities conducted in that calender year; the compilation of all research and monitoring data on larval and abundance, spawning distribution; and any recommendations for the following years sampling effort. Final Project Reporting, completed by fall 2009, will include findings and interpretation of the multi-year eulachon population genetics analysis; a summary of all abundance and spawner distribution data; and analysis and interpretation of possible environmental spawning triggers and factors limiting incubation success. The final report will also include recommendations for continuation of the ERMP, and a detailed review of budget requirements. | 3/30/2007 | 10/15/2009 | $34,830 |
|
Biological objectives 1) Determine Eulachon Population Structure 2) Implement and refine method for estimating spaw 3) Identify spawning distribution 4) Identify environmental triggers for spawning 5) Investigate causes of incubation mortality |
Metrics Focal Area: Tributaries and Esutary Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research Secondary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Objective 1 - Eulachon Population Genetics | Following the recommendations of Beacham et al. (2005), we will implement a focused genetics study of Columbia River eulachon population structure using microsatellite variation. This will include collection of sufficiently large sample sizes from commercial fisheries at different known spawning locations throughout the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries. The intent of this research will be to confirm the degree of differentiation between Cowlitz and Columbia spawning stocks found in the existing research, and to determine the extent of discrete population structuring between mainstem and tributary spawning aggregations. Sampling design and protocols will be developed in consultation with WDFW and DFO fisheries geneticists. | 2/15/2007 | 10/15/2009 | $89,981 |
|
Biological objectives 1) Determine Eulachon Population Structure |
Metrics Focal Area: Estuary and Tributaries Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring Secondary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Objective 2 - Estimate eulachon spawning abundance | Commercial harvest data is an inadequate index of eulachon abundance because market conditions can influence fishing effort. More reliable methods for estimating eulachon spawning abundance have been implemented in the Fraser River and other large systems in British Columbia rivers by DFO (Hay et al. 2002; McCarter and Hay 2003). We will refine these techniques for application in the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers. This process involves a three step sampling method to produce the data necessary to derive estimates of total run size and spawner escapement: • Step 1: Determine adult fecundity, length and sex ratio Adult fecundity and sex ratio data will be used to estimate spawning escapement biomass using the methods described by Hay et al. (2002) and McCarter and Hay (2003), based on the density of emergent larvae and eggs observed in larval abundance monitoring. • Step 2: Estimate incubation success rate Incubation success rates will be developed by spawning area by counting the number of viable (transparent) versus non-viable (white) embryos observed on artificial substrates used to map spawning distribution (see Objective 3 methods). • Step 3: Estimate larval abundance Eulachon larval abundance will be monitored using a plankton tow net methodology developed by DFO for eulachon populations in British Columbia rivers (Hay et al. 2002, McCarter and Hay 2003). | 2/1/2007 | 3/30/2009 | $803,635 |
|
Biological objectives 2) Implement and refine method for estimating spaw |
Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring Secondary R, M, and E Type: Critical Uncertainties Research Focal Area: Estuary and Tributaries |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Objective 3 - Identify eulachon spawning distribution in Cowlitz River and Columbia Mainstem | Spawning distribution will be mapped using artificial substrates to identify preferred spawning locations. Successful egg detection on artificial substrates will trigger characterization of the physical habitat to more accurately identify preferred characteristics of eulachon spawning sites. Cowlitz River spawning distribution will be mapped by placing substrates along randomly selected transect locations over the length of the 20 mile survey reach. Columbia River survey locations will be selected using a stratified random sampling design, with strata developed as follows: o Spawning locations previously identified by Romano et al. (2002) will be surveyed for bathymetric, flow and substrate characteristics. o The distribution of similar strata will be identified using bathymetric and ecological characterization data developed by LCREP in 2004 and 2005. o Artificial substrate placement locations will be selected randomly within each strata at an appropriate density for statistical analysis. Successful egg detection on artificial substrates will trigger characterization of the physical habitat to more accurately identify preferred characteristics of eulachon spawning sites. In addition, incubation success will be evaluated by enumerating the proportion of viable and dead embryos observed on artificial substrates. | 1/15/2007 | 3/30/2009 | $205,949 |
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Biological objectives 2) Implement and refine method for estimating spaw 3) Identify spawning distribution |
Metrics Focal Area: Tributaries and Esutary Primary R, M, and E Type: Critical Uncertainties Research Secondary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring |
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| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Objectives 4 and 5 - Identify environmental spawning triggers and potential factors limiting incubation success | Environmental conditions will be monitored consistently during the spawning period to identify conditions that appear to trigger spawning migration and that area associated with preferred spawning habitats. In addition selected environmental metrics in the Cowlitz River will be monitored for correlation with observed incubation success. (Monitoring of flow conditions during the larval abundance monitoring period is also necessary for estimation of total abundance from systematic density measurements). Water temperature: Water temperatures will be monitored in the lower Cowlitz River at Longview using a standardized temperature monitoring gage. Columbia River water temperatures will be monitored using the USGS/USACE dissolved gas and temperature monitoring gage on the Columbia River, right bank, at Washougal, WA (lat/long 453439/122223900). Dissolved oxygen (DO): DO levels will be monitored in the lower Cowlitz River at Longview using a standardized oxygen level monitoring gage. Substrate type: Substrate types at identified spawning locations will be mapped using Ponar grab samples. Sediment deposition rates: Sediment traps will be collocated with artificial spawning substrates where spawning has been observed to monitor sediment deposition rates during egg incubation. Streamflow: Cowlitz River streamflows will be monitored at USGS gage 14243000 at Castle Rock. Columbia River streamflows will be monitored at USGS gage 14246900. Streamflows at spawning locations will be monitored using a standardized flow meter. | 1/15/2007 | 3/30/2009 | $68,393 |
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Biological objectives 4) Identify environmental triggers for spawning 5) Investigate causes of incubation mortality |
Metrics Focal Area: Estuary and Tributaries Primary R, M, and E Type: Critical Uncertainties Research Secondary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring |
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| Develop RM&E Methods and Designs | Study Design and Protocol Development, Annual Mobilization | The project team will locate and review background materials related to eulachon and other similar species life history, production, habitat dynamics and monitoring methods in the Pacific Northwest and other parts of the world. This information will be used to guide and refine initial study design. Annual mobilization: Purchase and/or fabricate necessary equipment; charter/schedule research vessels and crews; reserve laboratory time; etc. | 10/15/2006 | 1/15/2007 | $57,177 |
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Biological objectives 1) Determine Eulachon Population Structure 2) Implement and refine method for estimating spaw 3) Identify spawning distribution 4) Identify environmental triggers for spawning 5) Investigate causes of incubation mortality |
Metrics |
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Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
| Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | Salary (unburdened) labor rate | $45,992 | $41,368 | $41,368 |
| Fringe Benefits | Medical, retirement, etc. | $36,968 | $33,456 | $33,456 |
| Overhead | Steward and Associates and Tribal NRD Overhead | $60,513 | $52,868 | $52,868 |
| Supplies | Sampling equipment, rentals, vessel hiring, facilities rental | $43,417 | $29,150 | $29,150 |
| Other | Consultant fees, laboratory analyses | $229,504 | $231,484 | $231,484 |
| Other | Communications, postage, printing & reproduction | $559 | $331 | $331 |
| Travel | Crew travel, lodging, per diem | $21,928 | $21,885 | $21,885 |
| Totals | $438,881 | $410,542 | $410,542 | |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
| Total itemized budget: | $1,259,965 |
| Total work element budget: | $1,259,965 |
Cost sharing
| Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz Indian Tribe | Technical oversight, field staff, lab staff (50% of project time) | $17,500 | $17,500 | $17,500 | In-Kind | Under Review |
| Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | Technical consultation, vessel operator, equipment | $12,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | In-Kind | Under Review |
| Totals | $29,500 | $22,500 | $22,500 | |||
Section 9. Project future
|
FY 2010 estimated budget: $415,000 FY 2011 estimated budget: $415,000 |
Comments: Anticipated costs based on 2009 budget plus inflation. |
Future O&M costs: Future operations and maintenance costs are expected to be limited to replacement of damaged or lost sampling gear, which is included in the estimated annual budget.
Termination date: November 2011
Comments: The ERMP project will terminate in 2011 based on current projections. However, the project sponsors will work with interested stakeholders, including WDFW and ODFW, to find additional funding sources to continue abundance monitoring.
Final deliverables: Final project deliverables will include: - Publication of Columbia River eulachon population genetics analysis results. - Publication detailing effectiveness of smelt abundance monitoring methodology. - Preparation of a final project report providing: 1) The results of the population genetics analysis; 2) The results of larval and estimated adult abundance monitoring; 3) spawning distribution in the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers; 4) interpretation of environmental spawning triggers and factors limiting incubation success in the Cowltitz River; 5) discussion of method effectiveness and rationale for any changes in sampling design, and; 6) recommendations for implementation of an annual monitoring program, including staffing and equipment needs, budget estimates, and sampling design. - Publication of appropriate elements of the final report.
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 | ||
|
Comments: OR and WA same |
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| NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ProvinceExpense | ||
|
Comments: WA |
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| 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: Eulachon are an important and underappreciated anadromous species in the Lower Columbia River. The timing of their spawning migration and their exceptionally high lipid content makes them an important food resource for many fish and wildlife at a time when other food types are scarce. Both salmon and sturgeon feed on smelt, as well as a variety of birds and scavenging mammals. The ISRP is not requesting a response, but the proposal would be improved be addressing the following comments: Overall, the background information in the proposal was fairly complete. It would have been helpful to have presented data on historical abundance. Current runs are far lower than those of several decades ago, but no data are given. Coastwide, this species has experienced a significant decline that is consistent with Columbia River Basin populations. Even commercial harvests, although notoriously inaccurate, would have suggested the magnitude of current declines in the lower river. Nevertheless, the fact that the smelt runs have gone from supporting a commercial fishery to being considered for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing make this species an important candidate for monitoring. The proposal covered the local scientific information adequately but did not reference the important research done on this species elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. The proposal should take into account the research conducted elsewhere. Conditions in the marine environment can also be important limiting factors. Other than the Mt. St. Helen's eruption changing the freshwater habitat in the lower Columbia, the marine environment may be where the greatest changes in their habitat have occurred. The project should look at historical eulachon abundance in relation to Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) cycles and El nino/La nina events. Other concerns are human harvest, bird predation, and food availability in the marine environment. Canada is looking at eulachon bycatch in the shrimp fisheries off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. A consideration of these issues should be incorporated in the project. Care should be taken to ensure sample sizes are sufficient. Has there been a power analysis to show that proposed fish samples fish are enough? The proposal mentions a potential link to the LCREP effort in the estuary, but relatively few details are given. How will this project use estuary data? Physical methods are fairly well described but a few more details could have been given, e.g., sediment monitoring methods on p. 13 of the proposal.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable (Qualified)
NPCC comments: Eulachon are an important and underappreciated anadromous species in the Lower Columbia River. The timing of their spawning migration and their exceptionally high lipid content makes them an important food resource for many fish and wildlife at a time when other food types are scarce. Both salmon and sturgeon feed on smelt, as well as a variety of birds and scavenging mammals. The ISRP is not requesting a response, but the proposal would be improved be addressing the following comments: Overall, the background information in the proposal was fairly complete. It would have been helpful to have presented data on historical abundance. Current runs are far lower than those of several decades ago, but no data are given. Coastwide, this species has experienced a significant decline that is consistent with Columbia River Basin populations. Even commercial harvests, although notoriously inaccurate, would have suggested the magnitude of current declines in the lower river. Nevertheless, the fact that the smelt runs have gone from supporting a commercial fishery to being considered for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing make this species an important candidate for monitoring. The proposal covered the local scientific information adequately but did not reference the important research done on this species elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. The proposal should take into account the research conducted elsewhere. Conditions in the marine environment can also be important limiting factors. Other than the Mt. St. Helen's eruption changing the freshwater habitat in the lower Columbia, the marine environment may be where the greatest changes in their habitat have occurred. The project should look at historical eulachon abundance in relation to Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) cycles and El nino/La nina events. Other concerns are human harvest, bird predation, and food availability in the marine environment. Canada is looking at eulachon bycatch in the shrimp fisheries off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. A consideration of these issues should be incorporated in the project. Care should be taken to ensure sample sizes are sufficient. Has there been a power analysis to show that proposed fish samples fish are enough? The proposal mentions a potential link to the LCREP effort in the estuary, but relatively few details are given. How will this project use estuary data? Physical methods are fairly well described but a few more details could have been given, e.g., sediment monitoring methods on p. 13 of the proposal.