FY 2001 Ongoing proposal 199802000

Additional documents

TitleType

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleAssess Fish Habitat and Salmonids in the Walla Walla Watershed in Washington
Proposal ID199802000
OrganizationWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameGlen Mendel
Mailing address529 W Main St. Dayton, WA 99328
Phone / email5093821005 / mendegwm@dfw.wa.gov
Manager authorizing this projectRoss Fuller
Review cycleFY 2001 Ongoing
Province / SubbasinColumbia Plateau / Walla Walla
Short descriptionDetermine fish passage, rearing, spawning conditions, and limiting factors for steelhead and for potential reintroduction of chinook salmon, and assess steelhead and bull trout distribution, abundance, and genetic composition in the Walla Walla watershed
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
1999 collected and summarized data in a report to quantify summer temperatures and stream flows in the mainstem Walla Walla and Touchet rivers and tributaries to assess habitat conditions.
1999 obtained data regarding salmonid distribution and densities in the Touchet River and its tributaries, and the Walla Walla mainstem to determine salmonid distribution and relative abundance. Identified several barriers to fish movements and reported them.
1999 collected genetic samples from steelhead and bull trout in Mill Creek, the Touchet River and its tributaries, and the Walla Walla River in Oregon to identify and genetically characterize stocks of salmonids.
1999 Used the 1998 and 1999 data to guide management discussions/decisions with other agencies regarding thermal and physical barriers and priorities for habitat restoration.
1998 collected and summarized data in a report to quantify summer temperatures and flows in the mainstem Walla Walla and Touchet rivers
1998 obtained data regarding salmonid distribution and densities in the Touchet and Walla Walla river mainstems, and Coppei Cr.
1998 collected genetic samples from steelhead and bull trout in Mill Creek and the Walla Walla River in Oregon

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. Assess habitat Conditions for salmonids a. Identify and contact private landowners along streams in the basin and obtain permission for access. Subcontractor assists with this task. 2 $2,000 Yes
b. Establish stream discharge monitors in the lower Touchet and Walla Walla rivers 2 $2,000
c. Conduct periodic stream discharge measurements to calibrate or supplement discharge monitors 2 $5,000
d. Conduct periodic flights over the lower Walla Walla and Touchet rivers to confirm continuity of stream flows 2 $300
e. Deploy and monitor constant recording water temperature gauges in streams within the basin 2 $5,000
f. Conduct habitat surveys in portions of basin streams to quantify habitat conditions and identify limiting factors 2 $25,000
g. Periodically collect water quality samples at various sites as necessary 2 $600
2. Determine salmonid distribution, habitat use and relative abundance in the Washington portion of the Walla Walla Basin. a. Conduct steelhead and bull trout spawning surveys. Conduct extensive surveys in various streams in the basin to confirm spawning distribution and establish some index survey areas to sample more intensively. indefinite $20,000
b. Conduct electrofishing or snorkel surveys during summer to determine salmonid rearing distribution. In index areas, determine fish density, abundance and habitat use. 2 $24,000
c. Construct an adult trap at the Corps of Engineers dam on Mill Creek. 1 ? $40,000
d. Improve an existing trap at the Dayton acclimation pond intake structure on the Touchet River. 1 ? $30,000
e. Operate adult traps Dec.-Jan. through June -July. Enumerate, determine sex, origin, and length of steelhead, bull trout, and chinook that are captured. Affix an external tag or fin clip for estimating the run size. Collect scales. indefinite $30,000
f. Calculate estimated escapements of steelhead, bull trout and spring chinook past adult traps in Mill Creek and the Touchet River. indefinite $500
3. Identify and genetically characterize stocks of naturally produced steelhead and bull trout in the Walla Walla watershed. a. At adult trap sites in Oregon and Washington, or at new trap sites in Mill Creek or the Touchet River, collect tissue samples from natural adult steelhead and bull trout for genetic analyses. 3-4 $250
b. Collect fin clips or other tissues from juvenile fish during electrofishing or other summer sampling to supplement adult collections for genetic analyses. 2 $100
c. Conduct DNA or electrophoretic analyses at the WDFW genetics laboratory and compare with other genetic analyses or nearby populations to identify and characterize steelhead and bull trout stocks. 3-4 $5,000
d. Use the genetic stock information to plan and guide development of local steelhead broodstocks for hatchery production in the basin. indefinite $0
4. Coordinate data collection and resource planning with others, compile and disseminate results and conclusions for watershed restoration planning and fish management in WA and OR. a. Coordinate our activities and share our results with other parties working in, or with an interest in, the Walla Walla Basin. Ensure that our efforts are coordinated and used in salmonid recovery, watershed planning, and restoration efforts. indefinite $500
b. Report activities and results orally to various organizations and groups. Compile and distribute quarterly reports. indefinite $500
c. Compile and summarize data, and write annual or other project reports. Distribute to other agencies, the CTUIR, and others. indefinite $38,240
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
FY 2005FY 2003FY 2004FY 2002
$130,000$120,000$125,000$170,000

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 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 2001 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 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2001 cost
Personnel FTE: 2.9 $92,163
Fringe @ 28.5% $26,266
Supplies field supplies and genetic analyses $10,000
Travel fuel, vehicle lease, per diem, etc. $8,000
Indirect @ 23.5% $32,061
Capital $50,000
NEPA $10,000
Subcontractor $500
$228,990
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2001 cost$228,990
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2001 budget request$228,990
FY 2001 forecast from 2000$207,190
% change from forecast10.5%
Reason for change in estimated budget

We have determined that a trap is necessary in the fish ladder in Mill Creek to enumerate adult fish returning to the upper basin. Limited data suggests this steelhead run is very low, but data are very incomplete. Additionally, a trap at this site would enable us to enumerate and examine bull trout and reintroduced spring chinook adults entering the basin. Additionally, the trap on the Touchet is not adequate and should be modified. A separate proposal was submitted by WDFW last year for adult trapping and smolt trapping, but it was not approved because of lack of funds and the ISRP suggested combining that proposal with the Walla Walla Assessment proposal. We have now added a new task for adult trapping and trap construction to the Walla Walla Assessment project. That new task has increased our funding request above our previous expectations for 2001. The smolt trap portion of the other proposal may be funded by WDFW in 2001 or 2002.

Reason for change in scope

The current data for steelhead in Mill Creek is very limited but it appears the population may be in serious trouble and much lower than we had anticipated. Additionally, we need to know if bull trout move downstream of this dam site and return upstream. And lastly, the CTUIR has proposed spring chinook reintroduction as early as 2000 and a trap in needed in this ladder to evaluate the success of this reintroduction experiment in Mill Creek. After 2 years of data collection in the Walla Walla Basin, it has become apparent that we have an opportunity to obtain valuable data from all 3 runs in Mill Creek at a relatively low cost. We also need to improve a trap on the Touchet so it is more effective for enumeration adult bull trout and steelhead and capturing steelhead for development of local hatchery broodstock. As part of our adaptive management process, we taken the ISRP's suggestion and modified our proposal to take advantage of cost share and to improve quality of our data

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:
Ongoing Funding: yes; New Funding: yes
Date:
Jul 14, 2000

Comment:

We have determined that a trap is necessary in the fish ladder in Mill Creek to enumerate adult fish returning to the upper basin. Limited data suggests this steelhead run is very low, but data are very incomplete. Additionally, a trap at this site would enable us to enumerate and examine bull trout and reintroduced spring chinook adults entering the basin. Additionally, the trap on the Touchet is not adequate and should be modified. A separate proposal was submitted by WDFW last year for adult trapping and smolt trapping, but it was not approved because of lack of funds and the ISRP suggested combining that proposal with the Walla Walla Assessment proposal. We have now added a new task for adult trapping and trap construction to the Walla Walla Assessment project. (The new work is contained in Section 3, Objective 2, tasks c, e and f.) That new task has increased our funding request above our previous expectations for 2001. The smolt trap portion of the other proposal may be funded by WDFW in 2001 or 2002.

The current data for steelhead in Mill Creek is very limited but it appears the population may be in serious trouble and much lower than we had anticipated. Additionally, we need to know if bull trout move downstream of this dam site and return upstream. And last, the CTUIR has proposed spring chinook reintroduction as early as 2000 and a trap in needed in this ladder to evaluate the success of this reintroduction experiment in Mill Creek. After 2 years of data collection in the Walla Walla Basin, it has become apparent that we have an opportunity to obtain valuable data from all 3 runs in Mill Creek at a relatively low cost. We also need to improve a trap on the Touchet so it is more effective for enumerating adult bull trout and steelhead and capturing steelhead for development of local hatchery broodstock. As part of our adaptive management process, we have taken the ISRP's suggestion and modified our proposal to take advantage of cost share and to improve the quality of our data.


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Sep 13, 2000

Comment:


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:
$174,250 $174,250 $174,250

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website