FY 2002 Mountain Snake proposal 28051

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
28051 Narrative	Narrative
28051 Sponsor Response to the ISRP	Response
28051 Powerpoint Presentation	Powerpoint Presentation

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Assess and Monitor Steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River Subbasin
Proposal ID	28051
Organization	Nez Perce Tribe (NPT)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Stephen J. Rocklage
Mailing address	3404 Hwy. 12 Orofino, ID 83544
Phone / email	2084763626 / stever@nezperce.org
Manager authorizing this project	Jaime Pinkham
Review cycle	Mountain Snake
Province / Subbasin	Mountain Snake / Salmon
Short description	Assess current population status, dynamics and genetics of steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River subbasin.
Target species	Steelhead. Snake River steelhead ESU listed by NMFS as threatened on August 18, 1997.

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
45.2972	-114.5914	Middle Fork Salmon River confluence with the Main Salmon River (the entire Middle Fork Salmon River basin)

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agency	Action #	BiOp Agency	Description
NMFS	Action 179	NMFS	The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work with affected parties to establish regional priorities within the congressional appropriations processes to set and provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding to develop recovery goals for listed salmon ESUs in the Columbia River basin. Tasks shall include defining populations based on biological criteria and evaluating population viability in accordance with NMFS' viable salmonid population approach. These tasks shall be completed by 2003.
NMFS	Action 180	NMFS	The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work within regional prioritization and congressional appropriation processes to establish and provide the level of FCRPS funding to develop and implement a basinwide hierarchical monitoring program. This program shall be developed collaboratively with appropriate regional agencies and shall determine population and environmental status (including assessment of performance measures and standards) and allow ground-truthing of regional databases. A draft program including protocols for specific data to be collected, frequency of samples, and sampling sites shall be developed by September 2001. Implementation should begin no later than the spring of 2002 and will be fully implemented no later than 2003.

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishment

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
199005500	Steelhead Supplementation Studies in Idaho Rivers	Assessment of B-run steelhead supplemenatation in the Salmon and Clearwater subbasins. Assessment of wild steelhead life history traits and genetic structure will lead to a better understanding of wild steelhead population in the Salmon River Basin.
199107300	Idaho Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation	Monitors trends in chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations in the Salmon River Basin. Additional abundance estimates and emigration timing data will be collected and shared between this project.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 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 2002 cost	Subcontractor

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost
Objective 1: Assess the abundance and distribution of juvenile wild steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River subbasin.	Task A: Ascertain current locations being monitored by other studies.	0.01	$500
1.	Task B: Establish six snorkeling transects per stream utilizing a systematic sampling approach based on stream habitat type.	0.04	$2,000
1.	Task C: Snorkel each transect annually to determine juvenile steelhead abundance and distribution. We will record numbers of juvenile steelhead and calculate densities (fish/100 meter sq.).	5-10	$84,082
Objective 2: Document wild steelhead population age structure and smolt emigration characteristics in the Middle Fork Salmon River basin.	Task A: Establish three sampling reaches per stream and three sampling transects per reach utilizing a systematic sampling approach in the highest density habitat types as determined in Task 1.C.	0.1	$10,500
2.	Task B: Collect wild steelhead in established transects by seining and/or angling.	5-10	$44,375
2.	Task C: Record length and weight from each fish to determine length frequencies and condition factors. Collect scales from each fish to determine age structure.	5-10	$10,500
2.	Task D: PIT tag up to 500 juvenile wild steelhead per stream annually. PIT tagging will be done according to currently established protocols.	5-10	$20,500
2.	Task E: Submit PIT tag data to the PTAGIS database. Obtain interrogation information for PIT tagged fish detected at the lower Snake River dams.	5-10	$15,034
2.	Task F: Use PIT tag detection data to determine and compare emigration timing and survival to Lower Granite Dam within and between streams. We will also compare our findings with results from other complementary steelhead studies in the Salmon River.	5-10	$12,400
Objective 3: Assess the genetic composition of wild steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon subbasin.	Task A: Coordinate with project 199005500 on sampling streams and established protocols in order to be complementary, consistent and comparable within the basin.	0.1	$10,556
3.	Task B: Collect fin clip samples from 50-70 fish per sample stream according to procedures established by project 19905500.	5-10	$25,800
3.	Task C: DNA analysis of fin clips will be subcontracted to an established genetic laboratory. We will investigate the feasibility of subcontracting the samples to the Alaska Biological Science Center, Anchorage (to be consistent with project 199005500).	5-10	$56,000
Objective 4: Investigate feasibility of monitoring wild adult steelhead spawning abundance and distribution in the Middle Fork Salmon subbasin.	Task A: Review literature regarding adult anadromous salmonid (with emphasis on steelhead) monitoring to ascertain if effective and efficient techniques exist and can be applied to assess wild steelhead adults and spawning in the MFSR subbasin.	0.4	$20,000
Objective 5. Effectively communicate information derived from study to funding agency, management agencies and other entities.	Task 1. Write quarterly and annual reports to the BPA and communicate results to cooperating agencies, StreamNet, and other entities.	5-10	$61,000
5.	Task 2. Participate in state and regional workshops and conferences and present project information. Seek integration with other projects to relate population status, juvenile emigration survival, and genetic structure.	5-10	$28,900
5.	Task 3. Attend NMFS Endangered Species Act meetings and workshops to relate project information, seek project reviews and incorporate recommendations to ensure adequate protection the ESU.	5-10	$14,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
Objective 1: Assess the abundance and distribution of juvenile wild steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River subbasin.	2003	2006	$291,326
Objective 2: Document wild steelhead population age structure and smolt emigration characteristics in the Middle Fork Salmon River basin.	2003	2006	$582,793
Objective 3: Assess the genetic composition of wild steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon subbasin.	2003	2006	$409,175
Objective 4: Assess wild adult steelhead spawning abundance and distribution in the Middle Fork Salmon subbasin if found feasible in 2002 Objective 4. The costs associated with this objective may vary depending on method used.	2003	2006	$0
Objective 5. Effectively communicate information derived from study to funding agency, management agencies and other entities.	2003	2006	$470,726

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$406,954	$427,301	$448,666	$471,099

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2002 cost
Personnel	FTE: 2 full time, 6 seasonal at 0.5 FTE	$160,034
Fringe		$47,778
Supplies		$49,500
Travel		$25,688
Indirect		$59,147
Capital		$0
NEPA		$0
PIT tags	# of tags: 8,000	$18,000
Subcontractor	Genetic analysis	$56,000
		$416,147

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2002 cost	$416,147
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2002 budget request	$416,147
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 2001-9)

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate

Date:
Sep 28, 2001

Comment:

A response is needed. The proposal would be much more effective had it included a detailed description of what is presently going on in the basin, a clear statement of goals for these steelhead, and why the present program is deficient with respect to meeting the goals. It needs to address question such as:

How will managers use the data expected from the study?
Was the need to do this work identified in the sub basin summary?
What problem in the Middle Fork will be addressed using these data? How?
Are existing genetic data inappropriate?
Why do you need to expand the present genetic database?
What management problem will be solved with the genetic data?
How will your sampling be coordinated with other parr sampling? Specifically, what is the relationship of this project to the current projects for monitoring production?
Will these data be redundant or will existing data gathering be expanded? Why?
What information suggests that monitoring of adult steelhead can be successful?
Will your sampling contribute to jeopardy of these fish?

The ISRP strongly supports the proponents in their plans to establish snorkeling transects for juvenile abundance utilizing a systematic sampling approach based on stream habitat type. This is the first proposal to establish a probabilistic sampling plan for fish abundance in the Idaho Provinces that we are aware of. The ISRP recommends that the proponents go further and work with the Oregon, Washington, and Montana Provinces to develop compatible monitoring and evaluation procedures with common field procedures and probabilistic site selection for the entire Columbia Basin. The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Program (Nicholas 1997a, 1997b, 1999) as implemented in the Oregon coastal coho streams and the Columbia Plateau Province is a Tier 2 statistical monitoring and evaluation program that can serve as a good model. Also, see the section on monitoring in the introduction to this report. The monitoring component for juvenile steelhead is fundable if a convincing response to ISRP questions and comments is provided.

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Nov 30, 2001

Comment:

Although the IDFG has completed genetic analyses in this area, this project would compliment and expand what has been completed to date. This project addresses RPA 179 and 180.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2001-12A)

Recommendation:
Do Not Fund

Date:
Dec 21, 2001

Comment:

Not Fundable - A similar program, managed by IDFG, has existed in the basin for many years although it does not sample at as many sites as planned in the present proposal. Sponsors, however, did not provide a convincing argument that additional samples are necessary. Sponsor's insist there is need for data to estimate population viability, but no detailed outline of methods for obtaining these data was provided. Details of how the genetic information is to be used in such an analysis were not provided. Problems associated with such an analysis when sub-populations are severely depressed were not considered. Viability estimates require definition of population structure (distribution and abundance of sub-populations), and quantification of the interaction between sub-populations, but strategies and detailed methods for obtaining these data were not described. Absent the above, the proposal cannot be considered technically sound.

The ISRP recommends that sponsors of this project and researchers from IDFG consider working together to develop a new, collaborative proposal based on the information that IDFG and others have accumulated, that is directed to goals and objectives that are generally accepted as key to management of Middle Fork steelhead, and is designed to redirect the present and any new sampling found to be necessary to a strategy that includes probabilistic site selection (see The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Monitoring Program, Nicholas 1997a, 1997b, 1999, for a helpful model).

The ISRP strongly supports development of a combined program for Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana Provinces for compatible monitoring and evaluation procedures with common field procedures and probabilistic site selection for the entire Columbia River Basin. Implementation of such a high-level coordinated plan throughout the Columbia River Basin would likely be an unprecedented advance in research and a distinct advantage to the resource. Co-location of study sites for fish counts, aquatic habitat, and water quality would enhance the region's ability to draw meaningful conclusions from the array of M&E projects currently underway.

Proposals should be developed in close collaboration with Project 199801600 in the Columbia Plateau, "Monitor Natural Escapement and Productivity of John Day Basin Spring Chinook Salmon." ODFW revised this proposal to create a comprehensive plan to include all monitoring and evaluation for all anadromous salmonid life-stages and habitats in the Oregon portion of the Columbia River Plateau Province. The proponents are 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:
NMFS Review

Recommendation:

Date:
Feb 1, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Benefits are indirect. Supports improvements in survival, abundance and distribution by identifying key opportunities for implementing actions. Increase understanding and assess current status of Snake River Steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River subbasin by monitoring their abundance, distribution, life history, and genetic composition.

Comments
Very important work for SR SH, might be best implemented w/in RME pilot?

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
C

Date:
Feb 11, 2002

Comment:

Do not recommend. The project should be reconsidered when a regional RM&E plan is completed and the need for the project can be properly assessed.

BPA RPA RPM:
--

NMFS RPA/USFWS RPM:
179, 180

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Do Not Fund

Date:
Apr 19, 2002

Comment: