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Review Subbasin Review Team’s (SRT) Recommendations for
Project Proposals for the Columbia Plateau Province
The results of the SRT review for Project Proposals 199405400,
25085, 25053, 25093, 25012, 25008, and 25092 from the Columbia Plateau
Province were reviewed by the RFC. The funding recommendations that
were developed by the Columbia Plateau SRT remained unchanged.
However, the following comments (in bold) were added to the
"Project Review Comments" column of the Columbia Plateau
Project Review spreadsheet.
199405400 - This project now includes the proposed work submitted
by the CTWSRO under the same project number as well as Objective 4 of
the original 25088 proposal (i.e., pre-ISRP review) that was submitted
by ODFW. ODFW and the CTWSRO will be cooperators on this project. The
RFC questions whether it is BPA's responsibility to fund AFS protocol
evaluations. The RFC also indicated that all ODFW bull trout proposals
that will be submitted in the upcoming provinces should be grouped
under one project number (i.e., 199405400).
25085 - The USFWS have identified brook trout/bull trout
interactions as a region-wide concern. ODFW managers indicate the bull
trout population is limited by the presence of brook trout. The USFWS
and ODFW suggested that the eradication of brook trout from this area
will be essential for the recovery of bull trout. The final listing
recommends eradication of brook trout as a component of bull trout
recovery. The RFC views brook trout control as a high priority to bull
trout recovery. However, the RFC questions the study design/techniques
and question whether it is possible to totally eradicate brook trout.
25053 - Tied to the USFWS bull trout Bi-Op. (No comments were added
by the RFC)
25093 – Historically, freshwater mussels were an important
subsistence species for the CTUIR. However, mussel populations have
declined and as a result mussels can no longer be used for purposes of
subsistence. Mussels have been listed as candidate species in the
Willamette River. However, little, if anything, is known about
freshwater mussel distribution, abundance and habitat quality east of
the Cascades. The ODFW suggests that there is a need to initiate this
type of work. The reviewers recommend that preliminary genetic
analyses should be limited to mtDNA (RFLPs) analyses. Microsatellite
analyses should only be used if mtDNA data are not conclusive. (No
comments were added by the RFC).
25012 - The RFC agrees that the proposed work would address
existing data gaps (e.g., distribution, critical habitat, migration,
etc.). The BPA COTR for WDFW's bull trout project in the Columbia
River Gorge Province suggested there needs to be coordination between
the existing project and this proposed work. As a result, the RFC
suggested the projects should be combined under the same project
number as has been recommended for ODFW's Project 199405400. The RFC
suggested that the funding of the presence/absence objective should be
funded by the USFWS.
25008 - The project will indirectly provide habitat protection by
providing the groundwork data necessary to evaluate habitat
restoration activities. The RFC expressed concern that the proposed
work appeared expensive for the areas that would be evaluated and that
actions were unwarranted. Genetic analyses should not be conducted at
this time. However, samples should be collected and stored in case
analyses are needed in the future.
25092 - The outyear budgets are excessive. Implementation plan
needs to be developed prior to funding implementation activities. Fund
Objective 1 ($100,200). Implementation funding should be sought once
the implementation plan has been developed. |
