FY 2003 Mainstem/Systemwide proposal 198605000
Contents
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 |
|---|---|
| 198605000 Narrative | Narrative |
| 198605000 Powerpoint Presentation | Powerpoint Presentation |
| 198605000 Sponsor Response to the ISRP | Response |
| Sturgeon Overview | Powerpoint Presentation |
| 198605000 Powerpoint Presentation: 2003 Update | Powerpoint Presentation |
| FY 2005 Powerpoint Presentation Update for Project 198605000 | Powerpoint Presentation |
| FY 2005 Powerpoint Presentation Update for Project 198605000 | Powerpoint Presentation |
Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | White Sturgeon Mitigation and Restoration in the Columbia and Snake Rivers Upstream from Bonneville Dam |
| Proposal ID | 198605000 |
| Organization | Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
| Name | David Ward |
| Mailing address | 17330 S.E. Evelyn Street Clackamas, OR 97015 |
| Phone / email | 5036572000 / david.l.ward@state.or.us |
| Manager authorizing this project | David Ward |
| Review cycle | Mainstem/Systemwide |
| Province / Subbasin | Mainstem/Systemwide / |
| Short description | Restore and mitigate for hydrosystem-caused loss loss of white sturgeon productivity through intensive fisheries management, supplementation, and modified hydropower system operation. Assess success of mitigation and restoration efforts. |
| Target species | White Sturgeon |
Project location
| Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam; Snake River from mouth upstream to Lower Granite Dam. Project area will eventually include Rock Island Reservoir (release site for hatchery produced juvenile white sturgeon). | ||
| 45.7 | -121.68 | Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam |
| 46.61 | -118.33 | Snake River from mouth upstream to Lower Granite Dam |
| 47.35 | -120.11 | Rock Island Reservoir |
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 |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Developed methodologies for habitat mapping and modeling, capture gears for various life stages, and marking and aging techniques. |
| 1992 | Determined that dams limit movements of white sturgeon and have functionally isolated populations in mainstem Columbia River reservoirs. |
| 1992 | Described population dynamics and found them to be unique in each reservoir. |
| 1992 | Found population productivity to be 10-100 times higher downstream from Bonneville Dam than in Bonneville, The Dalles, or John Day reservoirs. |
| 1992 | Identified reduced flows and subsequent poor recruitment as a potential factor limiting white sturgeon productivity in impoundments |
| 1992 | Determined reservoirs provide large areas of suitable habitat for juvenile and adult white sturgeon, but compensatory population responses may reduce productivity if carrying capacity is exceeded |
| 1992 | Determined over-fishing had occurred in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs, and described appropriate exploitation rates under the reduced productivity resulting from the development and operation of the hydrosystem. |
| 1998 | Demonstrated increased abundance of white sturgeon in The Dalles and John Day reservoirs, which was attributable to intensive harvest management and reduced exploitation. |
| 1998 | Developed two indices of relative abundance for age-0 white sturgeon. |
| 1998 | Determined that white sturgeon larvae are susceptible to gas bubble trauma in laboratory experiments. |
| 1998 | Determined that hydropeaking at The Dalles Dam displaces white sturgeon eggs and larvae from incubation areas. |
| 1998 | Provided a broad recommendation for flows to provide spawning habitat. |
| 1998 | Found that white sturgeon transplanted to The Dalles Reservoir demonstrated excellent survival and growth one and two years later. |
| 1998 | Developed habitat maps and flow-habitat models for the Columbia River up to Priest Rapids Dam. |
| 1998 | Completed initial population estimates for white sturgeon in McNary, Ice Harbor, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental reservoirs, and the Hanford Reach. |
| 2002 | Maintained increases in abundance of white sturgeon in The Dalles and John Day reservoirs, which again was attributable to intensive harvest management and reduced exploitation. |
| 2002 | Developed a discriminant function analysis model to predict white sturgeon sex and stage of maturity using blood plasma indicators, sex steroids and calcium, and fork length. |
| 2002 | Implemented an annual sampling program to index relative abundance for age-0 white sturgeon. |
| 2002 | Included annual transplants of white sturgeon from below Bonneville Dam to The Dalles and John Day reservoirs as an ongoing component of the project. |
| 2002 | Initiated work to evaluate the feasibility of using hatchery-reared white sturgeon to supplement depressed populations. |
| 2002 | Completed index sampling to develop initial descriptions of white sturgeon populations in Rock Island Reservoir, Lake Rufus Woods, and Lake Roosevelt |
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
| Project ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 198806400 | Kootenai River White Sturgeon Studies and Conservation Aquaculture | Complementary work to restore white sturgeon isolated outside the geographical bounds of Project 198605000. |
| 198806500 | Kootenai River Fisheries Investigations | Complementary work to restore white sturgeon isolated outside the geographical bounds of Project 198605000. |
| 199700900 | Evaluate Potential Means of Rebuilding White Sturgeon Populations in the Snake River Between Lower Granite and Hells Canyon Dams | Complementary work to restore white sturgeon outside the geographical bounds of Project 198605000. |
| 199502700 | Develop and Implement Recovery Plan for Depressed Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Populations. | Results from initial sampling conducted by Project 198605000 will be used to help guide restoration methods used by Project 199502700. |
| 199902200 | Assessing Genetic Variation Among Columbia Basin White Sturgeon Populations | Genetic analyses from Project 199902200 will be used to guide supplementation and propagation developed by Project 19860500. Project 198605000 provides data to Project 199902200. |
| 32003 | White Sturgeon Put, Grow, and Take Fishery Feasibility Assessment, Oxbow/Hells Canyon Reservoirs | Complementary work to restore white sturgeon isolated outside the geographical bounds of Project 198605000. |
Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 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 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Implement actions annually that do not involve changes to hydropower system operation and configuration to mitigate for lost white sturgeon productivity. | a. Annually transplant up to 10,000 juvenile white sturgeon from areas downstream from Bonnevillle Dam to The Dales and John Day reservoirs. | Ongoing | $134,459 | |
| 1. | b. Collect, hold, and spawn wild white sturgeon to produce age-specific cohorts and evaluate the feasibility of using artificial propagation as a mitigation tool. | Through 2007 | $481,978 | |
| 2. Recommend actions that involve changes to hydropower system operation and configuration to optimize physical habitat conditions for white sturgeon. | a. Complete ongoing laboratory experiments and finalize reports and manuscripts from previous laboratory and field studies. | Through 2003 | $127,246 |
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Implement actions annually that do not involve changes to hydropower system operation and configuration to miigate for lost white sturgeon productivity. | 2004 | 2007 | $2,655,130 |
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $713,101 | $642,029 | $650,000 | $650,000 |
Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 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 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Implement actions annually that do not involve changes to hydropower system operation and configuration to miigate for lost white sturgeon productivity. | c. Continue intensive fisheries management and monitoring of harvest in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs. | Ongoing | $388,991 | |
| 3. Monitor and evaluate actions to mitigate for lost white sturgeon production due to development, operation, and configuration of the hydropower system. | a. Monitor the status of white sturgeon populations in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day reservoirs. | Ongoing | $530,713 | |
| 3. | b. Determine sex, maturational status, and reproductive potential of sturgeon in impounded and unimpounded reaches. | Through FY 2005 | $103,333 | |
| 3. | c. Describe annual variation in white sturgeon recruitment using trawls and gillnets and determine if indices from the two gears follow similar trends. | Ongoing | $274,420 |
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Implement actions annually that do not involve changes to hydropower system operation and configuration to miigate for lost white sturgeon productivity. | 2004 | 2007 | $1,665,662 |
| 3. Monitor and evaluate actions to mitigate for lost white sturgeon production due to development, operation, and configuration of the hydropower system. | 2004 | 2007 | $3,886,544 |
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,453,942 | $1,398,264 | $1,350,000 | $1,350,000 |
Section 8. Estimated budget summary
Itemized budget
| Item | Note | FY 2003 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | FTE: ODFW = $214,849 WDFW = $259,317 USGS = $131, 340 CRITFC = $105,516 USFWS = $67,614 OSU = $30,972 | $809,248 |
| Fringe | ODFW = $98,831 WDFW = $74,046 USGS = $30,487 CRITFC = $33,124 USFWS = $22,673 OSU = $14,436 | $273,597 |
| Supplies | ODFW = $73,546 WDFW = $37,697 USGS = $17,700 CRITFC = $20,899 USFWS = $54,352 OSU = $10,000 | $214,194 |
| Travel | ODFW = $40,398 WDFW = $32,762 USGS = $14,480 CRITFC = $9,860 USFWS = $2,340 OSU = $1,000 | $100,840 |
| Indirect | ODFW = $102,810 WDFW = $101,747 USGS = $73,723 CRITFC = $59,321 USFWS = $32,335 OSU = $23,409 | $393,345 |
| PIT tags | # of tags: 28,500 | $64,125 |
| Subcontractor | Trawler ($25,000), Gillnetter ($3,200), Yakama Indian Nation ($122,591), Tagging crew ($35,000) | $185,791 |
| $2,041,140 | ||
Total estimated budget
| Total FY 2003 cost | $2,041,140 |
| Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds | $0 |
| Total FY 2003 budget request | $2,041,140 |
| FY 2003 forecast from 2002 | $1,200,000 |
| % change from forecast | 70.1% |
Reason for change in estimated budget
The amount over the forecast is $788,340. Reasons include: (1) Monitoring status of white sturgeon populations (Task 3a) is now conducted annually, rather than 3 of every 5 years. As of the 2001 forecast, 2003 was scheduled to be an off-year for this task. The budget for this task is $530,713 in FY 2003. (2) Unforeseen increases in operation costs at AFTC are approximately $36,000 annually. (3) Task 2a was mistakenly forecast to be completed in FY 2002, rather than FY 2003 as historically projected. Final budget for this task is $127,246. (3) The maturation status model will take three more years to complete. This budget for this work, rated a high priority by BPA and the action agencies, is $103,333 in FY 2003. The total budget in FY2003 for these unforecasted activities/costs is $797,292.
Reason for change in scope
No change in scope
Cost sharing
| Organization | Item or service provided | Amount | Cash or in-kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODFW | Personnel time, office rent, utilities | $46,856 | in-kind |
| WDFW | Personnel time, office rent, utilities | $181,401 | in-kind |
| USGS | Personnel time, supplies | $10,000 | in-kind |
Other budget explanation
The annual project budget has remained stable or decreased since 1995. Given inflation, this has resulted in a substantial net decrease in annual costs over the past 5 years. White sturgeon have historic and current importance culturally, and for commercial and sport fisheries, and this is the only ongoing NWPPC project addressing impacts of the hydropower system on white sturgeon in the lower Columbia and Snake rivers. Given the importance of the species, the impact of the hydropower system on this species, and the large geographic bounds of the project area, the proposed budget (approximately 1% of the proposed BPA funds for the Fish and Wildlife Program) is approporiate.
Reviews and recommendations
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
Fundable only if response is adequate
Aug 2, 2002
Comment:
A response is needed. This proposal represents a culmination of nearly ten years of work on white sturgeon biology and management in the Columbia River reservoirs. The project has progressed logically from research on the population status, life history, and habitat requirements of sturgeon through development and implementation of mitigation, management, and monitoring actions based on the research. The accomplishments of the project to date are documented in the proposal (pages 9-11) and in the draft White Sturgeon Program Summary dated February 22, 2002. The researchers have also published numerous papers in well-respected, peer-reviewed fisheries journals (pages 17-19).In their 2000 review of this project, the ISRP recommended that the sponsors develop an umbrella proposal for all sturgeon research in the basin and a long-term strategy and plan indicating how the sponsors are moving toward their objectives. The draft Program Summary appears to fulfill this recommendation. However, the ISRP also called for a peer-reviewed synthesis of the state of the science on Columbia River white sturgeon. This is a highly desirable activity and a description of progress toward this goal or an explanation of why the synthesis has not occurred would be helpful. We do note, however, that the sponsors have published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and are contributing two chapters to a book on North American sturgeon.
The proposal lays out a clear description of accomplishments to date and provides a logical plan for completing the research objectives, evaluating mitigation actions, and monitoring population status through 2005. Long-term goals beyond 2005 are not presented.
The sponsors need to respond to the following ISRP questions:
- Both harvest restrictions and transplantation of juveniles from downriver stocks into mainstem reservoirs is occurring simultaneously. What were the harvest restrictions that were implemented? How do the sponsors plan to sort out the effects of each of these mitigation activities sturgeon population dynamics? The sponsors indicate that since implementation of the more intensive harvest management growth of fish has slowed, perhaps indicating a density-dependent effect. How is this phenomenon being addressed? Will transplantation contribute further slowing of growth?
- Under Objective 1, Task 1b, Phase 2 of monitoring the sponsors propose to estimate survival and recruitment. Specifically, how will this be accomplished?
- Objective 2 purports to recommend actions that involve changes to the hydrosystem to optimize physical habitat. A much more comprehensive description of how the sponsors plan to accomplish this objective is needed. What information is available and how will it be utilized to produce the recommendations. Task 2a pertains only to completion of the USGS portion of the work, but this work alone is insufficient to provide recommendations for power system changes.
Comment:
This project has progressed logically from research on the population status, life history, and habitat requirements of sturgeon through development and implementation of mitigation, management, and monitoring actions based on the research. The accomplishments of the project have been published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. The RFC commends the sponsors on developing an umbrella proposal for all sturgeon research in the basin. The proposal provides a clear description of accomplishments to date and provides a logical plan for completing the research objectives, evaluating mitigation actions, and monitoring population status through 2005.Comment:
Minor reductions for 2003 result from a decrease in the number of PIT tags to be purchased and the deferral of computer purchases. Annual budget for the project has actually decreased since 1997. No increase over 2002 was requested for 2003. The budget has been adjusted accordingly.Comment:
Fundable. We agree with CBFWA's designation of the project as urgent. This proposal represents a culmination of nearly ten years of work on white sturgeon biology and management in the Columbia River reservoirs. The project has progressed logically from research on the population status, life history, and habitat requirements of sturgeon through development and implementation of mitigation, management, and monitoring actions based on the research. The accomplishments of the project to date are documented in the proposal (pages 9-11) and in the draft White Sturgeon Program Summary dated February 22, 2002. The researchers have also published numerous papers in well-respected, peer-reviewed fisheries journals (pages 17-19). The proposal lays out a clear description of accomplishments to date and provides a logical plan for completing the research objectives, evaluating mitigation actions, and monitoring population status through 2005. Long-term goals beyond 2005 are not presented.In the 2000 review of this project, the ISRP recommended that the sponsors develop an umbrella proposal for all sturgeon research in the basin and a long-term strategy and plan indicating how the sponsors are moving toward their objectives. The draft Program Summary appears to fulfill this recommendation. However, the ISRP also called for a peer-reviewed synthesis of the state of the science on Columbia River white sturgeon. This is a highly desirable activity that still needs to be conducted. We do note, however, that the sponsors have published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and are contributing two chapters to a book on North American sturgeon.
The sponsors provided satisfactory and detailed answers to the ISRP's questions. The sponsors have expanded cooperative efforts on sturgeon research and management to include a workshop for more than 50 sturgeon biologists and interested scientists from throughout the Basin and are working on establishing a web space and list-server that will allow sturgeon biologists from throughout the Basin to form working groups and contribute to the synthesis.
Comment:
Statement of Potential Biological BenefitComments
Not Reviewed
Already ESA Required?
Biop?
No
Comment:
BPA Phase 3. BPA recommends reduced scopeComment:
Category:1. Council Staff preferred projects that fit province allocation
Comments:
Project reduced, hatchery component removed. Fund Section 5 Task 1a. Section 7 tasks 1c, 3a, b (complete by 2005) and 3c. CBFWA had reduced budget by $53K to reflect PIT tag decreases and deferred computer purchase.
Comment:
Budget consistent with NPCC recommendation.Comment:
NW Power and Conservation Council's FY 2006 Project Funding Review
expense
May 2005
| FY05 NPCC start of year: | FY06 NPCC staff preliminary: | FY06 NPCC July draft start of year: |
| $1,431,916 | $1,251,853 | $1,251,853 |
Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website