Proposal title | Rainwater Wildlife Area Operations & Maintenance |
Proposal ID | 200002600 |
Organization | Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) |
Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
Name | Allen Childs |
Mailing address | P.O. Box 638 Pendleton, OR 97801 |
Phone / email | 5412787626 / AllenChilds@ctuir.com |
Manager authorizing this project | Carl Scheeler |
Review cycle | FY 2001 Ongoing |
Province / Subbasin | Columbia Plateau / Walla Walla |
Short description | Protect, enhance, and mitigate wildlife habitat impacted by McNary and John Day hydroelectric projects. Project includes O&M to protect existing habitat values, enhancements to increase habitat quantity and quality, and M&E to assess project benefits. |
Target species | |
Year | Accomplishment |
1998 |
Land Acquisition (8,441 acres) completed 9/98. Milestone: Habitat Protection through fee title acquisition (riparian/wetland, upland native grassland and forested cover types) |
1998 |
Interim Property Management Plan Developed & Implemented (Public Use Regulations, Access & Travel Plan). |
1998 |
Posted signs/maps for public information on property regulations. |
1998 |
Initiated Public Involvement for Management Planning Process. Established stakeholder advisory committee. Conducted stakeholder and public meetings to develop project scoping document for management plan. |
1999 |
Completed HEP field surveys (completed over 23 miles of transect survey, 400+ micro plots (sq. m), and 40+ macro plots (1/10 acre). |
1999 |
Completed aquatic resource and habitat surveys on over 9 miles of fish bearing streams (DNR Fisheries Program funding). |
1999 |
Acquired additional 300 acres of private land within boundary of Rainwater Wildlife Area (interior parcels). |
1999 |
Secured $100K through WA State Gov. Office Salmon Recovery Program for fish habitat and watershed restoration work on wildlife area (road obliteration, instream large woody debris additions, tree and shrub planting). Implement 2000. |
1999 |
Completed Mgmt Plan Scoping Document and conducted public review process to solicit input on property management. |
1999 |
Conducted regular, monthly advisory committee meetings to develop management plan (ongoing). |
1999 |
Conducted meetings with multiple agencies to coordinate property management (WADNR, WDFW, Columbia Co.) |
2000 |
Completed installation of informational kiosks and signage for public information on interim property management. |
2000 |
Ongoing coordination with agencies and advisory committee. |
2000 |
Ongoing interim mgmt, public outreach, and coordination. |
2000 |
Initiated appraisal/timber cruise on additional 250 acres of interior private land for acquisition. |
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
1. Plan and design detailed habitat enhancements in forested, grassland, and riparian habitat types identified in management plan to maintain and increase habitat quality and quantity for downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, |
a. Identify and delineate forested stands with overstocked stand conditions. Program for pre-commercial thinning to reduce competition/increase tree growth and cover development. Estimated 1,000 acres. Schedule 100 acres/yr. |
1, ongoing |
$4,000 |
|
1. cont--great blue heron, yellow warbler, spotted sandpiper, mink, western meadowlark, mule deer, and blue grouse. Specific objectives include: increasing basal area, snag density, cover quality, forage quality, and habitat security. |
b. Identify and delineate understocked forest stands. Program for site preparation (prescribed fire/mechanical) and tree planting where natural regeneration has not occurred due to competing vegetation. Est 500 acres. Schedule 50 acres/yr. |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
|
c. Develop grassland restoration and enhancement strategies. Schedule treatments (prescribed burning and seeding) on an estimated 2,000 acres (200 acres/yr.) |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
|
d. Develop and program riparian habitat enhancement and restoration strategies on 500 to 800 acres. |
1, ongoing |
$4,000 |
|
|
e. Complete detailed road mgmt plan developed under management plan. Schedule road obliteration and decommissioning. Estimated 20-30 miles of road work planned to restore resource production on 80-120 acres of primarily forested habitats. |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
2. Solicit cost-share funding to implement habitat enhancement and restoration activities from state, federal, and private organizations. |
|
1, ongoing |
$1,868 |
|
3. Conduct necessary environmental compliance review for site-specific project activities. |
a. Prepare NEPA/SEPA documentation for site-specific project activities. |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
|
b. Prepare appropriate permit applications for site-specific activities (404 permits, WA Forest Practice Act permit applications, hydrologic permits, etc.) |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
|
c. Conduct site specific archaeological surveys and TES specific reviews/surveys. |
1, ongoing |
$5,300 |
|
|
d. Prepare Biological Assessments for TES species and consult with appropriate agency for concurrence. |
1, ongoing |
$4,000 |
|
4. Identify and pursue additional land acquisitions to consolidate land ownership within and adjacent to wildlife area. |
a. Contact potential willing sellers and initiated appraisal processes in preparation for acquisitions. (limited primarily to small, <320 acre parcels). |
1, ongoing |
$2,000 |
|
5. Secure 2002 O&M Funding |
a. Prepare and submit NPPC FY2002 O&M project proposal |
1, ongoing |
$1,000 |
|
6. Prepare for Project Construction/Implementation. |
a. Prepare construction contract requests for proposals, conduct project site reviews, develop construction contracts, perform as contract representative/COTR. |
1, ongoing |
$1,000 |
|
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
1. Enhance habitat quality in forested cover types. |
a. Conduct pre-commercial thinning on approx 100 acres to reduce tree competition, improve tree growth, and facilitate cover development. |
1, ongoing |
$20,000 |
Yes |
|
b. Conduct tree planting in forested stands to improve tree stocking and facilitate cover development. Estimated 50 acres/yr. (15,000 seedlings consisting of p-pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir). |
1, ongoing |
$18,000 |
|
|
c. Obliterate and decommission roads to restore resource production. Includes winged ripping, tree planting, and seeding. Estimated 6-10 miles/yr. |
1, ongoing |
$14,000 |
|
2. Enhance habitat quality in grassland cover types. |
a. Conduct prescribed burning to assist in noxious weed control and prepare sites for seeding and planting. Estimated 200 acres/yr depending on availability of native seed. |
1, ongoing |
$20,000 |
Yes |
|
b. Conduct broadcast seeding and range drilling on acreage treated with prescribed burning. Focus on native grassland species (blue bunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and Sandberg's bluegrass) and appropriate non-native seed mix. |
1, ongoing |
$15,000 |
|
3. Restore/enhance riparian habitat |
a. Plant riparian shrubs and trees following instream and floodplain restoration activities including large woody debris additions, channel/meander construction, and road decommissioning efforts. 10,000 trees/shrubs installed. |
1, ongoing |
$10,000 |
|
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
1. Provide Wildlife Area Administration - Protect Existing Resources and Habitat Values |
a. Administer Mgt. Plan Regulations and Access & Travel Mgt. Plan including conducting road patrols, documenting violations, and coordinating w/ local law enforcement.
|
1, ongoing |
$15,000 |
|
|
b. Monitor and address trespass livestock, dumping, illegal uses, etc. and respond appropriately (i.e., contacting livestock owners for removal, garbage clean-up, law enforcement notifications. |
1, ongoing |
$10,000 |
|
|
c. Maintain public information utilizing kiosks/sign boards, infield public outreach |
1, ongoing |
$5,000 |
|
2. Maintain/Protect Habitat Values in forested, grassland, and riparian habitat types. |
a. Implement weed management plan including prevention, manual, chemical, and biological treatments. Activities include removing vectors (vehicles/livestock), spot application of herbicides, hand-pulling, presc fire (spot and landscape treatments)
|
1, ongoing |
$12,000 |
|
|
b. Conduct fire mgt activities including wildfire prevention and suppression. Prevention includes monitoring local fire conditions and imposing access & use restriction as necessary. Suppression includes coord w/ WADNR on initial attack/supp. tactics. |
1, ongoing |
$15,000 |
|
|
c. Maintain boundary fences to limit unauthorized livestock use. Approx 8 miles. |
1, ongoing |
$16,000 |
|
|
d. Conduct annual road maintenance to prevent road loss and resource damage. Task includes maintaining drainage, cleaning culverts, limited grading |
1, ongoing |
$5,000 |
|
|
e. Maintain gates and other road closure devices to prevent resource damage from motorized vehicles, limit road maintenance needs, and to maintain wildlife habitat security. |
1, ongoing |
$4,000 |
|
|
f. Maintain Forested Habitats: maintain seedlings installed under implementation effort to improve survival. Task includes managing competing vegetation, protection devices, shade cards.
|
1, ongoing |
$8,000 |
|
|
g. Maintain Grassland Habitats:
--conduct ongoing noxious weed mgt to maintain treated and existing native plant communities.
|
1, ongoing |
$9,633 |
|
|
h. Maintain Riparian Habitats:
Conduct ongoing noxious weed control. Maintain seedlings installed under implementation effort to improve survival. Task includes protection devices, shade cards, limited watering. |
1, ongoing |
$12,000 |
|
3. Administer Rainwater Wildlife Area Project |
a. Prepare and manage project contract. Task include preparing scope of work and contrat, administering contract with BPA.
|
1, ongoing |
$14,000 |
|
|
b. Prepare annual/semi annual reports per contract agreements. |
1, ongoing |
$2,000 |
|
Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2001 cost | Subcontractor |
1. Conduct monitoring and evaluation to assess progress towards meeting project objectives and to identify necessary changes (adaptive management) in management strategies to meet resource needs. |
a. Take annual photo points at permanent monitoring stations to provide photo image of changes in habitat types. |
1, ongoing |
$4,000 |
|
Note: HEP monitoring to be conducted on approx 10 yr interval and is not included in annual M&E. HEP update scheduled to begin in FY2011. |
b. Conduct regular monitoring of access and travel mgt. plan to determine effectiveness of road mgt plan and whether wildlife habitat security is being maintained. |
1, ongoing |
$5,000 |
|
|
c. Monitor public use including temporal and spatial utilizing variety of methods such as traffic counters, infield surveys, hunter check stations. |
1, ongoing |
$3,000 |
|
|
d. Conduct surveys on permanent vegetation plots (reconnaissance plots) to monitor changes in vegetative composition. Includes structural and composition analysis to determine effectiveness of treatments (seeding, planting, and noxious weed treatments). |
1, ongoing |
$8,000 |
|
|
e. Conduct annual water quality monitoring, redd surveys, and juvenile fish population surveys. |
1, ongoing |
$4,576 |
|
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.