FY 2001 Ongoing proposal 199908800

Additional documents

TitleType

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleWater Right Acquisition Program (Multi-Year FY 2000-2002)
Proposal ID199908800
OrganizationOregon Water Trust (OWT)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameCheyenne Chapman
Mailing address111 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 404 Portland, OR 97204
Phone / email5032262353 / cheyenne@owt.org
Manager authorizing this projectAndrew Purkey
Review cycleFY 2001 Ongoing
Province / SubbasinSystemwide / John Day
Short descriptionAcquire existing water rights on a voluntary basis through purchase, gift and water conservation projects, and transfer to instream water rights under Oregon state law; target acquisitions to maximize fulfillment of habitat objectives for instream flows.
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
1994 4 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 1.84 cfs; protected 3.8 river miles. [1 acquisition in Project subbasins.]
1995 10 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 8.25-10.81 cfs; protected 29.6 river miles. [3 acquisitions in Project subbasins.]
1996 25 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 20.33-22.72 cfs; protected 254 river miles. [12 acquisitions in Project subbasins.]
1997 27 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 19.70-21.30 cfs; protected 271 river miles. [11 acquisitions in Project subbasins.]
1998 31 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 21.42-23.03 cfs; protected 288 river miles. [11 acquisitions in Project subbasins.]
1999 51 water right acquisitions (statewide); total flow acquired 31.79 - 32.28 cfs; protected 305 river miles. [23 acquisitions in Project subbasins.]

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. Public Education and Outreach: get the word out to targeted organizations and individuals in OWT's Columbia Basin priority subbasins to raise awareness of OWT and facilitate contacts between OWT and landowners interested in selling water rights. a. Research and identify organizations and individuals to be targeted for mailing of OWT materials along with cover letter from Ed. This task will involve updating correct names and addresses for organizations and individuals 1 $1,650
b. Contact organizations and individuals identified through task a. by telephone and set up and attend meetings, make presentations, take site tours of potential acquisitions, meet individual landowners. 1 $9,900
2. Stream Prioritization Work make direct contact with landowners on current priority streams as well as research to identify new priority streams and conditions along those new streams. a. Update and confirm existing database of names and addresses of landowners with senior priority date water rights on streams already identified as OWT priority streams. Send letters and make phone contact with these water right holders. 1 $1,650
b. Research and identify two new priority stream systems, one in the John Day Basin, one in the Fifteenmile Basin. Work with ODFW to identify streams where increased streamflow would have the most benefit. 1 $1,650
c. Research at county assessor's office to identify names and addresses of landowners with senior priority date water rights on streams identified in task b. Send letters and make phone contact with these water right holders. 1 $1,651
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
FY 2002
$20,300

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
1. Evaluate Potential Instream Flow Acquisitions: ongoing process of analyzing the potential acquisitions that come to OWT as a result of the outreach work done in Objectives 1 and 2. a. Contact watermaster and do WRIS review of water right to determine its relative seniority, enforceability and measurability within the stream system. Determine the reach within which the right would be protected. 1 $1,256
b. Contact ODFW biologists and local watershed councils, review scientific publication materials to determine potential ecological impact of instream flow acquisition; determine whether flow is the limiting factor on this system. 1 $2,100
c. Conduct economic evaluation of water right to determine range of value. Research property values, analyze other water rights sales and transfer prices, and identify other economic variables to determine an offer price and range of negotiating values. 1 $2,100
d. Prepare acquisition summary document for OWT Board of Directors to consider ; make presentation at OWT Board meeting. OWT Board makes the final decision on whether to pursue negotiations, price to be offered, and range within to negotiate. 1 $1,675
2. Negotiate and Complete Acquisitions: also involves the ongoing work of negotiating the deals with the landowner and seeing the deals through the OWRD transfer process. a. Once OWT Board approves a price and a range, negotiate deal with the water right holder. Task a can involve phone negotiations, negotiations by letter, on-site in person negotiations, or a combination of the three. 1 $3,050
b. Once a deal is agreed upon, draft agreement documents; work with OWT Development Director to identify funds for acquisition; compile and draft documents for the OWRD transfer process and work with OWRD to ensure timely processing of application. 1 $3,350
c. Work with OWT development director to identify additional funds to leverage the BPA's $100,000. 1 $425
d. Subcontract to CWRE for examination of water rights. Purchase water rights from seller. 1 $130,500 Yes
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2002
$174,580

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
1. Work with OWRD staff to ensure that all the instream water rights acquired by OWT in 2000 are in fact being protected as instream flows. a. Contact watermasters in priority subbasins to discuss instream rights acquired or targeted for acquisition in 2001 by OWT. Discuss areas where measurement and enforcement may be problematic due to resource or technical deficiencies; make site visits. 1 $484
b. Contact ODFW and watershed councils to identify and connect with local individuals interested in voluntary participation in instream monitoring program. 1 $483
c. With information from tasks a and b, develop monitoring plan for various water right acquisitions. 1 $1,692
d. Site visits with volunteers and watermasters to examine water rights situation on the ground. Measure targeted streams to see if instream flow rights are being met. If rights are not being met, discuss enforcement and regulation with watermaster. 1 $1,692
2. Evaluate Potential Instream Flow Acquisitions: a longer term process that involves identifying and measuring the ecological impacts of OWT's instream flow acquisitions. a. Review ODFW & other materials on targeted streams to identify ecological goals for instream acquisitions.; work with ODFW staff to conduct ongoing ecological benefits analyses. Assist with on-site measurement and analysis; identify other resources. 1 $1,692
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
FY 2002
$8,120

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2001 cost
Personnel FTE: Project Manager: 530 hrs @ $25/hr $13,350
Fringe Estimated at 6.64% of salaries $886
Supplies Paper, distribution of press releases, and reproduction costs $200
Travel Travel throughout subbasins related to Objectives 1 and 2 above $490
Indirect Overhead $1,575
Subcontractor Certified Water Rights Examiner (CWRE) fees $0
Personnel FTE: Project Manager: 320 hrs @ $25/hr Executive Director: 88 hrs @ $30.12/hr $10,790
Fringe Estimated at 6.64% of salaries $716
Supplies Paper, distribution of press releases, and reproduction costs $200
Travel Travel throughout subbasins related to Objectives 1 and 2 above $950
Indirect Overhead $1,300
Capital Two-thirds of projected funds needed to complete water rights acquisitions in FY 2001 $128,500
Subcontractor Certified Water Rights Examiner (CWRE) fees $2,000
Personnel FTE: Project Manager: 180 hrs @ $25/hr $4,260
Fringe Estimated at 6.64% of salaries $283
Travel Travel throughout subbasins related to monitoring and evaluation of acquired water rights $950
Indirect Overhead $550
$167,000
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2001 cost$167,000
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2001 budget request$167,000
FY 2001 forecast from 2000$167,000
% change from forecast0.0%
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: no; New Funding: yes
Date:
Jul 14, 2000

Comment:

There has been a significant reduction in budget from what was forecast with no explanation of why. The AFC is concerned that the funding for FY 2000 was for specific water right acquisitions or if this project has been created as a placeholder for ongoing acquisitions. If specific acquisitions have been targeted, some technical review should occur.

This issue has been raised on similar projects (i.e. purchasing grazing allotments). Hopefully, in the future these purchases should be tied to subbasin plans that prioritize areas where these purchases should be made. Until then, the AFC is not certain that the proposed work is in a high priority area and suggests a technical review or presentation be made to verify targeted purchase locations.


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Sep 13, 2000

Comment:


Recommendation:
Rank A
Date:
Oct 16, 2001

Comment:

Oregon Water Trust has demonstrated success in handling water acquisition. Any new acquisitions should be deferred for consideration by the Regional Water Entity. Oregon Water Trust should seek acceptance as a Local Entity under the Water Entity RFQ.