FY 2003 Middle Snake proposal 32020

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleInventory and Assessment of Stream/Riparian Resources, upper Boise and upper Payette River Subbasins, Idaho
Proposal ID32020
OrganizationWhite Horse Associates, Inc. (WHA)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameSherman Jensen
Mailing addressBox 123; 140 N Main Smithfield, UT 84335
Phone / email4355630123 / ShermJensen@sisna.com
Manager authorizing this projectSherman Jensen
Review cycleMiddle Snake
Province / SubbasinMiddle Snake / Boise
Short descriptionApply a hierarchical classification to identify complexes of stream/riparian resources with distinctive ecological potential and divide the complexes into more discrete areas based on condition relative to a progression of states. .
Target speciesFish, wildlife and vegetation species dependent on stream and riparian habitats
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
Upper Boise River basin (watershed draining to Lucky Peak Reservoir) and Upper Payette River basin (area including the North, Middle and South Fork subbasins)
43.59 -115.91 Upper Boise River basin
44.03 -116.14 Upper Payette River basin
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
Action 152
Action 153
Action 154

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment
2001 Riparian vegetation type inventory, Middle Owens River, California: Conducted very detailed inventory of wetland/riparian vegetation types along about 40 miles of the Owens River.
2000 Ecological classification, Bruneau River Basin, Idaho: Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream and riparian resources for about 1.6 million acres. Results were used to assess TMDLs.
2000 Predicted riparian vegetation for 7 streamflow scenarios for 10 miles of the Owens River Gorge, California that was hstorically dewatered.
1999 Ecological classification, Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe and St. Regis River basins, Idaho and Montana: Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream and riparian resources. Results were used for litigation of a NRDA.
1999 Ecological classification, Bear River basin in Idaho: Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream and riparian resources in a 1.7 million acre basin. Results were used for water quality assessments.
1999 Inventory of riverine/riparian habitat, Winnemucca District, Nevada: Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream and riparian resources in a 6 million acre basin. Results were used to assess livestock management.
1999 Geologic districts and subsections in western Montana and northern Idaho: Identified regions with distinctive ecological potential based on climate, geology and geomorphology for 17.5 million acres. Results were used for forestry management.
1999 Ecological classification, upper Snake River basin, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming: Applied hierarchical classification to SRB above Salmon River confluence. Results were used for TMDL studies.
1998 Ecological classification, Rock Creek Basin, Montana: Applied hierarchical classification to 0.5 million acre basin. Results were used to identify potential spawning habitat for bull trout.
1997 Ecological classification, Eight Mile Creek basin, Humboldt County, Nevada: Applied hierarchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources in a 13,000 acre basin. Results were used for range management.
1997 Ecological classification, Marys River, Nevada: Applied hierarchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources in a 324,689 acre basin. Results were used for range management.
1997 Ecological classification, Thompson River basin, Montana. 1997. Applied hierchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources in a 410,276 acre basin. Results were used for forestry and wildlife management.
1996 Ecological stream classification, upper Blackfoot River basin, McDonald Gold project, Montana: Applied hierchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources in a 308,804 acre basin. Results were used for predicting mine impacts.
1996 Ecological classification, LeClerc/Harvey project area, Washington: Conducted a hierarchical classification for about 98,242 acres. Results were used for forest management planning and watershed assessment.
1995 Ecological classification, Swan River basin, Montana. 1995. Conducted a hierarchical classification and inventory of stream/riparian resources for a 408,630 acre basin. Results were used for forestry planning and management.
1995 Ecological classification, Rock Creek basin, Nevada: Conducted a hierarchical classification of stream/riparian resources for an 808,476 acre basin. Results were used for predicting hydrologic impacts of mine development and for range management.
1995 Ecological classification, Maggie Creek basin, Nevada: Conducted a hierarchical classification for a 253,736 acre basin. Results were used for predicting hydrologic impacts of mine development and for range management.
1994 Ecological classification, Habitat Conservation Plan project area, Washington. 1994. Conducted a hierarchical classification for a 418,859 acre basin. Results served as a basis for a HCP.
1994 Inventory of existing riverine/riparian habitat and projection of potential riverine riparian habitat for six streamflow scenarios, lower Owens River, California: Modeled distributions of riparian habitat for alternative flows for 60 miles of river.
1993 Inventory of stream/riparian habitat, Panther Creek basin. Applied a hierarchical classification to identify stream/riparian resources with distinctive ecological potential. Results were used to select control/treatment reaches for a NRDA.
1992 Ecological classification, Bruneau basin, Nevada: Applied a hierarchical classification to identify both upland and stream/riparian resources for 268,144 acres and 1,218 miles of stream. Results were used for range management and watershed analysis.
1991 Inventory and Assessment of Riverine/Riparian Habitat, Five-Mile Creek basin, Oregon. Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources in a 32,256 acre basin. Results were used for multiple use management.
1991 Classification, inventory and assessment of riverine/riparian habitat, Clark Fork River, Bison Creek, Big Hole River, Beaverhead River, Ruby River basins, Montana. Applied a hierarchical classification to implement a NRDA.
1991 Geologic districts of the Snake River Basin, Idaho. Identified and mapped areas of similar geologic character that contain assemblages of stream/riparian habitats with distinctive form, function and ecological potential.
1990 Classification and assessment of riverine/riparian habitats, Bull Run Mountains, Nevada: Applied a hierarchical classification to assess and map stream/riparian resources. Results were used for mining and range management.
1989 Classification of riverine/riparian habitats and assessment of nonpoint source impacts, North Fork Humboldt River basin, Nevada: Developed a hierarchical classification for assessing and mapping stream/riparian resources.
1981 Riparian classification for the Upper Salmon/Middle Fork Salmon River drainages, Idaho. 1981. Developed a classification for riparian community types that integrated geomorphic, hydrologic, soil and floristic characteristics.
1981-2001 For other past accomplishments see www.whitehorseassociates.com

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
NA NA

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
NA $0
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. Inventory and assess stream/riparian resources, upper Boise River basin a. Compile existing information 1 $12,000
b. Reconnaissance 1 $12,000
c. Mapping 1 $95,000
d. Descriptions 1 $40,000
e. Report 1 $15,000
f. QA/QC 1 $2,000
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
2. Inventory and assess stream/riparian resources, upper Payette River basin 2004 2004 $176,000
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2004
$176,000

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
NA $0
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
NA $0
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 $161,000
Supplies Mapping supplies $9,000
Travel Vehicular and Per Diem $6,000
$176,000
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2003 cost$176,000
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2003 budget request$176,000
FY 2003 forecast from 2002$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
Boise National Forest T.J. Clifford, Forest Hydrologist $8,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest John Erickson, Forest Wildlife Biologist $6,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest Edna Vizgirdas, Forest Botanist $6,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest Michael Kellett, Forest Fish Biologist $8,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest Terry Hardy, Forest Soil scientist $6,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest Resource aerial photos $8,000 in-kind
Boise National Forest Miscellaneous maps, reports, data, etc. $1,000 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 indicating how this project would integrate with and provide data for other projects including the Council's use of EDT for the upcoming subbasin planning effort. We note that this mapping effort on riparian habitat may provide information at a finer scale than the Northwest Habitat Institute approach and hence be useful for subbasin planning efforts and long term monitoring.

The proponent should discuss management applications in similar mapping projects and indicate potential applications in the Upper and Middle Snake Province. Need for this work is to some extent justified by the quote "inventory and map the distribution of riparian plant communities" stated in the Boise-Payette-Weiser Subbasin Summary. However, letters of support from management agencies would be helpful in assessing the need for the project.

The proposal needs a more fully developed plan for monitoring and evaluation of the accuracy of the maps and for use of the data in long-term aquatic habitat monitoring efforts. For example, mapped points should be checked with actual field visits with a double-blind sampling scheme. Targets should be set for error rates and the error rates estimated. What error rates have been achieved in previous projects? What magnitude of change can be detected if this mapping effort were to be repeated in, say 20 years?


Recommendation:
Recommended Action
Date:
May 17, 2002

Comment:

CBFWA found that the proposed work is similar to the mapping effort submitted by the Northwest Habitat Institute in previous provinces. This may be useful when subbasin planning begins in this province and needs to be coordinated with EDT. CBFWA questions the specific need for this project and suggests the benefits to fish and wildlife are low. The proposal states the "proposed inventory and assessment can be used to enhance both completed and ongoing TMDL efforts, and as a basis for remediation to achieve TMDLs." CBFWA expressed concern regarding the appropriateness of funding TMDL's through the NWPPC Program.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002

Comment:

Fundable at low priority. This project has the potential for providing useful data to subbasin planning and the EDT modeling effort. The ISRP acknowledges that the sponsor provided an excellent response to our continuing concerns for monitoring and evaluation the accuracy of mapping projects and for use of the data in long-term aquatic habitat monitoring efforts. For example, the proponent responded that mapped points would be checked with actual field visits using a double-blind sampling scheme. If funded, the project should be focused on and integrated into EDT more closely than it is at this point in order for the product to be directly useful in future EDT applications and subbasin planning.
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002

Comment: