FY 2002 Mountain Snake proposal 199107300

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleIdaho Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation
Proposal ID199107300
OrganizationIdaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameSam Sharr
Mailing address1414 E Locust Lane Nampa, ID 83686-8451
Phone / email2084658404 / ssharr@idfg.state.id.us
Manager authorizing this projectSteve Yundt
Review cycleMountain Snake
Province / SubbasinMountain Snake / Salmon
Short descriptionIdentifies limiting factors and recomends methods to improve adult-to-smolt and smolt-to-adult survival of chinook salmon and steelhead. Provides long-term monitoring data to determine the effectiveness of recovery actions and population status.
Target speciesspring/summer chinook and steelhead trout
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
45.56 -115.36 This project collects data in freshwater rearing and spawning habitat throughout the Mountain Snake Province
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
RM&E RPA Action 190
RM&E RPA Action 185
RM&E RPA Action 189

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription
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.
NMFS Action 190 NMFS The Action Agencies shall continue to fund studies that monitor survival, growth, and other early life history attributes of Snake River wild juvenile fall chinook.
NMFS/BPA 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

YearAccomplishment
1984 The general parr monitoring database was started in 1984 and continues today. It represents the most comprehensive salmon and steelhead database in Idaho and is the only longterm database for steelhead.
1985 Documented the relative success of instream structures versus off-channel habitat development to increase parr production.
1988 Increased chinook and steelhead parr production by over 135,000 fish following habitat improvements.
1988 Identified factors affecting survival of chinook and steelhead parr.
1988 Estimated chinook egg-to-parr survival in the headwaters of the Salmon River and Crooked River.
1988 Estimated chinook egg-to-parr survival of fish supplemented by different methods (e.g. adult outplants, fry releases, egg outplants).
1988 Estimated survival impacts due to irrigation diversions.
1989 Estimated seeding level for A-run and B-run steelhead in specific rearing areas.
1992 Identified differences in peak arrival time to Lower Granite dam between hatchery and wild chinook.
1993 Determined release strategies for hatchery chinook smolts and adults to increase survival and production.
1994 Documented adult chinook and steelhead escapement to three pristine wilderness streams during 1994-1996.
1997 Identified decreased survival associated with multiple collection and bypass.
1997 Verified PATH chinook salmon smolt-to-adult recovery goals with Snake River basin smolts/female estimates.
1998 Completed model for estimating smolt-to-adult return rate by migration route.
1999 Published Snake River spring and summer chinook salmon article in Fisheries
1999 Developed a D-value calculation model
2000 Began aging Snake River spring and summer chinook salmon to improve run reconstruction analysis
2000 Submitted manuscript on smolt-to-adult returns by migration route

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
198909800 Evaluate Salmon Supplementation In Idaho Rivers (ISS) Contributes to the general parr monitoring database
199005500 Steelhead Supplementation Studies in Idaho Contributes to the general parr monitoring database

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
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 2002 costSubcontractor
Manage and collect long-term monitoring data for spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations in Idaho Determine the relationship between redds in index areas relative to redds in the entire drainage for key populations 2 $39,000
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Manage and collect long-term monitoring data for spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations in Idaho 2003 2004 $79,000
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2003
$40,000

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
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 2002 costSubcontractor
1. Manage and collect long-term monitoring data for spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations in Idaho a. Complete snorkel estimates of parr density and percent carrying capacity in a minimum of 50 high-priority GPM streams annually 10 $49,000
b. Collect physical stream habitat data in all GPM high priority streams. 10 $40,000
c. Coordinate GPM sampling efforts with cooperating agencies 10 $5,000
d. Manage and complete annual verification of the GPM database. 10 $35,000
e. Index steelhead escapement in the Salmon and Clearwater subbasins by conduction aerial redd counts 10 $30,000
f. Monitor spring and summer chinook salmon escapement in Idaho by coordinating and conducting redd count surveys 10 $10,000
g. PIT tag a minimum of 700 emigrating chinook parr during the summer and fall, and 500 emigrating smolts during the spring, annually. 10 $171,000
2. Measure changes in steelhead trout and chinook salmon production attributable to habitat enehancement projects a. Monitor long-term changes in rearing and spawning habitat from enhancement projects. 10 $43,000
b. Compare parr densities in treated and control stream sections. 10 $33,000
3. Estimate life cycle survival for wild and naturally produced steelhead trout and spring/summer chinook salmon a. Estimate smolts per female production for aggregate Snake River basin spring and summer chinook to identify smolt-to-adult survival needed to achieve recovery 10 $30,000
b. Estimate ocean age proportions for wild or naturally produced spring/summer chinook salmon returning to the Mountain Snake Province 10 $75,000
c. Estimate the length frequency of spring/summer chinook salmon adults with intact adipose fins passing Lower Granite Dam 10 $50,000
d. Estimate aggregate smolt-to-adult survival of Snake River spring and summer chinook salmon using smolt and adult abundance estimates at Lower Granite Dam. 10 $35,000
e. Estimate overall and migration route specific smolt-to-adult survival for both spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead trout using PTAGIS database and Monte Carlo simulations 10 $10,000
f. Validate ocean age estimates using known age adults from PIT tag and coded wire tagged hatchery fish 10 $59,000
g. PIT tag wild juvenile steelhead to increase the number of adult returns for the analysis described in Task 2d 10 $99,000
h. Report weekly smolt detection information for the entire Snake River Basin during the spring outmigration to IDFG managers for recommending actions regarding hydrosystem operation 10 $18,000
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
1. Manage and collect long-term monitoring data for spring and summer chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations in Idaho 2003 2006 $1,422,000
2. Measure changes in steelhead trout and chinook salmon production attributable to habitat enehancement projects 2003 2006 $328,000
3. Estimate life cycle survival for wild and naturally produced steelhead trout and spring/summer chinook salmon 2003 2006 $1,663,000
4. Determine how well the existing M&E efforts in Idaho fill the needs of a Tier 2 M&E program, and have primary IDFG responsibility to develop a Teir 2 M&E program incorporating existing M&E efforts. 2003 2005 $325,000
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
FY 2003FY 2004FY 2005FY 2006
$929,000$945,000$971,000$891,000

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2002 cost
Personnel FTE: 11.5 $342,875
Fringe $123,000
Supplies $114,000
Travel $10,000
Indirect $166,000
Capital $40,000
PIT tags # of tags: 12500 $28,125
Subcontractor $7,000
$831,000
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2002 cost$831,000
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2002 budget request$831,000
FY 2002 forecast from 2001$857,758
% change from forecast-3.1%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or 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:
Sep 28, 2001

Comment:

A response is needed. The proponents should address the need for development of a long term Columbia River Basin (including the Salmon subbasin) probabilistic sampling plan(s) for monitoring anadromous fishes, resident fishes, water quality, and other habitat quality parameters. The proponents also need to provide documentation that common monitoring methods are being used in the Salmon subbasin (e.g., project #199405000) and that data and metadata are being provided to Streamnet (or other database if Streamnet is not appropriate).

This is a good monitoring and evaluation program based on monitoring subjectively selected streams and representative sites within strata on those streams. However, experience based on the use of similar surveys of index sites in the coastal coho streams of Oregon lead the ISRP to strongly recommend that the Idaho Provinces reassess the current monitoring design and site selections in development of a more comprehensive long-term monitoring program for all life history stages and species including resident fish. The ISRP continues to believe that the project needs to undergo a programmatic review, perhaps in conjunction with review of similar projects in Oregon, Washington, and Montana.

Monitoring and evaluation needs may be satisfied by the current survey sites and monitoring program during a period of low seeding levels, but the ISRP doubts that the project will meet the expectations and needs of the Province in the long term if anadromous fish abundance increases. It would be foolish to abandon the current design in the short term, but likewise foolish to not start integrating components of a design that allows statistical inferences to be made to the entire Snake Subbasin, other Idaho Subbasins, and individual important watersheds.

The ISRP recommends that the proponents of monitoring projects in the Idaho Provinces work with the Oregon, Washington, and Montana Provinces to develop 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 southern Columbia Plateau Province (John Day, Deschutes, Walla Walla (in Oregon) and Umatilla) is a Tier 2 level monitoring and evaluation program that may serve as a good model. Also, see the section on monitoring in the introduction to this report.

The proponents of this project should work closely with the proponents of Proposal #28051,"Assess and Monitor Steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River Subbasin", to ensure that the probabilistic sampling plan envisioned in #28051 is compatible with long range plans of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

All data should be made available via STREAMNET or other suitable electronic database, as soon as possible.

Minor comments and suggestions:

The proponents indicate that they "Use the PTAGIS database and a program developed by the ISS project to determine the disposition of detected PIT-tagged smolts." Also, they "Use those data and the model previously developed by INPMEP (Kiefer et al. 2001b) to estimate the number of PIT-tagged wild/natural smolts that migrated uncollected past the four main collector dams." The ISRP recommends that the proponents corroborate with NMFS statisticians in Seattle to compare methods and estimates for these important parameters.

The proponents should ensure the ISRP of cooperation with project #199102800,"Monitoring smolt migrations of wild Snake River sp/sum chinook salmon" for lack of overlap in application of PIT-TAGs to wild anadromous fish and sharing of information on downstream detections and adult returns.


Recommendation:
High Priority
Date:
Nov 30, 2001

Comment:

This project addresses RPAs 180 and 190.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Dec 21, 2001

Comment:

Fundable. The proponents addressed the need for development of a long-term Columbia River Basin (including the Salmon subbasin) probabilistic sampling plan(s) for monitoring anadromous fishes, resident fishes, water quality, and other habitat quality parameters. The proponents also provided assurance that common monitoring methods are being used in the Salmon subbasin (e.g., project #199405000) and that data and metadata will be provided to Streamnet and other databases. Given the importance of following a more appropriate sampling strategy, this amended project should be assigned priority status.

The implementation of a high-level coordinated monitoring and evaluation plan for aquatic resources throughout the Columbia River Basin would likely be an unprecedented advance in research and a distinct advantage to the resource. Collocation of study sites for fish counts, aquatic habitat, and water quality would enhance the region's ability to draw meaningful statistical conclusions from the array of M&E projects currently underway. The Nez Perce Tribe and the IDFG Department could have lead roles in development of such a plan (see the response to the initial ISRP review of Project 28051 Assess and Monitor Steelhead in the Middle Fork Salmon River Subbasin).

The proponents should interact closely with Project 199801600 in the Columbia Plateau (Jim Ruzycki and Richard Carmichael, ODFW, "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 lifestages and habitats in the John Day Basin. The M&E program in the John Day Basin is apparently developing as a model for the Oregon section of the Columbia Basin and is being carefully reviewed by agencies in Washington. The ISRP recommends that the proponents consider using aquatic habitat data protocols recommended in Johnson et al. (2001) (Johnson, D. H., N. Pittman, E. Wilder, J. A. Silver, R. W. Plotnikoff, B. C. Mason, K. K. Jones, P. Roger, T. A. O'Neil, C. Barrett. 2001. Inventory and Monitoring of Salmon Habitat in the Pacific Northwest - Directory and Synthesis of Protocols for Management/Research and Volunteers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 211pp).

The ISRP continues to believe that the project needs to undergo a programmatic review, perhaps in conjunction with review of similar projects in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. Monitoring and evaluation needs may be satisfied by the current subjectively selected survey sites and monitoring program during a period of low seeding levels, but the ISRP doubts that the project will meet the expectations and needs of the Province in the long term if anadromous fish abundance increases. It would be foolish to abandon the current design in the short term, but likewise foolish to not start integrating components of a design that allows statistical inferences to be made to the entire Snake Subbasin, other Idaho Subbasins, and the Columbia Basin.

The ISRP strongly supports the commitment in the amended proposal to work with the Oregon, Washington, and Montana Provinces to develop monitoring and evaluation procedures with common field procedures and probabilistic site selection for the entire Columbia Basin.


Recommendation:
Date:
Feb 1, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Benefits are indirect. The proposed work targets a monitoring program for anadromous salmonids in the SR basin. This is an extension of current work, and is highly beneficial to recovery planning in the region. The work covers the anadromous zone in Idaho. The work tracks trends in populations and environmental factors, as well as collecting field observations on fish/habitat relationships.

Comments
This is another important contribution to the design of a comprehensive monitoring program in the SR basin. How they all should be combined, we are not sure, but all of the pieces are here (in multiple proposals from several agenciesā€¦).

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes


Recommendation:
A
Date:
Feb 11, 2002

Comment:

Recommend as critical implementation of RPAs 180 and 190, but the project should be reassessed when a regional RM&E plan is developed.

BPA RPA RPM:
180, 190

NMFS RPA/USFWS RPM:
180, 190


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Apr 19, 2002

Comment:


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 13, 2002

Comment:

Fund to implement RPA's 180 and 190, but the project should be reassessed when a regional RM&E plan is developed.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

increases due to salary increases see sponsor tableā€¦. On track.
Recommendation:
Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

Increases needed to offset: 1) increased employee salaries and benefit rates, 2) increase fleet rental rates, 3) increased computer equipment rental rates, 4) increased facility lease and utilities charges, 5) juvenile and adult equipment replacement costs, and 6) increased biometrics costs.
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:
$884,640 $884,640 $884,640

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website