BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Naches River Irrigation Diversion Upgrade

BPA project number   5511500

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Yakama Indian Nation

Sponsor type   WA-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
Currently an irrigation diversion off the mainstem Naches River roughly 200 meters above the mouth of Cowiche Creek captures most Cowiche Creek water, trading it for mainstem Naches water. The opportunity for adult fish to sense Cowiche Creek water is significantly reduced, thus Cowiche Creek is underutilized for spawning and rearing.

Project start year   1997    End year   1999

Start of operation and/or maintenance   

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
Fish density in Cowiche Creek will be determined pre- and post-project implementation throughout season of use.

Testable hypothesis
Improving access into Cowiche Creek will improve anadromous fish stock health in the Yakima River Basin.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
The hydrograph will be similar to historic and water quality will remain adequate to support anadromous fish during season of use (i.e. discharge of toxic substances to the stream will not occur).

Methods
Juvenile fish density will be determined by mark and recapture methods. Three reaches will be sampled at three different times during the season of use (early fall through late spring). Equipment will include normal fish sampling tools.

Post-project redd counts will be compared to pre-project numbers to determine effects of the project.

Brief schedule of activities
The project would be initiated in year one with an engineering study of needed actions to retrofit the diversion to assure Cowiche Creek water is allowed to flow unobstructed to the confluence with the Naches River. In year two, construction will be completed. Juvenile fish surveys will be done in years one, two and four.

Biological need
Managers believe rearing habitat for juvenile fish is severely limited in the basin. This project would redress rearing habitat function through increasing the amount of rearing habitat available.

Critical uncertainties
Rearing habitat for juvenile fish is severely limited in the Yakima Basin, so much so that fish managers believe rearing habitat restoration is one of most important actions to restore stock health.

Summary of expected outcome
Access into Cowiche Creek will improve, thereby increasing number of juvenile and adult fish that utilize this stream.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Project design and implementation would be coordinated with the affected irrigation district, the WDOE, the WDFW, and the BOR.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Redd counts and juvenile fish density will occur in year four to determine effectiveness of the action.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   Bonneville Dam - Priest Rapids Dam

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $33,600