FY 2001 Ongoing proposal 199206800

Additional documents

TitleType

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleImplement Willamette Basin Mitigation Program
Proposal ID199206800
OrganizationOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameGregory B. Sieglitz
Mailing address7118 NE Vandenberg Ave. Corvallis, OR 97370
Phone / email5417574186 / greg.b.sieglitz@state.or.us
Manager authorizing this projectGregory B. Sieglitz
Review cycleFY 2001 Ongoing
Province / SubbasinLower Columbia / Willamette
Short descriptionMitigate for hydro-electric facilities through enhancement, easement development, acquisition, restoration, and management of wetlands and other target habitat types and their respective species in the Willamette Basin in Oregon.
Target species
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
1993 Inventory of western pond turtle population in Confluence area. Final report.
1994 Inventory of western pond turtle population in remaining Willamette Basin suitable habitat. Final report.
1995 Background information collected and inventory of potential mitigation sites conducted. Telemetry of turtle population.
1996 Began development of partnerships for habitat projects on public lands. Graduate project and summary of turtle telemetry.
1997 GIS developed and Confluence Atlas of GIS data produced. Hydrologic data of Confluence area report compiled. Confluence HEP sampling and final report. Alternatives Team final report.
1998 Purchase of 44 acre riparian forest and agricultural land. Identified two new focus areas in the basin. Developed partnership with McKenzie River Trust and Watershed Council. HEP and NEPA surveys conducted on 44 acre site.
1999 Technical Advisory Group formed. Photo point monitoring methods established. Revegetation of portion of 44 acre site. Non-native vegetation removal on two project areas. HEP and NEPA surveys conducted on 200 acre and 66 acre sites. Appraisals complete
2000 Reforestation and non-native vegetation removal of portion of 44 acre and 220 acre sites. Completed hydrogeomorphic index to fish and wildlife habitats. Finalize ca.1850 vegetation map of basin. HEP and NEPA surveys and purchase of 100 acre site.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
1. Conduct NEPA surveys on project lands a. Develop necessary agreements to work on public and private lands on-going $12,550 Yes
b. Coordinate and assist with cultural resource surveys on-going $5,200 Yes
c. Coordinate and assist with hazardous materials surveys on-going $5,200 Yes
d. Coordinate and assist with Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive species surveys on-going $2,600
e. Evaluate enhancement measures using BPA NEPA checklists on-going $2,700
2. Develop habitat enhancement and management plan for project areas a. Facilitate meetings with stakeholders on-going $18,300
b. Develop goals, objectives, and strategies for habitat improvements and maintenance on-going $31,200 Yes
c. Produce document outlining strategies on-going $14,000 Yes
Note: Refer to project # 199705900 Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites-Oregon. Willamette Basin staff will be funded to assist with the completion of Objectives 1-4 found in Section 3. on-going $0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2002FY 2003
$130,000$135,000$120,000$125,000

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
1. Implement wildlife mitigation projects by negotiating with landowners, purchasing fee-title or easement options, conducting appraisals, completing NEPA surveys, developing project IGCs. a. purchase fee-title/easements of priority project lands using FY 2000 CARRY FORWARD FUNDS. Priority projects are: Muddy Creek/Mary's River Confluence 220 acres: $600,000 Coast Fork State Park area 30 acres: $150,000 McKenzie River Island 20 acres: 2001 $2,419,237
$50,000 Lower Middle Fork-Mt Pisgah 1700 acres:$1,619,237 $0
Note:Refer to project # 199705900 Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites-Oregon from which the following tasks would be funded. b. purchase fee-title/easements of priority project lands using FY 2001 OWC FUNDS Priority projects are, but not limited to: Mollala State Park area: $500,000 Stout Mountain 560 acres: $2,000,000 Short Mountain 265 acres: $500,000 2001 $0
2. Restore or enhance hydrologic connectivity in riparian, wetland, and floodplain areas a. Remove artificial barriers to functional hydrologic system 2001 $10,000 Yes
b. Enhance existing hydrologic features to provide better functionality 2001 $5,000 Yes
c. In some cases construct artificial features to mimic natural function 2001 $5,000
3. Remove non-native vegetation in preparation of restoration a. Remove or discourage reed canary grass, scotch broom, Himalaya blackberry and others through inundation, shading, and by hand 2001 $6,500
b. In severe cases remove with equipment 2001 $4,575
c. Apply herbicides if necessary and if risks minimized 2001 $3,000
4. Plant native vegetation in areas where restoration of hydrologic function and removal of non-natives is insufficient to promote natives a. Prepare site with equipment or by hand 2001 $7,300
b. Plant vegetation 2001 $4,000
c. Irrigate or otherwise promote establishment when necessary 2001 $5,000
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2002FY 2003
$2,000,000$2,000,000$2,000,000$2,000,000

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
1. Maintain enhanced or artificial hydrologic features a. Perform maintenance to hydrologic connections, water control structures, and pumps periodic $1,750
2. Control non-native vegetation expansion a. Remove vectors such as roads and fill intermittent $2,500 Yes
b. Hand remove where effective on-going $4,050
c. Remove using equipment when necessary on-going $6,750
d. Use herbicides where effective and safe on-going $1,000
3. Maintain minimal site infrastructure a. Maintain fences, gates, signs, roadways, trails, irrigation systems, etc. on-going $1,200
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2002FY 2003
$150,000$200,000$35,000$50,000

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
1. Conduct vegetation surveys to monitor changes in plant communities. a. Use photo points for monitoring vegetative and hydrologic changes on-going $1,200
b. Evaluate planting and cultivation methodology and correlate to survivability on-going $1,300
c. Correlate micro-site deviations with survivability on-going $750
d. Correlate age class and species with survivability on-going $1,375
e. Monitor mortality and determine cause on-going $1,000
2. Conduct wildlife surveys to monitor species response to habitat changes. a. Conduct periodic HEP sampling to quantify and qualify expected wildlife use periodic $2,000
b. Conduct wildlife surveys with established protocols to determine actual use on-going $1,000
3. Conduct hydrologic surveys to establish most effective techniques for restoring functionality a. Develop subcontract 2001 $32,000 Yes
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2002FY 2003
$70,000$80,000$50,000$60,000

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2001 cost
Personnel FTE: 1 $26,290
Fringe @ 38 % $9,990
Supplies $5,000
Travel $1,500
Indirect @ 26 % $8,970
NEPA Subcontractors $10,000
Subcontractor Planning and design subcontractor; also see NEPA above $30,000
Personnel FTE: .45 $9,766
Fringe @ 38% $3,711
Supplies $8,000
Travel $1,000
Indirect @ 26% $7,898
Capital $2,419,237
Subcontractor Hydrologic engineering firms $20,000
Personnel FTE: .35 $5,228
Fringe @ 38 % $1,987
Supplies $2,700
Travel $1,000
Indirect @ 26 % $3,835
Subcontractor Construction firm $2,500
Personnel FTE: .20 $3,913
Fringe @ 38 % $1,487
Supplies $683
Travel $300
Indirect @26 % $2,242
Subcontractor Hydrogeomorphic analyses $32,000
$2,619,237
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2001 cost$2,619,237
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$2,419,237
Total FY 2001 budget request$200,000
FY 2001 forecast from 2000$200,000
% change from forecast0.0%
Reason for change in estimated budget

No change.

Reason for change in scope

No change.

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:
Date:
Jul 14, 2000

Comment:


Recommendation:
Does not fit with BPA program
Date:
Sep 8, 2000

Comment:

Recommendation: Based on the very high cost of providing HU's, the type of future projects planned and the small number of HU's provided (15 HU's in 5 years) in the Willamette Basin, we recommend the Council review this project.

Budget Background:

2001 Planning and Design Budget Request $91,750
2001 Construction/Implementation phase Budget Request $2,419,237
2001 O&M Budget Request$17,250
2001 M&E Budget Request $40,625
 
Total 2001 Budget Request $2,619,237
Less carryover/carryforward $2,419,237
 
Total New Money 2001 Request $200,000

This project was originally authorized in 1992 as the Western Pond Turtle Project. From 1992 through April 1995, it carried that title, and received $330,684 in funding.

In April 1995, the project title was changed to Willamette Basin Mitigation Project. From April 1995 to present, BPA has invested $745,017 in project planning and design and $172,955 to purchase the Sorenson property for the project, bringing the total for the period to $917,972. In return, BPA received 15 Habitat Units of Credit which equates to $11,530 dollars per HU if just the cost of the Sorenson property is counted, or $61,198 per HU if you include the design and planning money.

It is ODFW's contention that there are several other projects that will come on line in the coming years. These will contribute approximately 200-300 HU's each year. Although no documentation of the habitat units has been provided. We were also told last year that some of these projects were close to be implemented but nothing concrete has yet been provided.

We question the wildlife HU value of some of these projects. Working with Lane County Parks to improve wildlife habitat on an urban park, is an example of a project of limited value to wildlife. The proposed plan speaks to providing opportunities for low intensity outdoor recreation and education while protecting habitat, it also talks of how increased use may require septic drain fields. While some reasonable uses are compatible, it seems like the main purpose here is recreation, as an urban park should. BPA funded wildlife habitat improvements should not be degraded by grazing, drain fields, hiking trails and interpretive centers. Other proposed projects may not be of this nature, but this is the one example of a proposed BPA funded wildlife management plan which does not fit with our program.


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Sep 13, 2000

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:
$350,000 $0 $0

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website