FY 2002 Mountain Columbia proposal 200204500

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
24015 Narrative	Narrative
24015 Sponsor Response to ISRP	Response
Intermountain: Coeur d'Alene Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map
Intermountain: Coeur d'Alene Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Wetland/Riparian Protection, Restoration, Enhancement and Maintenance in the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin
Proposal ID	200204500
Organization	Coeur d'Alene Tribe (CDA Tribe)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Cameron Heusser
Mailing address	PO Box 408 Plummer, ID 83851
Phone / email	2086866008 / cheusser@cdatribe-nsn.gov
Manager authorizing this project	Robert Matt
Review cycle	Mountain Columbia
Province / Subbasin	Mountain Columbia / Coeur d'Alene
Short description	This project intends to protect wetland/riparian habitats within the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin through management rights acquisition and restore, enhance and maintain those habitat for the benefit of native fish and wildlife in perpetuity.
Target species	Muskrat, Cutthroat Trout, American Black Bear , Yellow Warbler, Wood Duck

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
47.4	-116.19	Coeur d'Alene subbasin

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
	The following accomplishments are reflective of all Coeur d'Alene Tribal Fish and Wildlife efforts on the Reservation.
1987	NPPC amended the F&W Program to include baseline stream surveys of tributaries located on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.
1990	Conducted field surveys of Reservation streams. Documented location, accessibility, stream gradient, and habitat potential of 21 streams within the Reservation boundaries.
1991	Used a modified Missouri method of evaluating streams in combination with information on biological indicators to select target tributaries for restoration and enhancement.
1992	Compiled population and biomass estimates for westslope cutthroat trout and calculated community metrics for macroinvertebrate populations in each target tributary.
1993	Identified limiting factors for westslope cutthroat and bull trout in target tributaries.
1994	Mark-recapture effort initiated in Coeur d'Alene Lake to help describe fish assemblages in near shore areas and evaluate interactions between cutthroat and their predators.
1994	Recommendations given by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe were adopted by NPPC (10.8B.20).
1995	Used GIS technology to identify priority areas for restoration by overlaying information on riparian condition, fish population abundance and distribution, and land ownership.
1995	Erected 2.8 km of exclusion fencing, installed bank protection structures, constructed pool habitat, and reestablished connections with historic floodplain channels at two locations.
1995	Implemented the first compensatory harvest project by planting 1000 rainbow trout into Worley Pond.
1995	Initiated annual creel census surveys at Worley Pond to help manage put and take fisheries on the Reservation.
1996	Erected 1.9 km of exclusion fencing, placed LWD in a 300 meter test reach, installed two current deflectors, and planted more than 9,000 trees and shrubs.
1996	Maintained and stocked Worley Trout Pond with over 3000 rainbow trout.
1997	Completed 5-year management plan for enhancement of Tribal fisheries. Identified appropriate restoration techniques and projected anticipated program expenses for FY1997-FY2001.
1997	Constructed and enhanced 4 acres of wetland habitat, constructed a side-channel rearing pond, built a bio-revetment to protect 100 meters of streambank, and planted more than 9,000 trees and shrubs.
1997	Stocked Worley Pond with 2200 rainbow trout. An estimated 1900 were harvested in the first three months.
1997	Initiated baseline water quality monitoring in Coeur d'Alene Lake to identify limiting factors for the adult cutthroat trout and life stage.
1997	Aerial inventory of large ungulate species.
1998	Constructed and enhanced 2 acres of wetland habitat and planted more than 9,000 trees and shrubs. Substantially reduced non-point source sediment pollution from over 300 acres of farmland.
1998	Stocked Worley Pond with 1400 rainbow trout. An estimated 1125 were harvested in the first three months.
1998	Compiled comprehensive lists of landowner contracts in each of the target watersheds. Signed 8 long-term easements to protect critical habitat in two target watersheds during the past three years.
1998	Completed a gravel study in known spawning tributaries of each target watershed to quantify the quality and quantity of available spawning gravel.
1998	Collected over 400 individual tissue samples from 13 locations to determine stock purity and relatedness of westslope cutthroat trout stocks.
1998	Completed supplementation feasibility report for westslope cutthroat trout on Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. Determined the need for supplementation of natural fish stocks in order to meet goals of NPPC and Tribe.
1998	Aerial inventory of large ungulate species.
1999	Stocked Worley Pond with 1400 rainbow trout. An estimated 1300 were harvested in the first three months.
1999	Rehabilitated more than 20 acres of riparian habitat and planted more than 11,000 trees and shrubs. Substantially reduced non-point source sediment pollution from over 300 acres of farmland.
1999	Initiated a bathymetric survey of Coeur d'Alene Lake to quantify near shore habitat.
1999	Completed a biological assessment for bull trout in waters of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. Obtained an incidental take permit from the UDFWS to authorize restoration and monitoring/evaluation activities and ensure compliance with ESA.
1999	Completed a NEPA compliance checklist and supplemental analysis for watershed projects under the watershed management program EIS.
1999	Completed a stock assessment for westslope cutthroat trout in waters of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.
1999	Aerial inventory of large ungulate species.
1999	Completed Master Plan for the Trout Production Facility and completed step one NWPPC 3 step process for hatchery construction.
1999	Completed a four year water quality study on Coeur d'Alene Lake.
2000	Completed a Biological Assessment for the put and take rainbow trout ponds and the Trout Production Facility within the Hangman Creek Watershed.
2000	Stocked Worley Pond with 1500 rainbow trout. An estimated 1430 were harvested in the first three months.
2000	Planted more than 12,000 trees and shrubs.
2000	Established a native plant nursery.
2000	Active member of the Albeni Falls Work Group since 1997. Secured funding through Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project to acquire management rights to mitigation parcels and restore habitat for targeted species.
2000	Submitted "Implement Wildlife Habitat Protection & Restoration on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation: Hangman Watershed" for the Spokane River Subbasin' 2001-2003 funding cycle and was rated Fundable by ISRP, and Urgent High Priority by CBFWA & NWPPC.
2000	Submitted "Implement Fisheries Habitat Protection & Restoration on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation: Hangman Watershed" for the Spokane River Subbasin' 2001-2003 funding cycle and was rated Fundable by ISRP, and Urgent High Priority by CBFWA & NWPPC.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
21017	Implement Wildlife Habitat Protection and Restoration on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation: Hangman Watershed.	This project intends to extend the habitat protection, restoration & enhancement supported by NWPPC into the Hangman Watershed, which covers the western 43% of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation.
21018	Implement Fisheries Enhancement on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation: Hangman Watershed.	This project intends to extend in-stream assessments of native fish populations, habitats restoration opportunities supported by NWPPC into the Hangman Watershed, which covers the western 43% of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.
199004400	Implement Fisheries Enhancement on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation	A habitat protection mechanism provided by a means of acquiring management rights is lacking from this ongoing effort to restore native fish populations to the Cd'A Reservation. This Proposal intends to provide that habitat protection mechanism.
199004401	Lake Creek Land Acquisition	The Lake Creek Project is attempting to provide habitat protection of the same type as proposed by this Project. Protection would extend to a specific property that has extensive wildlife and fish habitats.
199004402	Coeur d'Alene Tribe Trout Production Facility	The facility will produce westslope cutthroat trout to supplement the naturally produced populations within the waters of the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin, which are waters to be improved by this proposed projects.
9206100	Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project	The Cd'A Tribe Wildlife Program is a member of the multiagency Workgroup directing the project. However, this project's objectives target eight wildlife species and offers no means of directly benefiting fish.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor
1. Plan and establish a trust fund or other funding strategy for securing management rights to priority habitat areas by 2003.	a. Establish a habitat protection trust fund to secure management rights to priority habitat areas with emphasis on riparian and wetland habitats and floodplains.	Strategy by 2003; funding accomplished through periodic installments through 2006.	$4,141
2. Plan and establish a trust fund or other funding strategy sufficient for ensuring the long-term operation and maintenance of project lands by 2003.	a. Establish an operation and maintenance trust fund to assure long term fish and wildlife benefits of implementation efforts. This will produce more implementation flexibility and reduce the funding burden on NWPPC and the Wildlife Program.	Accomplished through lump sum funding; will be ongoing throughout the life of the project.	$4,141
3. Develop a project management plan to guide the restoration, enhancement, operation, and maintenance of all secured project lands by 2003.	a. Produce an umbrella plan to cover all implementation activities including identification of priority areas, implementation strategies and techniques.	2003	$7,875
4. Conduct pre-management acquisition activities associated with the protection of 1000 acres of floodplain, riparian, wetland and transition habitats per year.	a. Identify willing landowner participants.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,883
	b. Conduct preliminary assessments of existing and potential wildlife and fish habitats associated with candidate properties.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$32,133
	c. Consult and coordinate throughout the process with the NPPC, CBWA, BPA, local governments, and the public.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$2,896
	d. Complete federal compliance requirements (appraisals, environmental surveys, cultural resource surveys, etc.)	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$38,146
	e. Complete NEPA requirements.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,859
5. Develop a monitoring and evaluation protocol for determining effectiveness of implementation activities.	a. Evaluate the effectiveness of water monitoring as a tool in assessing effectiveness of project implementation.	2002	$5,149	Yes
	b. Evaluate various methods of monitoring trends in vegetation as a tool in assessing effectiveness of project implementation.	2002	$5,149	Yes
	c. Evaluate the effectiveness of various population monitoring indices in assessing effectiveness of project implementation.	2002	$5,149	Yes

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Plan and establish a trust fund or other funding strategy for securing management rights to priority habitat areas by 2003.			$0
2. Plan and establish a trust fund or other funding strategy sufficient for ensuring the long-term operation and maintenance of project lands by 2003.			$0
3. Develop a project management plan to guide the restoration, enhancement, operation, and maintenance of all secured project lands by 2003.	2003	2006	$2,000
4. Conduct pre-management acquisition activities associated with the protection of 1000 acres per year.	2003	2006	$433,511
5. Develop a monitoring and evaluation protocol for determining effectiveness of implementation activities.			$0

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$93,909	$103,250	$113,525	$124,827

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor
1. Secure management rights to at least 1000 acres of flood plain, riparian, wetland, and associated upland areas each year.	a. Obtain fee title, or conservation easements to existing or degraded riparian, wetland and associated upland habitats within the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$1,754,325
	b. Complete site specific wildlife management plan for review.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,608
2. Protect, restore and/or enhance 25% of the newly acquired riparian, wetland, and transition lands per year.	a. Use exclusionary fencing to protect targeted, riparian, wetland, and transition habitat.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$10,972
	b. Use passive restoration to accomplish habitat improvements wherever more extensive restoration measures are unnecessary.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,820
	c. Plant native shrubs to increase vegetative diversity and habitat suitability for target species.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,608
	d. Plant native trees to increase vegetative diversity and habitat suitability for target species.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,608
	e. Disperse seeds of native plants where necessary to hasten native plant establishment.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,608
	f. Conduct prescribed burns to increase forage and vegetative diversity.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,820	Yes
	g. Construct public access areas using fencing to reduce human disturbance.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,820
	h. Apply chemical, biological, mechanical control to retard spread of noxious weeds.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,608
3. Maximize dual benefits to both fish and wildlife resources on all implementation efforts.	a. Coordinate the efforts of Coeur d'Alene Tribe Fisheries and Wildlife Programs throughout the Construction and Implementation phases to ensure dual benefits.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,820

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Secure management rights to at least 1000 acres of flood plain, riparian, wetland, and associated upland areas each year.	2003	2006	$8,984,634
2. Protect, restore and/or enhance 25% of the newly acquired riparian, wetland, and transition lands per year.	2003	2006	$229,034
3. Maximize dual benefits to both fish and wildlife resources on all implementation efforts.	2003	2006	$19,501

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$1,989,478	$2,188,426	$2,407,269	$2,647,996

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
1. Improve awareness of fish and wildlife habitat protection, restoration and enhancement activities in the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin.	a. Coordinate all project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation efforts and associated results with the other regional fish and wildlife managers, BPA, and the NWPPC.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	b. Publish a summary of Coeur d'Alene Tribe Natural Resource's mitigation efforts within the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin in a quarterly newsletter.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
2. Maximize long term benefits to fish and wildlife populations on all project sites.	a. Maintain habitat improvements.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	b. Maintain gates and fence lines.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	c. Control the spread of non-native invasive annuals (noxious weeds)	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$6,437
	d. Maintain water control structures.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	e. Control nuisance animals.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	f. Implement seasonal and site specific closures to protect wildlife during critical time periods.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205
	g. Maintain public access sites.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$4,205

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Improve awareness of the Coeur d'Alene Tribes Wildlife Program's activities in the Coeur d'Alene Subbasin.	2003	2006	$42,934
2. Maximize long term benefits to fish and wildlife populations on all project sites.	2003	2006	$161,664

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$44,085	$48,493	$53,343	$58,677

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
1. Monitor trends in parameters specified in Planning and Design Objective 5.	a. Conduct baseline evaluations of project sites using the parameters specified in Planning and Design Objective 5.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,797
	b. Continually monitor water quality, vegetation coverage parameters and wildlife population parameters by the methods and periodic protocols identified in Planning and Design Objective 5.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,024
2. Conduct annual noxious weed monitoring of project sites.	a. Develop baseline maps illustrating the location, acreage and percent cover of noxious weeds within project sites.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$5,024
	b. Evaluate project sites annually for changes in weed distributions.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,478
	c. Update weed control plan annually to incorporate changes resulting from control activities.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$2,705
3. Adapt management plans, activities and objectives as needed to maximize duel benefits to fish and wildlife.	a. Conduct annual evaluations of project effectiveness.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$3,478
	b. Publish annual project update to include an evaluation of effectiveness.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$2,705
	c. Use annual project update findings to refine techniques and approaches.	ongoing throughout the life of the project	$2,705

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Monitor trends in parameters specified in Planning and Design Objective 5.	2003	2006	$55,242
2. Conduct annual noxious weed monitoring of project sites.	2003	2006	$57,213
3. Adapt management plans, activities and objectives as needed to maximize duel benefits to fish and wildlife.	2003	2006	$45,375

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$34,008	$37,408	$41,150	$45,264

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2002 cost
Personnel	FTE: 2	$70,304
Fringe	.4	$28,122
Supplies	motor vehicle;office;supplies;noncapital equipment;communications and postage;printing	$24,450
Travel	Travel, Training & Per diem	$6,000
Indirect	33	$43,792
Capital	1000 acres @ $1750/acre	$1,750,000
NEPA	5% preacquisitions	$2,963
Subcontractor	appraisals,hazmat,cultural resources,title reports,surveys	$70,500
		$1,996,131

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2002 cost	$1,996,131
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2002 budget request	$1,996,131
FY 2002 forecast from 2001	$0
% change from forecast	0.0%

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 2001-2)

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate

Date:
Feb 9, 2001

Comment:

A response is needed. This project proposes to restore wetland and riparian habitats by acquiring conservation easements on 1,000 acres per year and conducting restoration activities. The project complements ongoing efforts to restore cutthroat trout on reservation lands. Specific properties have not yet been defined. Acquisition criteria are being developed and will be included in a Conservation Easement Plan. Both purchases and voluntary easements will be included. The landowner's incentive to provide voluntary easements is that the Tribe will perform the restoration work.

The proposal does a good job describing the limitations to ongoing fish mitigation activities and the reasons it is difficult to obtain sufficient riparian conservation agreements from landowners. It makes a good case for the need to protect important habitat areas to achieve long-term mitigation benefits. The two-tiered monitoring plan is one of the proposal's strengths.

The project proponents should specify goals for restoration and enhancement, define the criteria and process used to prioritize acquisitions, and describe how proposed acquisitions will fit into the larger set of existing easements. The Conservation Easement Plan should be scientifically reviewed prior to project funding. Project proponents should develop a timeline specifying delivery of products and subsequent review.

Because a large number of objectives are listed under different types of activities (planning and design, construction and implementation, monitoring and evaluation) it would be helpful to put activities in a flow chart to clarify their sequence and interrelationships.

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Mar 16, 2001

Comment:

(See Intermountain language on trust funds.) This is a programmatic project focusing on 5 specific areas for restoration. All fisheries monitoring for this project will be provided under Project Number 199004400. M&E required for site response would be provided within this project. There is a high probability for cost share in the future for this project.

FY 02 Budget Review Comments: If this project is funded, Project Number 199004401 should be ended and those activities should be incorporated into this proposal.

REVIEW:
CBFWA FY02 Budget Review Comments

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Mar 16, 2001

Comment:

If this project is funded, Project Number 199004401 should be ended and those activities should be incorporated into this proposal.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2001-4)

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Apr 6, 2001

Comment:

Fundable. The proposers provided a detailed response that addressed the ISRP concerns. The map was helpful and they have demonstrated a logical plan and selection criteria for prioritizing potential purchases. However, specific parcels are not identified. . The proposers have prepared a very complicated flow chart of activities that should be used to help identify areas of overlap and potential simplification. The response is vague as to how the project will seek consistency with the Conservation Easement Plan. In addition, the proposed review of the easement plan is an internal review rather than an independent scientific review. The sponsors should obtain outside reviewers for the plan review.

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fundable after Subbasin Planning w/cond

Date:
May 30, 2001

Comment:

- We have concerns that no specific parcels have been identified for this project. This project should only be funded if a set of clear definable goals, objectives and time frames are established in conjunction with the other land acquisition projects, i.e. 199004401 Lake Creek Acquisition and Enhancement, and the 199206100 - Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation Project.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Oct 19, 2001

Comment:

The ISRP (p. 22) endorsed the Lake Creek land acquisition project (199004401) but tied continued support for the project to assurance that there will be consistent criteria for the selection of future properties. The ISRP also raised a "question of accountability for the last ten years", which is not entirely clear, but the staff assume refers to the long history of funding commitment for the project.

Council recommendation: The project should be funded under the conditions stated by the ISRP. The existing project should be combined under new proposal 24015 with a transfer of $160,020 for operation and maintenance from the original budget submitted for ongoing project 199004401 (the sponsor agrees with this). This recommendation assumes that the old project number for Lake Creek land acquisition is closed out and the originally proposed budget for proposal 24015 is augmented by the transfer of $160,020 of operation and maintenance funds from the Lake Creek project.

The Council notes that the ISRP concern about the accountability for this project may not be informed by the full history of the Lake Creek acquisition project. Essentially, funds committed to this project have not provided substantial benefit because the lengthy negotiation for a specific parcel ultimately failed. While there has been a continuing budget reserved for the project, the budget has carried forward for several years pending resolution of negotiations. In May, the Council approved making the existing FY 2001 budget available for other parcels subject to the use of criteria in the project proposal for this review.

Province Level/Programmatic Issue

Bonneville provided the Council substantial comments on the projects proposed for funding in this province. Bonneville put the project into eight separate categories as follows:

Category 1. Fund - ESA BiOp Projects that meet both the needs of the Council Fish and Wildlife program and the ESA requirements of the US Fish and Wildlife Services Biological Opinion for operation of the Upper Columbia FCRPS dams and should be fully funded with qualifications as needed.
Category 2. Fund - Ongoing Projects, which should be fully funded.
Category 3. Fund In Part or with Qualifications - Ongoing projects that should be funded with the stated qualifications.
Category 4. Fund In Part - New, includes two projects, which are a combination of ongoing projects and new projects designed for wildlife mitigation. The existing portions of these projects should be funded, but the wildlife mitigation objectives should not be funded for the reasons discussed later in this cover letter.
Category 5. Potential Funding After Completion of Subbasin Planning - No Comments/Qualifications, lists projects that should be reconsidered for funding after subbasin planning is completed as discussed in our cover letter. We have no comments in addition to those provided by ISRP/CBFWA.
Category 6. Potential Funding After Completion of Subbasin Planning - With Comments/Qualifications, lists projects that should be reconsidered for funding after subbasin planning is completed as discussed later in this letter.
Category 7. Do Not Fund - Ongoing, lists projects that should not be funded to continue implementation of the current objectives based on our agreement with the technical review of the ISRP.
Category 8. Do Not Fund - New, lists projects that should not be funded based on our agreement with the ISRP comments on the scientific merit of the projects, or with CBFWA on the timing and need for the project.
The following list of six projects all received a fundable rating by the ISRP, and was ranked as high priority by CBFWA. Thus, these projects are all "consensus priorities" and under our proposed decision rule, are parts of the base of projects that the staff proposes the Council recommend funding. However, the Bonneville comments put the first four the following projects into category five, and the last two into category six -- meaning that it does not support funding these projects until after subbasin planning is completed. (As an aside, it is worth noting that the comments or qualifications that it proposes for the two projects in category six are not of the nature or type that they have to be resolved through subbasin planning -- the qualifications presented could be dealt with immediately).

24003 Acquire and conserve bull trout and westslope cutthroat habitat in Trestle Creek (Pend Oreille subbasin).

24005 Smith Creek Restoration (Kootenai subbasin)

24008 Genetic inventory of bull trout and westslope cutthroat in the Pend Oreille subbasin (Pend Oreille subbasin)

24012 Habitat preservation -- Weaver and McWinegar sloughs (Flathead subbasin)

24015 Wetland/Riparian Enhancement, Protection, Restoration in Coeur d' Alene subbasin

24017 Restoring bull trout habitat in Blackfoot River's North Fork (Blackfoot)

The issue presented is what appears to be a Bonneville prioritization or ranking of projects that meet fish and wildlife program standards and have ISRP and CBFWA support that subordinates them to ESA based projects. The staff concern is not that Bonneville is very diligent about trying to meet its ESA obligations, but rather, that it appears that its focus on those obligations may be coming at the expense of other obligations and projects pursuant to the fish and wildlife program, and that Bonneville is doing that sort of prioritizing without consultation with the Council. For example, as staff was developing this memorandum, we received a copy of a letter dated May 25, 2001 from Robert Austin to Chairman Cassidy "informing" the Council that Bonneville was going to fund six research oriented projects to meet what it understands to be the FCRPS Biological Opinion needs.
Thus, the six "fund/fund" projects that Bonneville would defer in the Mountain Columbia may be an indication Bonneville's ESA needs are in fact being advanced over other fish and wildlife program needs. Without any statement of reasons why these projects would be deferred, the fair inference is that Bonneville is doing something of a unilateral budgeting exercise. As a programmatic policy matter, the Council will need consider if and how it wishes to address this matter with Bonneville.

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Decision

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Mar 25, 2002

Comment:
Bonneville intends to fund this project pending discussions with the project sponsor in the following areas. Any acquisitions that solely benefit wildlife must be credited to a hydro-project with quantified wildlife losses. All other acquisitions are to show a clear link to protection or restoration of fishery habitat or associated fish related water quality concerns. Portions of this project should be combined with ongoing project 1990-044-00, Implement Fisheries Enhancement on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. Bonneville will work with the project sponsor to ensure that the M&E and I&E portions 24015 will be managed in coordination with 1990-044-00. In addition, acquisitions made under 24015 will be coordinated with the first phase of documentation and reporting on historical accomplishments of 1990-044-00.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:
Could expend $2.5 million in FY04. Needs for managing existing land holdings without land acquisition funding for FY04 is $249,580 and FY05 is 268,906. Capital

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:
capital

Date:
May 2005

FY05 NPCC start of year: FY06 NPCC staff preliminary: FY06 NPCC July draft start of year:

$6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website

FY05 NPCC start of year:	FY06 NPCC staff preliminary:	FY06 NPCC July draft start of year:
$6,000,000	$6,000,000	$6,000,000