FY 2002 Columbia Plateau proposal 199901300

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
199901300 Narrative	Narrative
199901300 Sponsor Response to the ISRP	Response
199901300 Powerpoint Presentation	Powerpoint Presentation
Columbia Plateau: Yakima Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map
Columbia Plateau: Yakima Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Ahtanum Creek Watershed Assessment
Proposal ID	199901300
Organization	Yakama Nation Fisheries Program (YN)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Tom McCoy
Mailing address	P.O. Box 151 Toppenish, WA 98948
Phone / email	5098656262 / tmccoy@yakama.com
Manager authorizing this project	Lynn Hatcher
Review cycle	Columbia Plateau
Province / Subbasin	Columbia Plateau / Yakima
Short description	Conduct a watershed assessment in the agricultural portion of the Ahtanum Creek watershed to complete assessment of the entire watershed, facilitate protection and restoration of salmon, steelhead, bull trout.
Target species	Bull trout (Threatened, June 1998); Mid-Columbia ESU Summer Steelhead (Threatened, March 1999)

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
46.5098	-121.0217	Western and Upstream Terminus, Unnamed irrigation diversion on South Fork Ahtanum Creek near USGS Gage (inactive) 12501000 South Fork Ahanum Creek at Conrad Ranch near Tampico, WA, S. Fk. Ahtanum River Mile 4.0.
46.5365	-120.4767	Eastern and Downstream Terminus, Confluence of Ahtanum Creek and the Yakima River, Yakima River Mile 106.9.

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agency	Action #	BiOp Agency	Description
NMFS	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

Year	Accomplishment
1999	Project inaugurated May, 1999. Identified locations for discharge transects and thermograph emplacements, began weekly discharge data collection, began Project GIS, performed cursory investigations into salmonid species utilization in Project waterways.
2000	Collected weekly discharge and daily water temperatures, operated 5-foot screwtrap to determine outmigrant timing, species composition, age and DNA status, documented steelhead juveniles in dewatered reaches, expanded steelhead spawning survey coverage.
2001	Continued 5-foot screwtrap operation, increased discharge collection frequency to twice weekly, expanded steelhead spawning survey coverage, began analysis Landsat Thematic Image data, expanded Project GIS, expanded coho spawning survey coverage.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
199705300	Toppenish-Simcoe Instream Flow Restoration and Assessment	Companion project interms of philosophy, personnel and logistics. Data collection routines and methods for 199901300 were derived from 199705300. In the past, personnel have been shared between the two projects, saving money and maximizing efficiency.
199206200	Yakima Nation Wetlands and Riparian Restoration	The land acquisition, wildlife management and vegetation restoration portion of 199901300 is totally dependent on expertise and personnel covered under 199206200.
199603501	Satus Watershed Restoration	199603501 provides upland restoration technical assistance, technician assistance for spawner surveys, PFC expertise, equipment and manpower for field data collection.
199803300	Restore Upper Toppenish Creek Watershed	Support from this project comes mainly in the form of technical expertise and manpower assistance during spawning surveys and other field activities.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor
1. Map irrigation systems utilizing creek water.	1a. Continue to incorporate GIS coverages, orthophotos, district maps into overall Project GIS.	Ongoing yearly activity	$8,500
	1b. Add new delivery and drainage system features as they are discovered.	Ongoing yearly activity	$2,500
	1c. Add cropping patterns from crop reports as they are received, continue Landsat Thematic Mapper Image analysis.	Ongoing yearly activity	$2,500
	1d. Ground-truth GIS data, update Project GIS.	Ongoing yearly activity	$7,500
2. Model irrigation water use.	2a. Continue to measure water withdrawals from and returns to Ahtanum Creek.	Ongoing yearly activity	$7,500
	2b. Assess consumptive use and irrigation efficiency, update assessment data.	Ongoing yearly activity	$6,500	Yes
3. Describe streamflow and water temperature regime.	3a. Continue measurement of temporal and spatial watercourse (creeks, canals, ditches, drains) flow and temperature regime to provide adequate data for descriptive flow model (Overlaps with 2a but focuses more on detecting seepage losses and gains).	Ongoing yearly activity	$5,500
	3b. Analyze Project and historic discharge data to determine magnitude and timing of alternative diversion strategies.	Ongoing yearly activity	$2,500
	3c. Continue development and calibration of descriptive model of flow by location and season.	Ongoing yearly activity	$6,250
	3d. Finalize integration of WA-DNR information and recommendations from upper watershed analysis.	Ongoing yearly activity	$3,500
4. Survey creek channel and floodplain.	4a. Conduct qualitative assessment of riparian functional status (PFC).	Ongoing (re-evaluated every 2 years)	$2,500
5. Describe fish population response to habitat changes.	5a. Assess current and potential salmon and steelhead production (pre-development conditions) as well as extent of bull trout in creek.	Ongoing yearly activity	$4,500
	5b. Describe response to changes in water withdrawal, return flows and riparian management.	Ongoing yearly activity	$11,649
	5c. Continue development of Project Assessment document.	Ongoing (continued until all pertinent info and options are described and the Assessment Document is complete)	$32,500

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Map irrigation systems utilizing creek water.	2003	2006	$64,500
2. Model irrigation water use (Subcontractor).	2003	2004	$6,500
3. Describe streamflow and water temperature regime.	2003	2006	$45,000
4. Survey creek channel and floodplain.	2003	2006	$29,500
5. Describe fish population response to habitat changes.	2003	2006	$94,500

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$75,000	$65,000	$55,000	$45,000

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
1. Adaptively update Project Assessment document, begin implementation of recommendations (late in FY2002).	1a. Integrate products of Objectives 1-5, Planning and Design Phase.	Ongoing yearly activity	$11,225
	1b. Finalize Irrigation Assessment Alternative Report produced by subcontractor in FY2001.	0.5	$2,500
	1c. Approach Yakama Tribal Council for approval of Project Assessment by Tribal Council Resolution, management support and help in disseminating Project scope and objectives to affected landowners.	0.5	$3,200
	1d. Restore instream flow to dewatered Project stream reaches by system modifications and/or land purchase or lease.	Ongoing, will continue task until all available water is returned to Project streams	$8,197

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Adaptively update Project Assessment document, begin implementation of recommendations (late in FY2002).	2003	2006	$40,000

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
1. Work with YN Wildlife Program and BIA Realty to acquire leases or purchase lands.	1a. Prepare written justification for leases or purchase, assist other YN and BIA personnel with lease/purchase agreements.	Ongoing, As Required	$3,200
	1b. Present any required background information to appropriate Council and colleagues.	Ongoing, As Required	$2,500
	1c. Maintain and enforce lease requirements.	Ongoing, Duration of leases (10 years)	$12,800
	1d. On lands purchased with Project funds, decommission withdrawal structures and work with other YN programs to inaugurate any restoration measures needed to return land to native state.	Ongoing, As Required	$2,500
2. Restrict diversion timing, where possible, to periods when discharge is not limiting to aquatic ecosystem health.	2a. Monitor discharge in and around project watercourses affected by Objective 2 to enforce Project goals.	Ongoing, Duration of leases (10 years)	$20,600
	2b. Identify willing landowners to decrease or cease late spring-summer diversions to benefit fish and aquatic life (can hopefully be used in conjunction with Objective 3).	Ongoing, As Required	$3,500
3. Work with agricultural interests to enact voluntary diversion reductions that leave water in-stream for fish and aquatic ecosystem purposes.	3a. Work with BIA, YN and private landowners to develop plans for diversion reduction agreements.	Ongoing, As Required	$3,200
	3b. Identify funding sources when monies are needed to develop agreements.	Ongoing, As Required	$1,500
	3c. Enforce diversion reduction scenarios and monitor compliance	Ongoing, Duration diversion reduction agreeements	$2,592

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Work with YN Wildlife Program and BIA Realty to acquire leases or purchase lands.	2003	2006	$200,000
2. Restrict diversion timing, where possible, to periods when discharge is not limiting to aquatic ecosystem health.	2003	2006	$110,000
3. Work with agricultural interests to enact voluntary diversion reductions that leave water in-stream for fish and aquatic ecosystem purposes.	2003	2006	$110,000

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$150,000	$120,000	$75,000	$75,000

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
1. Monitor Project Area Water budget.	1a. Measure watercourse discharge and temperature over time and space at key locations specified by O&M Objectives 1-3.	Ongoing pending funding	$22,500
2. Maintain database of channel and riparian condition.	2a. Assess channel morphology and condition as necessary pursuant to streamflow restoration efforts. PFC index sites will be re-evaluated every 2 years to establish trends over time.	Ongoing pending funding	$2,500
3. Monitor aquatic ecosystem health and aquatic species assemblages.	3a. Continue operation of 5-foot screwtrap to describe steelhead smolt outmigration timing, age structure and relative number of outmigrants per year.	Ongoing pending funding	$7,500
	3b. Continue yearly electrofishing and snorkel surveys to index relative abundance of salmonid juveniles in Project Area.	Ongoing pending funding	$7,500
	3c. Monitor numbers of returning steelhead adults by yearly spawning ground surveys and adult counts at Prosser and Roza monitoring windows.	Ongoing pending funding	$13,680

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Monitor Project Area Water budget.			$20,000
2. Maintain database of channel and riparian condition.			$15,000
3. Monitor aquatic ecosystem health and aquatic species assemblages.			$15,000

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2006	FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005
$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2002 cost
Personnel	FTE: 3.775	$117,128
Fringe	17.6% for Exempt FTE's, 20% for Non-Exempt	$22,018
Supplies	Office supplies, field supplies, repairs, field and office equipment	$12,700
Travel	Travel, per diem, and tuition for presentations, workshops and meetings (lumped for all personnel)	$5,000
Indirect	19.5% on all items in budget except Professional Services	$37,302
Capital	Land Rental (160 acres land w/ water @ $80/acre)	$12,800
NEPA	BPA Supplemental Analysis Complete	$0
PIT tags	# of tags: 0	$0
Subcontractor	Irrigation consultant assistance with analyses and assessment of alternative methods	$6,500
Other	Utilities, building depreciation, vehicle rental and mileage, insurance, repairs and maintenance	$21,645
		$235,093

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2002 cost	$235,093
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2002 budget request	$235,093
FY 2002 forecast from 2001	$225,000
% change from forecast	4.5%

Reason for change in estimated budget

The slight increase in budget reflects cumulative salary merit increases, awarded on a yearly basis.

Reason for change in scope

No appreciable change in scope has occurred since the inauguration of this Project.

Cost sharing

Organization	Item or service provided	Amount	Cash or 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 2001-6)

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate

Date:
Jun 15, 2001

Comment:

Fundable if adequate responses are given to ISRP concerns. The proposal was too vague to enable assessment. The presentation was good and the proposal needs to raise to that level; e.g. the presentation included data, clear objectives, maps, trend data, etc . What are the fish benefits? Is this a system that has potential? The proposal would be stronger if there were better quantification of the potential for beneficial management intervention that would be guided by the assessment. This one like the Toppenish-Simcoe, needs tribal council approval in near future. What are the alternatives if there is not tribal council approval?

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Aug 3, 2001

Comment:

This creek could be a substantial piece for steelhead recovery in the Yakima subbasin. This project will help design the fix.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2001-8)

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Aug 10, 2001

Comment:

Fundable, but in future submittals and in the statement of work to BPA they should include milestones specifically a date when the assessment is going to be done. The response was marginal and the proposal was not up to the standards of the other Yakama Nation habitat proposals.

REVIEW:
NMFS Review

Recommendation:

Date:
Oct 1, 2001

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Indirect effect since the project is to design treatments for instream flow and other watershed problems based on understanding of the ecology of anadromous fish in Ahtanum Creek.

Comments
Solid approach to assessing and eventually treating watershed scale problems. Concerned that assessment phase has taken or will take 6 years to complete. There are no milestones specifying when the assessment is going to be done.

Already ESA Req? no

Biop? yes

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Rank C

Date:
Oct 16, 2001

Comment:

No cost-share. Does not appear to be currently highly productive habitat or a high priority sub-basin. The sponsor requests the same funding as for productive areas (Satus, Toppenish); potentially not cost-effective.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Jan 3, 2002

Comment:

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Decision

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Mar 6, 2002

Comment:

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

Looking for the review process numbers proposed. Accruals are looking good. Possible within year request for additional funds. 05 number represents implementation of the assessment work, would be a scope change. Assessment should be complete in the next few months. Would go into full implementation in next year.

REVIEW:
Project Sponsor Request for FY04-05

Recommendation:

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

The existing project was initially intended to perform the analytical steps necessary to identify fish rehabilitation measures. Preliminary recommendations have been implemented and the results have been positive and immediate. We have observed juvenile chinook in Ahtanum Creek for the first time in decades. Similarly, adult bull trout have been observed in the lower creek for the first time since the early 1960's. Steelhead redd counts have also increased steadily as have outmigrating smolt numbers. Ahtanum Creek is also one of the strongholds for coho in the Yakima Subbasin. The final watershed analysis document is nearing completion. To effectively continue implementing the rehabilitation recommendations we will require the full $245,000 requested in the original FY2001 proposal. Considering the success achieved to date, increased funding in FY2005 would be warranted and well spent. Thus, we are requesting an FY2005 budget of $327,000.

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:
$221,314	$221,314	$221,314

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website