FY 2003 Columbia Cascade proposal 199609400

Section 1. General administrative information
Section 2. Past accomplishments
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
Section 4. Budgets for planning/design phase
Section 5. Budgets for construction/implementation phase
Section 6. Budgets for operations/maintenance phase
Section 7. Budgets for monitoring/evaluation phase
Section 8. Budget summary

Reviews and Recommendations

Additional documents

Title	Type
199609400 Narrative	Narrative
199609400 Sponsor Response to the ISRP	Response
199609400 Powerpoint Presentation	Powerpoint Presentation
Columbia Cascade: Okanogan Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map
Columbia Cascade: Okanogan Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Increase sharp-tailed grouse and mule deer populations and enhance shrubsteppe/riparian habitats on the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area.
Proposal ID	199609400
Organization	Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Paul R Ashley
Mailing address	8702 N. Division Spokane, WA 99218
Phone / email	5094562823 / ashlepra@dfw.wa.gov
Manager authorizing this project	Jenene Fenton
Review cycle	Columbia Cascade
Province / Subbasin	Columbia Cascade / Okanogan
Short description	Protect, increase, and maintain a viable sharp-tailed grouse population, increase mule deer use of the project site, and enhance shrub-steppe habitat for shrub-steppe obligate species.
Target species	Sharp-tailed grouse, mule deer, and other shrubsteppe obligate species.

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
48.5247	-119.6875	Head Quarters to the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area, including Pogue Mtn and Mineral Hill units
48.9573	-119.0746	Center of Chesaw Unit boundaries
48.5356	-119.4067	Center of Tunk Valley boundaries

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agency	Action #	BiOp Agency	Description

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishment
1991	Acquired the 9,000 acre Metcalf ranch near Conconully, the 2,800 acre Byers ranch near Chesaw, and 1,000 acres in Tunk Valley. These are the core sharp-tailed grouse recovery areas in Okanogan County.
1992	Planted 10,000 trees and shrubs along Scotch Creek and on wet springs areas to improve riparian habitat, provide winter habitat for sharp-tailed grouse , and/or reduce stream sedimentation and water temperatures.
	Installed 10 gallinaceous guzzlers to provide water for upland birds, controlled noxious weeds on 600 acres, and re-established native-like vegetation on 100 acres of abandoned agricultural land.
1993	Controlled noxious weeds on 780 acres, re-seeded 100 acres to native-like perenial grasses and forbs, and planted shrubs and trees on approximately 10 acres of mesic upland habitat.
1994	Treated noxious weeds on 250 acres, planted 150 acres of wheat to supplement sharp-tailed grouse/mule deer winter feed, re-vegetated 60 acres of degraded shrubsteppe to perennial grasses, and completed a comprehensive management plan for the area.
1995	Installed a wheel line irrigation system and seeded 40 acres to alfalfa for mule deer forage and upland bird nesting, re-vegetated 100 acres of degraded shrubsteppe habitat, and built 30 miles of new boundary fence at Scotch Creek and Tunk Valley.
1996	Acquired the 1,800 acre Lathum property adjoining the Chesaw Wildlife Area, completed HEP baseline evaluations on the Scotch Creek, Tunk, Chesaw, and Mineral Hill Units, re-seeded 90 acres of degraded shrubsteppe habitat to native-like grass species.
1997	BPA provided enhancement and O&M funding for the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area. Drafted a mitigation plan and purchased equipment and hired staff to accomplish planned enhancement activities, planted 6,000 trees/shrubs in Honey Lake area at Scotch Creek.
	Completed Cultural Resource surveys, seeded 250 acres to sharp-tailed grouse nesting and brood rearing habitat, constructed 4.5 miles of new fence, and planted 8,200 trees/shrubs on the Scotch Creek Unit for sharp-tailed grouse winter habitat.
1998	Seeded 543 acres to shubsteppe vegetation and planted 16,700 trees/shrubs at the Scotch Creek Unit to improve sharp-tailed grouse habitat. Pruned 22 acres of woody browse to increase the quantity, quality, and availability of mule deer winter forage.
1999	Seeded 443 acres to native-like shrubsteppe habitat, planted 5,000 trees/shrubs, and pruned 22 acres of woody browse to increase the quantity, quality, and availability of mule deer winter forage.
2000	Seeded 457 acres of abandoned agricultural land to native-like habitat, removed 10 miles of interior barbed wire fence, planted 20,500 trees/shrubs, installed 80 bluebird nest boxes, and pruned 20 acres of woody browse to improve mule deer winter forage.
2001	Seeded 225 acres to shrubsteppe vegetation and planted a total of 20,000 trees and shrubs on the Scotch Creek, Tunk Valley and Chesaw Units.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
199106100	Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area	Supports this project and WDFW goals and objectives
1994044	Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area	Supports this project and WDFW goals and objectives
21034	Colville Tribes restore habitat for sharp-tailed grouse	Supports Tribal (CCT) and WDFW goals and objectives
199204800	Hells Gate big game winter range wildlife mitigation project	Supports Tribal (CCT) and WDFW goals and objectives

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost	Subcontractor

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost
Objective 2.1: Implement management activities and schedules described in the SCWA Enhancement Plan (WDFW 1997).	Task a. Re-seed degraded rangelands (200 acres/year).	4	$30,000
	Task b. Plant trees/shrubs in mesic areas, 5,000/year	4	$20,901
	Task c. Plant 125 acres of small grain food plots annually.	4	$10,000
	Task d. Conduct prescribed burns to enhance shrubsteppe habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and other wildlife species.	4	$8,000
Objective 2.3: Improve 550 acres of sharp-tailed grouse nesting habitat on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area adjacent to the SCWA by the end of FY 2005.	Task a: Reseed 450 acres to native herbaceous cover.	4	$10,000
	Task b. Conduct prescribed burns on 100 acres to enhance shrubsteppe habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and other wildlife species.	4	$5,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
Objective 2.1: Implement management activities and schedules described in the SCWA Enhancement Plan (WDFW 1997).	2004	2007	$276,000
Objective 2.3: Improve 550 acres of sharp-tailed grouse nesting habitat on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area adjacent to the SCWA by the end of FY 2005.	2004	2005	$75,000

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$87,750	$87,750	$87,750	$87,750

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost	Subcontractor
Objective 1.1: Conduct research on sharp-tailed grouse on the SCWA through 2005 in conjunction with WDFW’s statewide sharp-tailed grouse research program.	Task a: Monitor sharp-tailed grouse leks annually (lek surveillance).	Ongoing	$2,000
	Task b: Search SCWA and adjacent areas for satellite/new leks annually (site reconnaissance).	Ongoing	$3,000
	Task c: Conduct sharp-tailed grouse lek counts and nesting and brood surveys annually.	Ongoing	$3,000
	Task d: Correlate population responses to habitat alteration using statistical models including covariance analysis.	Ongoing	$2,000
Objective 1.2: Increase the number of sharp-tailed grouse from approximately 40 to >300 by 2010.	Task a: Translocate sharp-tailed grouse to the SCWA for genetic augmentation purposes to improve long-term population viability.	4	$10,000
	Task b: Monitor and control recreational use of project lands (limit access to lek and nesting sites in the spring; monitor hunters for evidence of incidental takings; maintain on-site reader boards, signs, and literature to educate the public).	Ongoing	$5,000
Objective 2.1: Implement management activities and schedules described in the SCWA Enhancement Plan (WDFW 1997).	Task a: Control introduced vegetation.	Ongoing	$60,000
	Task b: Maintain sharp-tailed grouse nesting and brood rearing habitat enhancements.	Ongoing	$52,000	Yes
	Task c: Maintain shrub and tree enhancements.	Ongoing	$45,000	Yes
	Task d: Maintain 16 km (10 mi) of boundary fence annually to protect habitat from trespass livestock grazing and vehicle encroachment.	0ngoing	$25,000	Yes
	Task e: Maintain and/or acquire necessary equipment and machinery.	Ongoing	$90,000
	Task f: Maintain project infrastructure and physical improvements including roads, signs, fences, culverts, irrigation systems, wells, buildings etc., to the extent necessary to implement the management plan.	Ongoing	$50,000
	Task g: Coordinate protection, enhancement, and maintenance activities with BLM, DNR, USFS, adjacent landowners, and public interests.	Ongoing	$1,500
	Task h: Provide adequate fire protection to include surveillance and fire fighting resources.	Ongoing	$2,500

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
Objective 1.1: Conduct research on sharp-tailed grouse on the SCWA through 2005 in conjunction with WDFW’s statewide sharp-tailed grouse research program.	2004	2007	$41,200
Objective 1.2: Increase the number of sharp-tailed grouse from approximately 40 to >300 by 2010.	2004	2007	$53,560
Objective 2.1: Implement management activities and schedules described in the SCWA Enhancement Plan (WDFW 1997).	2004	2007	$1,095,920

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$297,670	$297,670	$297,670	$297,670

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost
Objective 2.2: Monitor wildlife and habitat response to protection, maintenance, and enhancement measures annually.	Task a: Conduct annual shrubsteppe bird surveys (point counts).	Ongoing	$6,000
	Task b: Conduct big game (deer) surveys to estimate doe/fawn and doe/buck ratios and herd fecundity (site reconnaissance).	Ongoing	$2,000
	Task c: Conduct hunter harvest surveys (bag checks).	Ongoing	$1,500
	Task d: Monitor existing HEP and vegetation transects and establish new permanent vegetation transects.	Ongoing	$5,000
	Task e: Conduct HEP analysis and establish vegetation transects on new acquisitions/project lands.	Ongoing	$8,000
	Task f: Establish small mammal surveys.	Ongoing	$4,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
Objective 2.2: Monitor wildlife and habitat response to protection, maintenance, and enhancement measures annually.	2004	2007	$80,000

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$20,000	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2003 cost
Personnel	FTE: 2.75 - Bio III (12 months), Bio I (12 months), Habitat Tech II (9 months), WCC-4 positions/6months	$145,000
Fringe	For the staff listed above	$35,100
Supplies	Fuel, herbicides, maintenance materials, utilities, bldg. maint., signs, training, equipment, etc.	$113,260
Travel	Herbicide applicator license courses etc.	$2,000
Indirect	Computed at 25.2%	$81,041
Capital	John Deere crawler for fire control and area maintenance, Tractor & mower for shrub maint	$60,000
NEPA	N/A	$0
PIT tags	# of tags: N/A	$0
Subcontractor	Fencing	$25,000
		$461,401

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2003 cost	$461,401
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2003 budget request	$461,401
FY 2003 forecast from 2002	$534,200
% change from forecast	-13.6%

Cost sharing

Organization	Item or service provided	Amount	Cash or in-kind
WDFW	Assistance with wildlife and vegetation surveys and planning (non-project biologists, vehicles, etc.).	$10,000	in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

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

REVIEW:
ISRP Preliminary Review (ISRP 2002-2)

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate

Date:
Mar 1, 2002

Comment:

A response is needed. Detailed site selection protocols (or adequate references to published material) are needed on each task. Data collection protocols are probably adequate in the proposal, but the question is whether the sites were selected by a probabilistic (statistical) sampling procedure and allow statistical inferences to the entire study area. Are data adequate to establish overall trends in the entire area, including good and bad habitat? What are the data collection protocols for monitoring sharp-tailed grouse leks annually? What are the procedures for conducting nesting and brood surveys? How are individuals or pairs selected for monitoring? The monitoring plan should provide data on distribution and abundance of target species and wildlife habitat.

With respect to the estimates of numbers of sharp-tailed grouse, is there no indication that as abundance increases (or decreases) the number of "leks" might change? If only a known set of leks are monitored, what is the effect on the estimate?

The proponents are referred to the ISRP Review of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Habitat Acquisition and Restoration Plan (19910600) ( http://www.nwcouncil.org/library/isrp/isrp2001-4addendum.htm). The project was reviewed in the Mountain Columbia Province to determine whether it provided scientifically sound criteria and protocol to prioritize habitat acquisitions. The ISRP found that document described a good plan for habitat acquisition and restoration of wildlife habitat in mitigation for lost aquatic and riparian habitat due to the Kerr Project No. 5 located on the Flathead River and could serve as a useful model to other habitat and restoration proposals with some minor revision of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) component of the plan. The M&E component has subsequently been reviewed and approved subject to minor modifications in ISRP report (www.nwcouncil.org/library/isrp/isrp2001-4AlbeniFalls.pdf). The proponents are also referred to the programmatic section of this report on Monitoring, the specific comments on Aquatic Monitoring and Evaluation, and the specific comments on Terrestrial Monitoring and Evaluation.

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
May 17, 2002

Comment:

This project protects and enhances critical sharp-tailed grouse/shrub steppe habitat and is a significant component of WDFW's statewide sharp-tailed grouse recovery strategy. The project sponsor has removed $53,000 from the Construction and Implementation phase of the project for 2003 and 2004 by delaying equipment purchases until 2005. The budget has been modified to reflect those changes.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2002-11)

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Jun 7, 2002

Comment:

Fundable. The response adequately addressed the ISRP's concerns with the data collection protocols including site selection, adequacy of data to detect trends, sharp-tailed grouse lek monitoring, and nesting and brood surveys. The ISRP appreciates the effort expended in responding to our questions and concerns.

REVIEW:
NMFS Review

Recommendation:

Date:
Jul 19, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU

Comments
Wildlife Project - Not Reviewed

Already ESA Req?

Biop? No

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
A w/conditions

Date:
Jul 26, 2002

Comment:

Recommend funding of ongoing O&M and M&E. WDFW has available funds through the Washington Interim Wildlife Agreement that should be used before new FY03 funds are obligated.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Oct 30, 2002

Comment:

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Decision

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Apr 30, 2003

Comment:

Fund ongoing O&M and M&E through the Washington Interim Wildlife Agreement

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

Council numbers are correct. 03 Accrual in 199609401

REVIEW:
Project Sponsor Request for FY04-05

Recommendation:

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

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:
$289,225	$289,225	$289,225

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website