FY 2000 proposal 198806400

Additional documents

TitleType
198806400 Narrative Narrative
198806400 Sponsor Response to the ISRP Response

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleKootenai River White Sturgeon Studies and Conservation Aquaculture
Proposal ID198806400
OrganizationKootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameSusan Ireland
Mailing addressP.O. Box 1269 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805
Phone / email2082673620 / ireland@kootenai.org
Manager authorizing this project
Review cycleFY 2000
Province / SubbasinMountain Columbia / Kootenai
Short descriptionPrevent extinction, preserve existing gene pool, and begin rebuilding healthy age classes of the endangered white sturgeon in the Kootenai River using conservation aquaculture techniques with wild broodstock.
Target specieswhite sturgeon, kokanee, burbot
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment
1991 Monitored wild white sturgeon reproduction and recruitment
1991 Built experimental hatchery
1991 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1992 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1992 Released offspring from 1991 year class into the Kootenai River
1993 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1993 Performed kokanee spawning surveys
1994 Released offspring from 1992 year class into the Kootenai River
1994 Monitored juvenile releases
1994 Performed kokanee spawning surveys
1995 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1995 Monitored wild sturgeon reproduction during experimental flow releases
1995 Performed kokanee spawning surveys
1996 Monitored wild sturgeon reproduction during experimental flow releases
1996 Spawned wild adult white sturgeon
1996 Performed kokanee spawning surveys
1997 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1997 Monitored wild sturgeon reproduction during experimental flow releases
1997 Developed and implemented disease testing protocol for juvenile releases
1997 Developed and tested non-lethal sampling method for detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV)
1997 Released offspring from 1995 year class into the Kootenai River
1997 Developed methodology for field collection of sperm to reduce number of wild sturgeon transported to hatchery
1997 Monitored juvenile releases
1997 Performed kokanee spawning surveys
1997 Reintroduced kokanee eggs into two tributaries using instream incubation
1998 Began facility and water supply upgrades
1998 Produced white sturgeon offspring from wild adults
1998 Monitored juvenile releases
1998 Monitored wild sturgeon reproduction during experimental flow releases
1998 Reintroduced kokanee eggs into three tributaries using instream incubation

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
9404900 Kootenai River Ecosystems Improvements Study Co-investigator
8806500 Kootenai River Fisheries Investigations Co-investigator
9084 Assessing Genetic Variation Among Columbia Basin White Sturgeon Genetics testing for Kootenai River white sturgeon

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2000 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 2000 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2000 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 2000 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2000 cost
Personnel Biologist/Admistrator; Hatchery Manager; 4 Fish Culturists; M&E; Hatchery Maintenance $240,000
Fringe 33% of Personnel Costs $79,200
Supplies $30,000
Operating $60,000
Capital Building and major equipment $1,400,000
NEPA FY99 $0
Construction Design, construction management, construction contingencies $608,000
PIT tags 6,000 $17,400
Travel includes training $10,000
Indirect 54.7% of PERSONNEL COSTS $174,602
Other Professional Services (IDFG database; disease and genetic testing) $13,000
Subcontractor University of Idaho- Biology Department $25,000
Subcontractor B.C. Ministry of Fisheries - Research $28,000
Subcontractor B.C. Ministry of Fisheries-Aquaculture $65,000
$2,750,202
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2000 cost$2,750,202
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2000 budget request$2,750,202
FY 2000 forecast from 1999$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
Upper Columbia United Tribes Fish and Wildlife Support $74,500 unknown
US Fish and Wildlife Service Disease testing - no cost contribution for some analysis $0 unknown
British Columbia Ministry of Fisheries Fail-safe facility - contributions listed in Section 8d. $0 unknown
Other budget explanation

Schedule Constraints: The conservation aquaculture program should continue until evidence is available to show that natural reproduction is yielding adequate recruits to sustain the genetic variability of the population, as defined in the recovery plan (USFWS 1998).


Reviews and recommendations

This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.

Recommendation:
Fund in part
Date:
Jun 15, 1999

Comment:

Recommendation: Fund in part. Fund the research component. Do not fund capital expenditures until a comprehensive review of regionwide white sturgeon recovery efforts is complete. Do not fund kokanee portion of the proposal, objective 4, because the scientific basis for linking kokanee to white sturgeon is not justified.

Comments: This project addresses Kootenai white sturgeon, which is federally listed as endangered. White sturgeon have not recruited into the spawning population since 1974. The primary purpose of the project is to preserve the existing gene pool and to restore the natural age-class distribution through construction and operation of a hatchery.

This is a fairly well written proposal, of a quality in the midrange of those reviewed, that warrants funding for the sturgeon research but not the kokanee work (which is an aberration here). A second major problem is the lack of evidence of integration/coordination with other white sturgeon work in the Columbia River basin. The proposal cites the FWP and white sturgeon BiOp, as well as two related projects and one proposal (funded?) from last year. There are good accomplishments, but the kokanee results seem out of place. Objectives and tasks are good, but the kokanee work does not seem appropriate for this study. Perhaps it is needed, but just not justified in terms of white sturgeon. A key element of the proposal is an expensive hatchery, which assumes that spawning and early survival are the keys to success (questionable). There is a small amount of cost sharing (3%). Technical background is good for sturgeon but poor for kokanee and burbot (both of which seem peripheral or even irrelevant to the main objectives). The rationale/significance for sturgeon work is good and the relationships to other projects are excellent. Project history is good for sturgeon, but nothing is given for kokanee. However, if arrangements have been made for hatchery space with the Canadians, why is the expense of the KTH justified? Objectives are really mostly methods. In summary, the sturgeon work is good (although it needs evidence of coordination with similar work in the Columbia basin) but kokanee work should be separated out. The sturgeon work might be a good candidate for multi-year funding.

Several specific comments from reviewers were:


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Aug 20, 1999

Comment:


Recommendation:
Date:
Aug 20, 1999

Comment:

Screening Criteria: yes

Technical Criteria: yes

Programmatic Criteria: yes

Milestone Criteria: no-There is no recovery plan as of yet.

General Comments: The price is awfully high for the project compared to where we were three years ago. We need to investigate the possibility of BPA ESA, and Capital dollars for funding. A new hatchery should be as cost effective as possible.


Recommendation:
Fund in part
Date:
Oct 29, 1999

Comment:

Fund in part. Fund the research component. Do not fund capital expenditures until a comprehensive review of regionwide white sturgeon recovery efforts is complete. Do not fund kokanee portion of the proposal, objective 4, because the scientific basis for linking kokanee to white sturgeon is not justified.

The ISRP stands by its original recommendation. The answers to the specific ISRP concerns do not justify capital expenditure. This project was recommended for partial funding, pending a review of regionwide sturgeon recovery efforts. The PIs agree, and provide specific responses to a number of issues raised in the ISRP review. Although the responses are, for the most part, adequate, they do not provide a compelling argument that the original ISRP recommendation was not a wise one.


Recommendation:
Fund in part
Date:
Nov 8, 1999

Comment:


Recommendation:
Fund in part
Date:
Mar 1, 2000

Comment:

(4). Kootenai River White Sturgeon Studies and Conservation Aquaculture; KTOI; Project ID #8806400; FY 00 CBFWA Rec. $1,150,202

Description/Background: Prevent extinction, preserve existing gene pool, and begin rebuilding healthy age classes of the endangered white sturgeon in the Kootenai River using conservation aquaculture techniques with wild broodstock.

Final ISRP Evaluation: Fund in part. Fund the research component. Do not fund capital expenditures until a comprehensive review of region-wide white sturgeon recovery efforts is complete. Do not fund kokanee portion of the proposal, Objective 4, because the scientific basis for linking kokanee to white sturgeon is not justified.

Project Sponsor's Policy Response: Concurred with CBFWA and ISRP funding recommendations on delaying hatchery construction. The original $2,750,202 funding request was reduced to $1,150,202 by eliminating the capital construction portion of the budget.

Council Recommendation: Fund in part. Do not fund hatchery construction and kokanee study. Approve a project funding level of $1,095,202. The sponsors concurred with CBFWA and the ISRP on delaying hatchery construction, and agree with the attendant budget reduction recommendations. The sponsor did not address the ISRP criticism of the proposed kokanee study portion of the project. The funding recommended above reflects the Council's acceptance of the ISRP recommendation to delete the kokanee study. (the figure includes a reduction of $55,000).


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Mar 1, 2000

Comment:

[Decision made in 12-7-99 Council Meeting]; Fund in part per ISRP Rec.
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:
$1,604,000 $0 $0

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website