FY 2003 Columbia Cascade proposal 200304400

Section 1. Administrative

Project location

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Total estimated budget

Cost sharing

Reviews and recommendations

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

Comment:

This project would conduct research to evaluate the influence of hyporheic exchange flows on stream temperature and thermal refugia for fish, particularly the influence of fine sediments on hyporheic water exchange (often increased by human activities) and resulting stream temperatures. High summer temperatures are an important limiting factor for salmonids in the Province and hyporheic flow is important for control of temperature. The research would monitor fine sediment in selected reaches of the Wenatchee River and its tributaries, measure hyporheic flow rates, and evaluate these flow rates on stream temperatures as microhabitats, and at channel unit and reach scales using extensive temperature monitoring.

The proposal is very strong as a scientific proposal justifying research on a topic that has yet to make its way into regional planning. There is an excellent background section with abundant and persuasive scientific documentation. The proposal states that hyporheic flow and its implications for stream temperature have not been explicitly made part of regional programs. Nonetheless, the proposers take great pains to justify why it should be included and discusses relevance to the subbasin summary, FWP, and All-H paper. The proposal relates the work to Forest Service projects that monitor sediment and temperature, but not to BPA-funded ones. Objectives are well prepared, although only objective 1 is broken down into tasks in an outline form (a narrative indicates work to be done, mixed with methods). The main points are clear, even though the structure for presenting objectives, tasks, and methods is not as good as expected. The objectives, tasks, and methods section is too brief to allow scientific review. Sample sizes and sampling methods are not adequately described or referenced in the published literature. The specific sample areas, methods, and sampling frequency and intensity (i.e., how many samples of what type where and when) need to be specified. Appropriate statistical analysis procedures should be given. This information should be provided in a response. The one resume is excellent and the proposer seems well qualified to do the work.

There may be adequate information available already on the general effects of silt in the hyporheic zone, but what is lacking is on-the-ground measurements of sediment and changes in rates and locations of deposition that are ongoing. This proposal would fill that gap with additional temperature and sediment monitoring sites in the Little Wenatchee River, White River, Chiwawa River, and Nason Creek. It would complement existing USFS monitoring. No mention is made of sampling composition of soils adjacent to the stream.

There would be clear long-term benefit for fish from this research. In the ISRP's perception, more effort on the hyporheic zone is probably one of the main hopes for restoring stream temperatures to regimes that are suitable for salmon. One question that might have been addressed by the proposal (and should be addressed in a response) is what could be done to restore streams where fine sediments are so abundant that hyporheic flow is obstructed. Does this study end by simply documenting good and bad conditions or could it provide guides for stream rehabilitation. Simplification of stream flows caused by channelization, confinement or reductions in pool/riffle ratios, or accelerated erosion can affect the hyporheic exchange flows, resulting in increases in stream temperatures. The study potentially could lead to recommendations for measures to address problems of elevated stream temperature by means of manipulations in the hyporheic zone. In the presentation, the proposer indicated that he is thinking of restoration in terms of flood pulses to restore the clean gravel. He thinks physical removal of fine sediments would be too destructive. This project could be used to prioritize potential restoration sites (focusing on sites with functioning hyporheic systems). Amplification in a response would be helpful.

Comment:

Comment:

The proposal is very strong as a scientific proposal justifying research on a topic that has yet to make its way into regional planning. There is an excellent background section with abundant and persuasive scientific documentation. The proposal states that hyporheic flow and its implications for stream temperature have not been explicitly made part of regional programs. Nonetheless, the proposers take great pains to justify why it should be included and discusses relevance to the subbasin summary, FWP, and All-H paper. The proposal relates the work to Forest Service projects that monitor sediment and temperature, but not to BPA-funded ones.

The proponent provided a thorough and informative response to the ISRP concerns. The relevance to management actions is stated to be for water temperature standards, land use management (to control siltation), and channel management to foster natural flushing of fine sediment. Knowledge of hyporheic flows and sediment is the key to better management and more effective restoration projects. Relevance to the ISRP's general concerns about monitoring is discussed in the response. Other BPA proposals are provided for relevance to BPA programs, although not funded ones. Methods were well described and informative. The ISRP now considers this to be a very good proposal that tackles a topic that has received insufficient attention in watershed management.

Comment:

Comments
Well written proposal. The importance of hyporheic interactions in streams has received minimal attention. This research proposal seeks to examine a mechanism other than loss of riparian habitat that might result in higher stream temperatures. The proposal outlines the research needed to identify whether this mechanism is important with respect to temperature regulation. If fine sediments do alter thermal regimes in streams, then this work will emphasize the importance of addressing sediment issues in streams in general. This is a strong scientific proposal that has the potential to influence management and recovery programs.

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes

Comment:

Comment: