FY07-09 proposal 200205000

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Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleContinued Riparian Buffer Projects on Couse/Tenmile and other Salmonid Bearing Streams in Asotin County.
Proposal ID200205000
OrganizationAsotin County Conservation District (ACCD)
Short descriptionOn-going project to continue implementation of prioritized habitat protection on private property for ESA listed steelhead, Chinook salmon and bull trout as identified in the Asotin Subbasin Plan. Cost share provided by private landowners & other sources
Information transferPrioritized habitat protection projects will be entered in EKO Project Database for information transfer and reporting purposes. Project locations will be recorded on maps with previous and on-going projects. Local technical agencies who gather spawning and rearing data for steelhead, Chinook and bull trout will be able to report based on previous, on-going and future habitat projects within Asotin County. Information transfer has resulted in priortized projects being completed within upland, riparian and instream areas throughout the subbasin based on EDT analysis. Project reports will be housed within BPA webpage and also on the ACCD website.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Brad Johnson Asotin County Conservation District bradaccd@cableone.net
All assigned contacts
Brad Johnson Asotin County Conservation District bradaccd@cableone.net

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Blue Mountain / Asotin

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
Grande Ronde Lower Grande Ronde Tributaries
Snake River Snake River Tributaries
Couse Creek Upper Couse Creek
Tenmile Creek Upper Tenmile Creek

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Steelhead Snake River ESU
secondary: Chinook Snake River Fall ESU
secondary: Chinook Snake River Spring/Summer ESU
secondary: Bull Trout
secondary: Interior Redband Trout

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments
2005 CREP 12,248 ft of streambank enrolled on Grande Ronde River. Continued on-going protection projects in uplands and riparian areas for sediment and temperature reduction.
2004 CREP 72,973 ft of streambank enrolled on Couse and Tenmile Creeks and Grande Ronde River. 13,783 ft riparian fence, 13,200 riparian plantings, and 15 alternative water developments for grazing distribution. 1,013 ac in long-term direct seed program.
2003 CREP 70,700 ft of streambank enrolled on Couse and Tenmile Creeks and Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers. Water developments, riparian plantings and long-term direct seed programs continued. Riparian fencing and removal of old riparian fences inside CREP.
2002 Initiated "NEW" BPA Project - enhancing CREP Projects and habitat protection projects within the Couse and Tenmile watersheds. 84,163 ft of streambank enrolled into CREP on Couse and Grande Ronde River. Riparian Projects completed for water and grazing.

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 199401805 Asotin Enhancement/Restoration Model Watershed Project with cost-share for prioritized riparian, instream and upland restoration and protection projects
Other: WCC State Funds Livestock Cost-Share Manure management project on Couse Creek
Other: WCC State Funds Upland Implementation Grant Cost-Share for upland BMP's for sediment reduction projects

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
Couse: Habitat Diversity Protect riparian and upland areas for sediment reduction and long-term temperature reduction. Asotin UA1.1.1- Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffers. UA1.1.2-Decrease sediment delivery from uplands. UA1.1.3-Restore perennial vegetation in upland cultivated and non-cultivated areas with native species.
Couse: Sediment Reduction Reduction in sediment (turbidity and percent fine) will increase survival of steelhead in all freshwater life stages. Asotin Asotin Creek strategies applied to Couse/Tenmile UA1.1.1-Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffers. UA1.1.2-Decrease sediment delivery from uplands. UA1.1.3-Restore perennial vegetation in upland cultivated areas with native species
Tenmile4: Riparian Function (exceed 50%) Restore and protect riparian area. Re-establish floodplain connection with fencing for protection and native tree plantings for restoration. Asotin Asotin Creek strategies applied to Couse/Tenmile UA4.1.3-Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffer. UA4.1.10-Seek additional funding sources
Tenmile4: Sediment Reduction Reduction in sediment (turbidity and percent fine) will increase survival of steelhead in all freshwater life stages. Asotin UA1.1.1-Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffers. UA1.1.2-Decrease sediment delivery from uplands. UA1.1.3-Restore perennial vegetation in upland cultivated and non-cultivated areas with native species.
Tenmile5: Riparian Function (exceed 50%) Restore and protect riparian areas. Re-establish floodplain connection with fencing for protection and native tree plantings for restoration. Asotin Asotin Creek strategies applied to Couse/Tenmile UA4.1.3-Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffers. UA4.1.10-Seek additional funding sources.
Tenmile5: Sediment Reduction Reduction in sediment (turbidity and percent fine) will increase survival of steelhead in all freshwater life stages. Asotin UA1.1.1-Improve extent, structure and function of riparian buffers. UA1.1.2-Decrease sediment delivery from uplands. UA1.1.3-Restore perennial vegetation in upland clutivated and non-cultivated areas with native species.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation Obtain environmental compliance for upland and riparian projects NEPA Checklists for upland and riparian projects. Work with local jurisditiction to get HPA and Shoreline Permits when appropriate. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $15,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
Develop Alternative Water Source Install off-site water facilities Cost-share with landowners for better grazing distribution and/or eliminate water quality impacts by having water distributed in pasture or feeding areas. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $135,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Habitat Diversity
Tenmile4: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Tenmile5: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Metrics
Install Fence Fence installation Cost-share with landowners for riparian exclusion fencing or cross fencing associated with exclusion fencing to eliminate water quality issues with better grazing practices. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $135,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Habitat Diversity
Tenmile4: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Tenmile5: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Metrics
* # of miles of fence: 5 miles per year exclusion fencing
* # of miles of fence: 3 miles per year of cross fencing
Plant Vegetation Plant native trees and shrubs in riparian areas Cost-share with landowners for revegetation of riparian areas associated with riparian exclusion fencing projects for sediment and long-term temperature reduction. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $72,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Habitat Diversity
Tenmile4: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Tenmile5: Riparian Function (exceed 50%)
Metrics
* # of riparian miles treated: 5 miles per year
Practice No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems Provide cost-share for direct seeding Cost-share for landowners for cropland erosion reduction by eliminating agressive tilling methods on private property. This practice is documented to reduce erosion by 95% (on average from 4 tons per acre per year to .4 tons). This will be a five-year direct seed program with 30% of funds coming from BPA and landowner providing 70% for the first five years and continuing on thier own with the sixth year. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $105,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile4: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile5: Sediment Reduction
Metrics
* # of acres treated: 2,000 acres of Direct Seed per year
Upland Erosion and Sedimentation Control Sediment basins for upland erosion and sedimentation control Cost-share with landowners to install practices on private land to reduce cropland erosion. Practices will help to control erosion on 300 acres of cropland. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $30,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile4: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile5: Sediment Reduction
Metrics
* # of acres treated: 300 acres per year
Other Practice upland farmland conversion Cost-share with landowners to convert cropland to permanent grass for erosion control purposes. Work with private landowners to seed out areas that are not highly productive cropland areas and either graze or hay these areas instead of continuous farming practices. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $60,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile4: Sediment Reduction
Tenmile5: Sediment Reduction
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Direct the planning and implementation of habitat enhancement projects Work with co-managers and local citizens to keep them informed of progress and resource issues important to help implement Plan. Covers project management and administrative work related to the contract. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $123,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
Outreach and Education Coordinate activities to involve the public with projects/opportunities in Couse and Tenmile Tours with local landowners to familarize them with previous and on-going habitat restoration projects and the newest technology to help protect and restore priority habitat. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $6,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
* # of general public reached: Public Meetings
* # of students reached: Salmon In Classroom and Envirothon Completion
* # of teachers reached: Salmon In Classroom and Envirothon Completion
Produce Annual Report Annual Report Yearly reports of accomplishments with BPA and matching funds with before, during and after project photos. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $12,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
Produce Status Report Quarterly and Milestone Reports Utilize Pisces to complete quarterly accomplishments and milestone report for habitat projects completed with cost-share and ensuring consistency. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $3,000
Biological objectives
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Data and Photos for Reporting Ensure that projects are completed based on design plans and reports for funding source and matching dollars. Photo documentation for reporting and project monitoring long-term success. 10/1/2007 9/30/2009 $24,000
Biological objectives
Couse: Habitat Diversity
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Project Implemenation/Compliance Monitoring

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Personnel .75 FTE includes Salary and Benefits $55,000 $55,000 $55,000
Travel Mileage, Registration, Lodging and Subsistence $1,500 $1,500 $1,500
Other Office Lease (25% of total lease) $4,500 $4,500 $4,500
Other Direct Seed Projects $35,000 $35,000 $35,000
Other Riparian / Exclusion Fencing $45,000 $45,000 $45,000
Other Vegetative Plantings $24,000 $24,000 $24,000
Other Alternative Water Developments $45,000 $45,000 $45,000
Other Upland BMP's for Sediment Reduction $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Other Grassland Conversion $20,000 $20,000 $20,000
Totals $240,000 $240,000 $240,000
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $720,000
Total work element budget: $720,000
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
DOE Cost-Share $30,000 $30,000 $0 Cash Confirmed
DOE Monitoring $20,000 $20,000 $0 Cash Confirmed
Landowners In-Kind $190,000 $195,000 $200,000 In-Kind Confirmed
WCC CREP $40,000 $50,000 $0 Cash Confirmed
WCC Cost-Share $32,000 $40,000 $40,000 Cash Confirmed
Totals $312,000 $335,000 $240,000

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $240,000
FY 2011 estimated budget: $240,000
Comments: Maintain on-going funding and match cost-share from other funding sources

Future O&M costs: We are not requesting any O&M Funds, private landowners take over after project completion.

Termination date: 2030
Comments: This project, a spin-off of the Asotin Creek Implementation Project, added partnerships with new landowners and built on the trust and credibitily gained by funding sources and local agencies for complex ESA habitat issues. The Asotin Subbasin Plan includes Couse and Tenmile Creeks and other streams within Asotin County that have salmonids and implementation of the actions on private property is the main goal of this on-going project. Momentum is building and projects are being completed with new ones identified for protection of prioritized habitat.

Final deliverables: We envision achieving the objectives identified for aquatic habitat conditions in the Asotin Subbasin Plan by implementing the habitat protection measures identified within this project. We hope to realize the vision identified in the Asotin Subbasin Plan for a healthy ecosystem with abundant, productive, and diverse populations of aquatic and terrestrial species that supports the social, cultural and economic well-being of the communities within the Subbasin and Pacific Northwest.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

Sponsor response to ISRP for proposal 200205000 Jul 2006

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget FY08 budget FY09 budget Total budget Type Category Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$233,333 $233,333 $233,333 $699,999 Expense ProvinceExpense Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$233,333 $233,333 $233,333 $0 ProvinceExpense
Comments: ISRP fundable qualified: programmatic habitat m&e issue, see decision memo discussion.

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Response requested

NPCC comments: This is a good proposal showing progress toward overall goals and tied into subbasin plan. A response needs to provide more detail on M&E, provide basic results on fish response to habitat improvements to date, and describe the need to introduce greater sinuosity back into the stream system as a vehicle for reconnecting with the flood plain. The proposal describes a project designed to implement procedures without adequately describing the problems to be solved. The causative problems have probably been analyzed to greater extent than the proposal indicates, and the proposal should be revised to show this -- and to show where genuine watershed analysis is still needed. Adequate watershed analysis should precede application of techniques. None of the strategies described are likely to "Reduce [embeddedness] within the area to 10%." If the existing imbrication is to be removed, the stream's width:depth ratio, sinuosity and connectivity with the floodplain need to be restored in order to enable the stream to re-work its gravels and sort them, leaving the fines on the downstream end of point bars. A watershed analysis is not presented as part of technical and scientific section. Therefore, the problem analyses may be deficient, despite the probable ability of project personnel to identify various obvious ones. Technical and scientific background: This project, a spin-off of the Asotin Creek Implementation Project, added partnerships with new landowners and built on the trust and credibility gained by funding sources and local agencies for complex ESA habitat issues. The Asotin Subbasin Plan includes Couse and Tenmile Creeks and other streams within Asotin County that have salmonids and implementation of the actions on private property is the main goal of this ongoing project. Momentum is building and projects are being completed with new ones identified for protection of prioritized habitat. Specific results of watershed analysis need to be described in the response. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The portion of the proposal for developing buffers and implement CRP / CREP riparian buffer plans directly supports many of the goals, objectives and strategies identified in the Asotin Subbasin Plan. Riparian buffer systems address several specific fish and wildlife needs cited in the Asotin Creek Subbasin Summary under Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Recommended Actions include: (a) NPT’s Habitat Objectives 2 and 3 (b) WDFW’s Strategies 1, 2, and 3 (c) ACCD Objectives 1, 2, and 3 specifically off-stream watering systems, riparian fencing and protection and enhancement of riparian areas. Relationships to other projects: This project proposal is to continue ongoing restoration activities and will coordinate and integrate the Asotin Subbasin Plan, Strategy and Continue Coordination, and Implementation of Asotin Creek Watershed funding. These work together to protect fish habitat in the Asotin County. This proposal will continue to help bridge the gap between landowners and agency representatives on sensitive resource issues on Asotin County streams. The Asotin Subbasin Plan provides the framework for such recovery efforts. Project history: The project has not existed long, so detailed results can't be expected. But there is good recounting of progress to date. Some of the material in this section should have been in the technical section. Riparian Projects completed for water and grazing. Comprehensive objectives are provided that are tied to Asotin Subbasin Plan. The facilities, equipment, personnel, and information transfer are adequate.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable (Qualified)

NPCC comments: The ISRP recommends the project as fundable with the qualifications that geomorphological watershed analysis and monitoring and assessment results from previous projects be incorporated into the proposal. This qualification applies to both Asotin SWCD projects. See full comments under proposal 199401805.