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
Evaluation of Adult Salmonid Distribution in Relation to Dissolved Gas Supersaturation

BPA project number   5515700

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
TBD

Sponsor type   Placeholder

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   Research M&E Program; Hypothesis B.2.5

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
Using depth-sensitive radio tags, this project will attempt to evaluate adult salmonids’ “ability” to avoid varying levels of total dissolved gas. In a more general assessment, adult fish migration patterns in relation to DGS would be determined through standard radio tracking methodology.

Project start year   1997    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications
Knowledge of adult fish’s exposure history to DGS is necessary to make informed operational decisions to manage DGS and its potential adverse impacts to migrating salmon. It is particularly important to understand risks of DGS to adult migrants that results from operational decisions intended to benefit juvenile migrants, to ensure that the overall net effect is positive.

Specific measureable objectives

Testable hypothesis
Hypothesis B.2.5: Adult salmon and steelhead do not detect and avoid river areas and depths that contain high levels of total dissolved gas

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Adult condition should be monitored at various points in the mainstem migration route . If adults do not avoid areas of high TDG, effects of exposure to high TDG may be detectable at adult sampling points: BON, PRD, and LGR are suggested.

Methods

Brief schedule of activities

Biological need
Depth-sensitive radio tags can yield data useful in evaluating response of adults to DGS. Only one study is available to demonstrate any ability of adults to swim deeper to avoid high DGS. The information is equivocal and should be augmented. The study should include determination of patterns of DGS in study reaches through which tagged adults move. This study should probably be correlative, using ambient river DGS patterns and examining adult behavior in response to those patterns. Risks of adult salmonid exposure to DGS is critical to ensure that benefits of fish spill for juvenile migrants is not offset by effects on adult migrants.

Critical uncertainties

Summary of expected outcome
A multi-year and multi-project analysis of adult movements in relation to varying levels of DGS and range of operational and environmental conditions.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
May be integrated into ongoing adult passage evaluations by UI/NMFS under Corps’ project.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Adult condition should be monitored at various points in the mainstem migration route. If adults do not avoid areas of high TDG, effects of exposure to high TDG may be detectable at adult sampling points: BON, PRD, and LGR are suggested.

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   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $300,000