FY 2001 Action Plan proposal 26038

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleAcquire Anadromous Fish Habitat in the Union Gap Reach and Wenas Basin, Yakima River Basin, Washington
Proposal ID26038
OrganizationU.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameAl Scherzinger
Mailing addressP.O. Box 1749 Yakima, WA 98907-1749
Phone / email5095755848 / ascherzinger@pn.usbr.gov
Manager authorizing this projectJames Esget
Review cycleFY 2001 Action Plan
Province / SubbasinColumbia Plateau / Yakima
Short descriptionAcquire essential anadromous fish habitat (flood plains, riparian zones, wetlands, and water rights) in the Union Gap Reach and Wenas Basin of the Yakima River Basin, Washington.
Target speciesSteelhead (mid-Columbia ESU), Spring Chinook, Coho
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
46.4833 -120.4002 Union Gap
46.78 -120.63 Wenas Creek
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Acquire anadromous fish flood plain habitat Locate and purchase anadromous fish flood plain habitat $3,000,000
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2001 cost
Capital $3,000,000
$3,000,000
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2001 cost$3,000,000
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2001 budget request$3,000,000
FY 2001 forecast from 2000$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.

Recommendation:
Fundable - no response required
Date:
Jun 21, 2001

Comment:

Fundable. This was reviewed in the Columbia Plateau Review and was found to be fundable, no response was needed. In terms of this solicitation, the proposal meets the ESA affected species criterion and would increase instream flow. This is a proposal to purchase three parcels of land in the Yakima Basin to gain rights to a total of about 12 cfs of water. The purchase includes a water right for 1.3 cfs that will be restored to the Yakima River, 300 acres, 580 acres and 4.6 cfs for the Yakima River, and 7 cfs for instream flow in Wenas Creek. Although part of the benefit would be tributary flow increase for both Wenas Creek and Yakima River associated with the water rights, the greatest benefit is probably long-term preservation of valuable, diverse habitat associated with the land acquisitions. The Wenas Creek acquisition of water rights of 7 cfs would likely be significant, although it is unclear if there is a population from Wenas Creek that is adversely affected by the emergency power system operations. The 4.6 cfs as part of the 580 Acres on the Yakima River appears to be less significant.

Other comments from the province review include:

The objectives are consistent with regional programs and are a high priority. The proposal is well written and is well coordinated with groups and agencies. It seemed significant that the basin is already under the YPBWEB water enhancement project, so lots of resources applied and available. The reviewers liked the idea of an urban (semi-urban?) demonstration project to show that a community can be proud of, and profit from, the river that flows through it rather than simply thinking of it as a conduit.


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 29, 2001

Comment:


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Jul 12, 2001

Comment:

Defer to Columbia Plateau: the criteria established for this solicitation did not include land acquisitions. Furthermore, these types of global watershed actions would be better defined within the context of their respective subbasins and best prioritized through upcoming subbasin assessments and revised subbasin plans.