FY 2003 Columbia Cascade proposal 200302100

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleComprehensive Inventory and Prioritization of Fish Passage and Screening Problems in the Wenatchee and Entiat Subbasins
Proposal ID200302100
OrganizationWashington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Yakima Screen Shop (WDFW/YSS)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NamePatrick C. Schille
Mailing address3705 West Washington Avenue Yakima, WA 98903-1137
Phone / email5095752735 / schilpcs@dfw.wa.gov
Manager authorizing this projectEric B. Egbers
Review cycleColumbia Cascade
Province / SubbasinColumbia Cascade / Wenatchee
Short descriptionLocate and evaluate all culverts, dams, fishways, water diversions, and other human-made features in the Wenatchee and Entiat subbasins, conduct habitat assessments, and prioritize all barriers and unnscreened or inadequately screened water diversions.
Target speciesAll anadromous and resident salmonids, including ESA listed spring chinook, steelhead, and bull trout.
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
47.7 -120.77 Wenatchee subbasin
47.85 -120.44 Entiat subbasin
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
RPA Action 149

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription
NMFS Action 149 NMFS BOR shall initiate programs in three priority subbasins (identified in the Basinwide Recovery Strategy) per year over 5 years, in coordination with NMFS, FWS, the states and others, to address all flow, passage, and screening problems in each subbasin over 10 years. The Corps shall implement demonstration projects to improve habitat in subbasins where water-diversion-related problems could cause take of listed species. Under the NWPPC program, BPA addresses passage, screening, and flow problems, where they are not the responsibility of others. BPA expects to expand on these measures in coordination with the NWPPC process to complement BOR actions described in the action above.
BPA Action 149 NMFS BOR shall initiate programs in three priority subbasins (identified in the Basinwide Recovery Strategy) per year over 5 years, in coordination with NMFS, FWS, the states and others, to address all flow, passage, and screening problems in each subbasin over 10 years. The Corps shall implement demonstration projects to improve habitat in subbasins where water-diversion-related problems could cause take of listed species. Under the NWPPC program, BPA addresses passage, screening, and flow problems, where they are not the responsibility of others. BPA expects to expand on these measures in coordination with the NWPPC process to complement BOR actions described in the action above.
BPA Action 154 NMFS BPA shall work with the NWPPC to ensure development and updating of subbasin assessments and plans; match state and local funding for coordinated development of watershed assessments and plans; and help fund technical support for subbasin and watershed plan implementation from 2001 to 2006. Planning for priority subbasins should be completed by the 2003 check-in. The action agencies will work with other Federal agencies to ensure that subbasin and watershed assessments and plans are coordinated across non-Federal and Federal land ownerships and programs.

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment
1985 Conducted an inventory of barrier culverts on Whatcom County roads.
1988 Conducted an inventory and prioritization of barrier culverts on Kitsap County roads.
1993 Conducted an inventory and prioritization of barrier culverts on Skagit County roads.
1997 Completed an inventory and prioritization of barrier culverts on Thurston County roads.
1997 Completed an inventory of fish passage barriers at WDFW hatcheries.
1998 Developed the fish passage barrier assessment protocol for culverts and produced the "Fish Passage Barrier Assessment and Prioritization Manual".
1998 Developed SSHEARbase, a statewide fish passage and screening database.
1998 Completed a comprehensive inventory and prioritization of fish passage barriers and unscreened or inadequately screened water diversions in the Beaver Creek Watershed (Methow Basin).
1999 Completed an inventory and prioritization of barrier culverts on Jefferson County roads.
2000 Updated the inventory and prioritization manual to include assessments for dams and water diversions and renamed it the "Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Assessment and Prioritization Manual".
2001 Provided training for Okanogan Conservation District crews to conduct an inventory and prioritization of fish passage barriers and unscreened or inadequately screened water diversions in the Methow Basin.
On-going Conducting an inventory and prioritization of barrier culverts under state highways. Methow and Wenatchee inventory completed in 2000. Habitat surveys need to be conducted so that the barriers can be prioritized.
On-going Conducting a comprehensive inventory and prioritization of fish passage barriers and unscreened or inadequately screened water diversions on WDFW lands. Methow Wildlife Area was completed in 1999.
On-going Provide training and technical assistance to entities in fish passage barrier and screening assessment and prioritization.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
Columbia Cascade Province Pump Screening This inventory will provide current information to the existing pump screen inventory.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 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 2003 costSubcontractor
1. Conduct comprehensive inventory of fish passage and screening problems in the Entiat subbasin Find, assess, prioritize by habitat, and record the data in a database for each human-made feature encountered. 1 $361,585
2. Conduct comprehensive inventory of fish passage and screening problems in the Wenatchee subbasin Find, assess, prioritize by habitat, and record the data in a database for each human-made feature encountered. 2 $0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
2. Conduct comprehensive inventory of fish passage and screening problems in the Wenatchee subbasin. 2004 2007 $977,007
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2006FY 2007
$277,436$277,436$277,436$145,059

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 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 2003 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2003 cost
Personnel FTE: 3.1, crews + admin. $133,111
Fringe Employee benefits @ 31% of salaries $41,537
Supplies Laser level, GPS, stadia rod, clinometer, computer, etc. $28,576
Travel Includes mileage charges and subsistence $45,660
Indirect Includes administrative overhead @ 25.2% $62,701
Capital 2-4X4 Vehicles $50,000
$361,585
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2003 cost$361,585
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2003 budget request$361,585
FY 2003 forecast from 2002$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
WDFW, SSHEAR Training, Technical Assistance @ 0.1 FTE/Year $18,000 in-kind
WDFW, SSHEAR Database Management @ 0.1 FTE/Year $18,000 in-kind
WDFW, SSHEAR Project Planning - Review existing data, map generation, coordination, etc. @ 0.2 FTE/Year $22,000 in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

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

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate
Date:
Mar 1, 2002

Comment:

A response is needed. The need for more inventory work is given persuasively, suggesting that only about 40% of the stream area has been surveyed. Other survey efforts are summarized. The big difference seems to be that this inventory would be fully stream based, not road based (i.e. cover all stream length where fish would be expected if there were not barriers). Justification by SS, limiting factors analysis, etc. is good. The relationship to other projects is well described both in that section and in the background. Objectives are clear, as are the tasks. The methods rely on standard procedures for both surveys and prioritization developed by the WDFW.

What is needed in the response is provision of a monitoring and evaluation component. How will one know that the project was a success and that results are accurate? (e.g. compare road and stream surveys - what value is added, or conduct independent spot checking of the stream walker's findings.) Some sampling for fish should be included in the proposal to demonstrate project effectiveness. That is, demonstrate whether fish are present below the culverts and barriers but do or do not pass. These observations could be compared to project evaluations based on the criteria in the manual or other instructions given to the stream walkers.


Recommendation:
High Priority
Date:
May 17, 2002

Comment:

Assure work is coordinated with Chelan County. The reviewers recommend reducing the staff proposed by 1 FTE and find other sources for the 2 4x4 pickup trucks in 2003. The budget has been reduced to reflect these changes. NMFS has identified this project as a BiOp project.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002

Comment:

Fundable. The need for more inventory work is given persuasively, suggesting that only about 40% of the stream area has been surveyed. Other survey efforts are summarized. The big difference seems to be that this inventory would be fully stream based, not road based (i.e. cover all stream length where fish would be expected if there were not barriers). Justification by SS, limiting factors analysis, etc. is good. The relationship to other projects is well described both in that section and in the background. Objectives are clear, as are the tasks. The methods rely on standard procedures for both surveys and prioritization developed by the WDFW.

The response adequately addresses preliminary ISRP concerns with monitoring and evaluation, fish presence, etc.


Recommendation:
Date:
Jul 19, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Indirect Benefit. Conduct a watershed based inventory of all fish passage barriers and unscreened or inadequately screened water passage barriers in the Entiat and Wenatchee subbasins.

Comments
This would be a fully stream based, not road based, survey and would cover a much broader area (over double the area) than has already been surveyed.

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes


Recommendation:
A
Date:
Jul 26, 2002

Comment:

Recommend funding for planning for fish passage improvements. Passage and screening proposals should be a coordinated program package for prioritization.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002

Comment:

Project Issue 3: New proposals prioritized by the Columbia Cascade fish and wildlife managers to fit within the province allocation

After working with existing projects, additional funds remained within the province allocation. The prioritization group sought to add projects that advance their most pressing management objectives and also had broad support from the ISRP, CBFWA, Bonneville, and NOAA Fisheries for ESA needs. Three of the four projects proposed have across the board support from the entities that reviewed the proposals:

(a) Project 29040 OK-11 Develop and Propagate Local Okanogan River Summer/Fall Chinook (supported by ISRP, CBFWA, Bonneville; no ESA applicability),

(b) Project 29026 Hanan-Detwiler Passage Improvements (supported by ISRP, CBFWA, Bonneville, NOAA - RPA 149), and

(c) Project 29027 Comprehensive Inventory and Prioritization of Fish Passage and Screening Problems in the Wenatchee and Entiat (supported by ISRP, CBFWA, Bonneville, NOAA - RPA 149, 154).

The fourth project is 29033 Design and Conduct Monitoring and Evaluation Associated with the Reestablishment of Okanogan Basin Natural Production. (supported by ISRP, CBFWA and NOAA-RPAs 182, 184). Bonneville was the long dissenter, rating the project as a "C" and suggesting that this be deferred until after subbasin planning. The sponsor reports that recent discussions with Bonneville may yield a more favorable rating for this project. In any event, the Confederated Colville Tribes states that this project is critical for meeting its overall management objectives for the Okanogan subbasin.

Council Recommendation: The Council recommends funding for these four new projects at the levels identified in the attached projects table. These projects represent the highest priorities of the group working in the Columbia Cascade province. The ISRP supports each project, and two of the projects add ESA applicability as determined by NOAA Fisheries. The Council does not believe that deferring projects pending completion of a regional RM&E plan is appropriate given what appears to be the difficulty and delay the region, and particularly the federal agencies leading the effort, are having in making progress in that area.


Recommendation:
Fund when Funds available. Not critical.
Date:
Apr 30, 2003

Comment:

Phase 3 will be initiated upon resolution of identified issues. This proposal would likely implement RPA 149 and 154. BPA has determined in coordination with NOAA Fisheries that this project is not critical for the FY03 - 05 check-ins. Projects may be funded when sufficient funds are available.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

No contract in place yet. Phase III. Sponsor proposes linking projects 200302000, 29025 and 29028 and this project into one comprehensive project, and capitalizing, costs would roll together.
Recommendation:
Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

lost cost share as a result of delay, 2 vehicles and equipment, 2006 need would be $277,436
REVIEW:
NW Power and Conservation Council's FY 2006 Project Funding Review
Funding category:
expense
Date:
May 2005
FY05 NPCC start of year:FY06 NPCC staff preliminary:FY06 NPCC July draft start of year:
$277,436 $0 $0

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website