FY07-09 proposal 200724600

Jump to Reviews and Recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleRestoration of bull trout passage at Albeni Falls Dam using a trap-and-haul approach in conjunction with investigations to assess effectiveness of rapid genetic analysis in assigning natal tributary
Proposal ID200724600
OrganizationKalispel Tribe
Short descriptionThe goal of this project is to provide temporary upstream passage for bull trout at Albeni Falls Dam, Pend Oreille River. Effectiveness of the action will be evaluated using RM&E.
Information transferInformation from this project will be used by Action Agencies, as well as tribal, state, and federal fisheries management agencies to make decisions regarding the long-term solutions to provide bull trout passage at Albeni Falls Dam.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
David Geist Pacific Northwest National Laboratory david.geist@pnl.gov
All assigned contacts
David Geist Pacific Northwest National Laboratory david.geist@pnl.gov
Joe Maroney Kalispel Tribe of Indians jmaroney@knrd.org
Joe Maroney Kalispel Tribe of Indians jmaroney@knrd.org
Allan Scholz Eastern Washington University ascholz@ewu.edu

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Intermountain / Pend Oreille

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
Clark Fork River Clark Fork River
Lake Pend Oreille Lake Pend Oreille and tributaries
Pend Oreille River Box Canyon Reservoir
Priest River including MF East River Priest River drainage
Pend Oreille Albeni Falls Dam

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Bull Trout

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 200204300 Genetic Bull/Westslope Trout Integrated - tissue samples will be provided from proposed project.
BPA 199700400 Resident Fish Above Chief Joe Data will be incorporated into database and GIS that are being maintained by joint stock assessment project
Other: Pend Oreille PUD [no entry] Relicensing studies of Box Canyon Dam Radio telemetry gear should be compatible so that bull trout from proposed project can be monitored in Box Canyon Reservoir and Dam
Other: Avista [no entry] Cabinet Gorge Dam bull trout passage Fish Passage/Native Salmonid Restoration Plan administered by USFWS with Avista funds. Genetic information will be shared to increased genetic library; facilities at Cabinet Gorge Dam may be used to hold bull trout; same rapid genetic analysis will be used
Other: Army Corps Engineers [no entry] Fish passage at Albeni Falls Dam The Corps is working with state and federal management agencies to determine if permanent bull trout passage at Albeni Falls Dam is warranted/possible. This project provides additional information to make this decison plus provides a stop gap to ensure bull trout extinction doesn't occur in the Pend Oreille River.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam. Using a floating trap and electrofishing techniques, we anticipate being able to collect and move upstream an average of 27-40 bull trout annually over the four-year project; this translates into 108-160 total bull trout. We base this number on previous studies we have conducted in the project area. In 2003, we collected 10 bull trout and observed two others during 5.2 hours of electrofishing effort over a period of four days. In 2004, we collected two bull trout and observed another one with 12.3 hours of electrofishing effort on nine dates. Over the two year period the average catch was six bull trout with 8.8 hours of electrofishing (shocker on) effort over 6.5 days. In the proposed study we plan about 40-60 hours of electrofishing (shocker on time) over a 30 day period. Assuming the catch rates are comparable to the average, we anticipate potentially collecting 27-40 bull trout by electrofishing. This is in addition to the number that will be caught in the floating trap. Intermountain Pend Oreille Objective 1C1, Strategy a and b; Objective 1A and 1A1, Strategy A and B; Objective 1B1, Strategy a

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Produce Design and/or Specifications Work Element A - Design and construct floating fish trap This work would be let as a contract by the Kalispel Tribe. Elements will include a floating barge trap, motors, trailer, live box, and holding tanks. We have budgeted $300,000 to design and construct the floating trap based on a preliminary design by a regional fabricator and criteria in Bell (1986) report on artificial guidance and requirements for fish passage. 1/1/2007 5/1/2007 $5,064
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation Work Element B - Obtain necessary permits and set up contract for genetic analysis The Kalispel Natural Resource Department (KNRD) will obtain the necessary permits outlined in section D. PNNL and EWU will also obtain appropriate scientific collection permits. Additionally, the Kalispel Tribe will contract with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Genetics Laboratory for conducting rapid response genetic analysis. 1/1/2007 5/1/2007 $14,860
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Install Fish Monitoring Equipment Work Element C - Install, operate and maintain a floating fish trap to capture bull trout below Albeni Falls Dam A floating trap will be installed, operated, and maintained below Albeni Falls Dam. The dates of operation will correspond to peak bull trout movement and when water temperatures are conducive to transport fish. The trap will be moved periodically to test different capture locations. All fish captured in the trap will be measured, tagged with a PIT tag, and sampled for tissue to be used in a rapid genetic test (see work element E). The bull trout will be radio tagged, and moved to a location upstream or downstream of the dam depending on the results from the genetic tests. The trap will be maintained and a log kept of trap operations. The trap will be operated for a 4 year period; note that the form restricted the end date to no later than 2009 but the actual end date for this work element is 11/15/2010. This applies to most other work elements. The actual end dates are indicated in the work element description here and in the narrative. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $435,165
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Submit/Acquire Data Work Element D - Compile electronic spread sheet data base of trap data KNRD will enter trap records into an Excel spreadsheet and maintain an electronic data base of trap records. Actual end date is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $18,029
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element E - Rapid response genetic analysis of bull trout biopsy samples Tissue samples will be collected from bull trout captured by electrofishing or in the floating trap. The samples will be sent by express mail to the USFWS Genetics Laboratory in Abernathy Washington. Using the lab’s “rapid response genetic analysis” protocol, the samples will be analyzed at 12 microsatellite DNA (msDNA) loci that are standard for Columbia Basin bull trout. Within 24 hours the USFWS genetics lab will assign individual bull trout to a particular tributary and communicate this information to KNRD. Actual end date is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $19,300
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Trap and Haul Work Element F - Transport bull trout above Albeni Falls Dam Captured and radio tagged (see work element R) will be transported to sites above Albeni Falls Dam. A series of rules have been established that dictate where the fish will be transplanted (see narrative in section 10, F). The rules are based on when the bull trout were collected and the results from the rapid genetic testing. For example, if the temperature is less than 16C and the genetic tests showed the individual bull trout came from Priest Lake/River drainage, the fish will be transplanted into Priest Lake above the outlet dam. Similar rules have been developed for other natal streams above and below Albeni Falls Dam. Standard transport and acclimation procedures will be followed to ensure bull trout survival is high. Actual end date for this activity is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $54,762
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
* # of fish: 27-40 annually (108-160 total over the 4 years)
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element G - Weekly electrofishing as a check to determine if the trap is collecting a representative sample of bull trout available below Albeni Falls Dam Weekly electrofishing surveys will be conducted from Indian Creek (14 km below Albeni Falls) to the tailrace of Albeni Falls Dam to collect bull trout. Electrofishing surveys will be conducted using standardized 10 minute transects that survey approximately 0.4 km of shoreline. GPS positions will be collected for each transect and for each bull trout collected. Fish collected during these surveys will be identified, measured for length and weight, and tagged with PIT tag for permanent identification. A fin punch will be collected for genetic analysis using the Pend Oreille Basin ‘rapid response genetic analysis’ protocol as described in work element E. If the temperature of the Pend Oreille River is =16.0° C, the bull trout will be transported in the electrofisher live well to the live box on the floating trap, where it will be held until genetic analysis is complete. If the bull trout is collected when the ambient temperature of the Pend Oreille River is >16°C, it will be transported in a decontaminated hatchery tank truck to the Avista/USFWS holding facility at Cabinet Gorge Dam until the genetic assignment is made. During the interval we are awaiting genetic analysis the fish will be implanted with a CART tag as described in work element R. After receiving the genetic assignment, the fish will be transported above Albeni Falls Dam according to the protocols described in work element F. Actual end date is 11/15/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $132,056
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element H - Compile electronic spread sheet data base of electrofishing data All electrofishing data will be entered into an Excel spreadsheet and maintained as an electronic data base of electrofishing records. Actual end date is 11/15/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $14,345
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage Work Element I - Trap maintenance The Kalispel Tribe will oversee routine maintenance and storage of the floating trap. This will include annual overhaul after the trap is removed from the water each year. Actual end date is 12/15/2010. 11/11/2007 12/31/2009 $25,198
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Develop RM&E Methods and Designs Work Element J – Statistical design(s) for trap evaluations The EWU biostatistician and Principle Investigator will develop a multi-factorial statistical design for trap evaluations. The statistical design will include a description of the statistics to be employed, along with data requirements and assumptions associated with the statistics selected. We will initially explore models associated with the Poisson distribution and provide alternatives if Poisson does not fit the data. The statistical design will test four hypotheses that are described in the narrative portion of this proposal (section 10, F). 3/1/2007 5/1/2007 $6,130
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element K– Test to determine if addition of bull trout odors to attraction flow improves bull trout entry into the floating trap Bull trout odors will be introduced to the trap using certified disease-free bull trout obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Creston National Fish Hatchery in Kalispell, Montana. On test days, bull trout will be placed into a 1,000 L tank on the floating barge trap equipped with flow-thru and recirculating water supplies; water from the Pend Oreille River will be pumped through the tank outflow near the trap entrance. At the termination of the experiment the bull trout would be returned to the EWU aquaculture facility. On control days, bull trout will be absent from the tank, but water will still be circulating through it into the attraction flow. Prior to movement from EWU onto the holding tank on the barge in the Pend Oreille River EWU will interact with WDFW/IDFG to certify that the fish are disease free. [Another possible source of bull trout for these tests would be to use other bull trout captured below Albeni Falls Dam.] Actual end date is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $24,682
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element L– Tests to determine if addition of bull trout home stream odors into attraction flow improves bull trout entry into the floating trap KNRD will use a gasoline powered pump to collect water from five tributaries between Albeni Falls and Cabinet Gorge Dams: Lightning Creek, Trestle Creek, Granite Creek, Gold Creek, and Middle Fork East River. Each of these streams harbors a large spawning population of bull trout. Water from each stream will be pumped in equal volumes into the hatchery tank truck and transported to the 1,000 L tank of the float trap. On experimental days, this mix of tributary waters will be pumped from the 1,000 L tank at a rate of 41L/hour (683 ml/minute) into the attraction flow of the floating trap. On control days, the tank will be filled with Pend Oreille River water, which will be pumped at a rate of 41 L/hour (683 ml/minute) into the attraction flow of the trap. Actual end date is 11/10/2010 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $11,727
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element M– Tests to determine if addition of cold water into the attraction flow improves bull trout entry into the floating trap The trap will be positioned near the outflow of a cold spring located 1.5 km below Albeni Falls Dam. Water temperature from the spring remains a constant 11.0-11.5°C as the Pend Oreille River temperature fluctuates from about 13-23.5°C between 15 May and 15 October. On experimental days, water will be pumped from the spring into attraction flow of the trap to achieve a temperature difference of at least 2°C between the temperature at the trap entrance and the ambient temperature of the Pend Oreille River on that date. On control days, water from the Pend Oreille River will be pumped into the attraction flow of the trap at the same discharge rate as was pumped from the spring. This should result in no difference between the temperature at the trap entrance and the ambient temperature of the Pend Oreille. Actual end date is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $11,727
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Analyze/Interpret Data Work Element N– Comparison of trapping-vs-electrofishing data Efficacy of the floating trap in collecting bull trout will be assessed by comparison to the number of bull trout captured during electrofishing surveys. Actual end date is 12/31/2010. 11/10/2007 12/31/2009 $11,380
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Analyze/Interpret Data Work Element O– Conduct statistical analyses of bull trout collection methods and identify most cost effective methods for collecting bull trout Statistical evaluations done annually will include an (a) exploratory analysis, (b) model fitting/evaluation, (c) model estimation/interpretation and (d) power/sample size analysis. Results will be published in the project annual report (see work element X). The first year’s report will include a re-evaluation of the statistical methods selected based on the results obtained from field data collection. In particular, data requirements and assumptions will be evaluated. One global analysis will be to identify the most cost effective methods for collecting bull trout below Albeni Falls Dam. Actual end date is 1/10/2010. 11/10/2007 12/31/2009 $17,989
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Install Fish Monitoring Equipment Work Element P– Procure, install and test stationary radio receiver stations Permanent radio receiving stations will be set up at various locations as described in the narrative section of the proposal (section 10, F). The purpose of the receiving stations will be to monitor and record the movements of radio tagged bull trout released above Albeni Falls Dam. Each site will consist of a series of Yagi antennae, solar panels and batteries, and SRX 400 Lotek radio receiver. PNNL will donate 12 receivers for use on this project. Three back up receivers will be purchased. Beacon tags will be used to monitor receiver status, and extensive range testing will be done to determine zone of reception at each station. 3/1/2007 4/30/2007 $78,349
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Install Fish Monitoring Equipment Work Element Q– Annual overhaul and recalibration of ground receiver stations Each spring project staff will overhaul, refurbish and retest each of the ground receiving stations. Actual end date 3/31/2010. 3/1/2008 12/31/2009 $50,087
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Mark/Tag Animals Work Element R– Implant combination radio acoustic transmitter (CART) into bull trout transported above Albeni Falls Dam Bull trout captured either by the trap or electrofishing will be surgically implanted with a Lotek combination acoustic/radio telemetry (CART) transmitter. Transmitter implantation will be accomplished by trained surgeons. Tag implantation details are contained within the narrative portion of the proposals (Section 10, F). After genetic analysis is completed the fish will be transported above Albeni Falls Dam and released as described in work element B. Actual end date is 11/10/2010. 5/1/2007 12/31/2009 $149,132
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element S– Download stationary ground radio receiving station All fixed receiver stations will be inspected and downloaded every other week (26 times per year). Each station will be inspected for damage and repaired if necessary. Data will be saved to the hard drive of a laptop computer and then backed up on a removable thumb drive. After each download, data will be examined for active tags, beacon tag, signals and noise. Proper adjustments to gain will be made when necessary. Beacon tags and 12 volt batteries will be replaced when necessary. Trip log forms will be used to document information about the dates and times of activities performed, problems encountered, and a description of what was done to correct the problem. Actual end date 12/1/2010 5/15/2007 12/31/2009 $150,257
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Install Fish Monitoring Equipment Work Element T– Removal of stationary ground radio receiving stations Radio receiver stations will be removed at the end of the project. Start and end date of this work element is 12/1/2010 and 12/4/2010, respectively. The form won't allow dates after 2009 so 2009 was used as placeholder. 12/31/2009 12/31/2009 $0
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Work Element U– Mobile tracking surveys by fixed wing aircraft, vehicle and boat Movement of tagged bull trout will also be monitored using a Lotek SRX radio receiver connected to a four element Yagi antenna. Air surveys will be made 12 times per year. The flight path will start below Albeni Falls Dam, thence up the center of the Pend Oreille River to the outlet of Pend Oreille Lake, then around the perimeter of Pend Oreille Lake. Where known bull trout spawning tributaries enter they will be followed to their source or known upper limit of bull trout occupancy. A list of tributaries that will be surveyed is included in the narrative portion of the proposal (Section 10, F). Vehicle surveys will also be made along each of the tributary streams once monthly on about June 15, July 15, and August 15; once weekly from September 1 to October 15, and on about November 1 each year for the purpose of locating bull trout in spawning tributaries. Acoustic tracking surveys from a boat will be used to locate CART tagged bull trout after they enter Lake Pend Oreille. A Lotek directional hydrophone connected to a digital interface on the Lotek SRX 400 receiver will be used to follow the acoustic signal emanating from the CART tag. The acoustic signal from the CART tag will enable us to locate bull trout after they move into Lake Pend Oreille where radio signals are lost due to attenuation due to depth. Boat tracking will occur on 10 dates, annually on about May 15, June 1, June 15, July 1, July 15, August 1, August 15, August 30, October 15, and November 1. The position of located bull trout will be determined with a GPS. A trip log will be maintained that will include information about dates and time of activities performed, equipment performance and locations and identification of any bull trout found. These data will be entered into an electronic database at the end of each trip. Actual end date for this work element is 12/1/2010. 5/15/2007 12/31/2009 $117,997
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Analyze/Interpret Data Work Element V– Data reduction and analysis Results of ground receiver station downloads and mobile tracking surveys will be combined to develop a profile of each fish tracked. Fish positions (GPS coordinates) will be entered into a GIS to generate track maps for each fish. Statistical comparisons will be made to determine if fish randomly entered spawning tributaries or if they entered the tributary predicted by their genetic assignment. Time of entry (spring or late summer/fall) of individual fish into spawning tributaries will be compared to the genetic analysis of the fish in an attempt to evaluate if run timing can be related to genetics. Actual end date is 1/12/2010. 11/10/2007 12/31/2009 $30,871
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Action Effectiveness Research
Focal Area: Tributaries
Produce Pisces Status Report Work Element W– Prepare quarterly reports Quarterly reports to BPA’s contracting offices technical representative (COTR) will be prepared by KNRD’s CO-PI, EWU’s research associate and PNNL’s senior scientist. One day of each person’s time is budgeted for this activity per quarter. These reports will describe any particularly interesting results obtained during the quarter, any deviations from the scheduled work, a plan for correcting those problems, and a budget analysis. Actual end date is 3/1/2010 5/30/2007 12/31/2009 $31,476
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Produce Annual Report Work Element X– Prepare annual reports Annual reports to BPA’s COTR will be prepared by the EWU PI and PNNL CO-PI, with assistance from EWU’s statistician and research associate, and PNNL’s senior scientist. Reports will summarize the results obtained that year. Reports will follow standard scientific format and include an executive summary, introduction, methods, results, discussion, recommendation, and literature cited section, as well as tables, figures, and data appendices. Reports will be reviewed by the KNRD CO-PI before submission. Actual end date is 2/28/2010 11/15/2007 12/31/2009 $54,935
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report Work Element Y– Prepare project completion report In the final year of the project (2010), a project completion report will be prepared that summarizes all four years of the project and includes the final year’s annual data. The report will follow standard scientific format and include an executive summary, introduction, methods, results, discussion, recommendations, and literature cited sections, as well as tables, figures and data appendices. The report will be reviewed by the KNRD CO-PI before submission. (NOTE: this is scheduled to begin on 15 November 2010, and be completed by 28 February, 2011 which is outside the dates allowed in the form. Thus, placeholders of 2009 are used instead). Budget for this work element is provided in the future year section (9). 12/31/2009 12/31/2009 $0
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Produce/Submit Scientific Findings Report Work Element Z– Write article(s) for submission to peer-reviewed journals At the completion of this project, and possibly sooner, if warranted by preliminary results, project principal investigators will collaborate to submit paper(s) to peer reviewed scientific journals such as Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, North American Journal of Fisheries Management and Northwest Science. (NOTE: the begin and end dates are undetermined at this time. Placeholders in 2009 were selected). 11/1/2009 12/31/2009 $20,560
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Work Element AA– Manage project Each of the principal investigators will be responsible for management of the overall project, as well as their organizational responsibilities. Management activities will include administrative responsibilities required for compliance with BPA program requirements such as metric reporting, financial reporting (accruals), and development of annual statements of work. Actual end date is 2/28/2011. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $35,781
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics
Coordination Work Element AB– Project coordination This project will require coordination with a number of agencies and organizations. Principal investigators will be responsible for coordination among themselves, and also with US Army Corps of Engineers (Albeni Falls Project staff and Seattle District), state and federal fisheries management agencies (WDFW, IDFG, USFWS), regional bull trout coordination groups (Lake Pend Oreille, Intermountain Province bull trout recovery groups), and other researchers (consultants working on Box Canyon Dam bull trout study, agency and tribal biologists working on Pend Oreille River and lake bull trout studies). Actual end date is 2/28/2011 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $31,956
Biological objectives
By FY 2011, pass 108-160 bull trout above AF Dam.
Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Personnel FY 07 Total - 3.7 FTEs as follows: KNRD: Maroney - 0.13, Sci - 0.09, Tech - 1.6; EWU: Scholz - 0.18, McLellan - 0.6, Tech - 0.76; PNNL: Geist - 0.13, Brown - 0.27, Tech - 0.10; FY 08 Total - 3.6 FTEs as follows: KNRD: Maroney - 0.11, Sci - 0.09, Tech - 1.55; EWU: Scholz - 0.18, McLellan - 0.62, Tech - 0.72; PNNL: Geist - 0.10, Brown - 0.23, Tech 0.08; FY 2009 Total - 3.66 FTEs as follows: KNRD: Maroney - 0.12, Sci - 0.09, Tech - 1.55; EWU: Scholz - 0.18, McLellan - 0.63, Tech - 0.71; PNNL: Geist - 0.14, Brown - 0.25, Tech - 0.08 $154,000 $150,281 $164,500
Fringe Benefits [blank] $48,904 $47,929 $51,580
Supplies FY 2007 - includes 2 SRX 400 radio receivers for PNNL, laptop computer for EWU, 3 PIT tag readers for EWU (1) and KNRD (2). Annually - maintenance of trap, gas/oil for boats/vehicles, genetic sample analysis, 50 CART radio/acoustic transmitters, surgical supplies, radiotelemetry equipment (antennas, batteries, cable), misc. field gear $67,398 $31,643 $27,971
Travel Includes all trips associated with setting up trap, hauling fish above dam, setting up and maintaining receiving equipment, downloading receiving equipment, electrofishing surveys in tailrace of dam, mobile tracking of tagged bull trout by boat, vehicle, and airplane, and attending meetings. $52,721 $47,454 $48,555
Capital Equipment FY 2007 - $300,000 for floating trap and 1 SRX 400 radioreceiver for EWU $307,950 $0 $0
Overhead [blank] $125,685 $108,355 $118,889
Totals $756,658 $385,662 $411,495
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $1,553,815
Total work element budget: $1,553,815
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
Totals $0 $0 $0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $477,664
FY 2011 estimated budget: $477,664
Comments: Project scheduled to be completed 2/28/2011.

Future O&M costs:

Termination date: 2/28/2011
Comments: This project is a four year project that is proposed to start 1 January, 2007, and end 28 February, 2011.

Final deliverables: All data including raw and summarized information from electrofishing surveys, trap operation and maintenance, trap testing, individual fish metrics, GIS maps, and statistical analysis. Final technical report and scientific papers.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

Sponsor Response to ISRP for Proposal 200724600 Jul 2006
Microsatellite DNA Characterization of Selected Bull Trout Populations within the Pend Oreille River Basin Jun 2005

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget FY08 budget FY09 budget Total budget Type Category Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$756,658 $385,662 $411,495 $1,553,815 Expense ProvinceExpense Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$756,658 $385,662 $411,495 $0 ProvinceExpense
Comments: ISRP fundable in part (qualified):Fund consistent with ISRP comments - fund pilot test of electrofishing, do not fund genetic assessment. Budget will have to be adjusted to match funded work elements.

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: The sponsors propose a project to pass bull trout over Albeni Falls Dam, Pend Oreille River, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a trap to collect upstream-migrating bull trout adults for this. Reviewers see this proposal as being out of phase. According to the proposal, the USFWS 2000 Biological Opinion directed the action agencies to evaluate the feasibility of restoring passage at Albeni Falls Dam, and those agencies are to begin evaluating the associated costs and issues. The agencies’ plan should contrast all options for solving the bull trout dam passage problem. Thus, absent such an evaluation, it is premature to fund the proposed work at the present time. Consideration of whether to fund the proposed action should be delayed until the passage plan is done, and a clear outline of the research can be developed and an implementation strategy adopted. The proposal is data rich but is excessively long and not convincingly written. The project purpose is, in practical terms, the development of the trap. Piggybacked on that are provisions for research, much of it scientifically interesting but having little pertinence to aquatic resource recovery in the basin. In future proposals, the research aspect should be pared back to essentials for monitoring and evaluation (M&E). One difficulty reviewers have with the project rationale is the assumption that all the individual tributaries are each a demographically independent population and at risk for inbreeding depression. Most critical is the assumption that the return of a few individuals that originated from these streams is critically important genetically to prevent extirpation. The authors note that within tributary analysis typically reveals little genetic variation, and that between tributary variation is greater. If the returning (adfluvial) adults were from a different stream and required to mix things up to prevent inbreeding it would be a more convincing argument. As it stands now, the argument should be based on demographic collapse, not genetic collapse. So, there is a question whether short-term extirpation can be remedied by this action. The authors do not provide a compelling quantitative presentation of a viability assessment to support that main thesis. Biologic and economic cost-effectiveness of the proposed project seem questionable to reviewers. The proposal seems to imply that every bull trout is so valuable to the system’s population (ESU?) that each fish that passes downstream over or through the dam and survives to maturity needs to be moved back above the dam. Is this really so? The proposal states that, unless gene flow between populations is more than thought, only 3 of the 18 spawning tributaries above the dam probably have an adequate number of spawners (100 or more) to maintain proper genetic characteristics of their populations. Based on the proposal’s table showing estimated spawner population in each tributary, it is evident that passing the hoped-for 27 to 40 adult bull trout per year over the dam is unlikely to boost more than one or two (and probably not any) of the 15 needy populations into the adequate-spawner category. It might be worth trying, however, on the chance that many more adults are captured below the dam than anticipated—and that the project budget can be greatly reduced. On a dollars-per-spawner-gained basis, the proposal looks impractical as presently written. A three-year budget of $1.55 million for passing an anticipated maximum of 120 bull trout (40 per year) over the dam amounts to $12,900 per fish. Other dams in the Columbia Basin pose similar problems for bull trout and other native resident trout species – should trap and haul be implemented there also? Reviewers note two additional complications. One is that bull trout passage over other dams (PUD and Avista owned) is involved in the system, so a more jointly supported solution than proposed seems appropriate. Secondly, the operation of a largemouth bass hatchery on the lower Pend Oreille River (BPA Project 199500100) by the proponents of this proposal would seem to be at odds with bull trout recovery. A more thorough analysis of the bull trout situation is needed.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable in part (Qualified)

NPCC comments: Fundable to conduct a pilot test of the electrofishing approach, with subsequent electrofishing and trap and haul of bull trout around Albeni Falls Dam contingent on the success of that pilot test. Not Fundable to conduct a genetic rapid assessment of tributary assignment or radio-tagging and tracking of spawning bull trout. This project proposed collecting bull trout by electrofishing and trapping below Albeni Falls Dam, and then transporting the fish for release above this or other upstream, impassable dams to contribute to depleted spawning populations. In the preliminary review the ISRP questioned whether the project was timed appropriately since the sponsors indicated the dam operators were conducting a feasibility study of options to pass bull trout around Albeni Falls Dam. The ISRP also had several concerns about the genetic assessment of the likely spawning tributary of the migrants captured below Albeni Falls Dam, and the evaluation of migration by tracking radio-tagged fish. In response the sponsors clarified that the feasibility studies were complete, and that trap and haul was one option being considered by the dam operators and regulators. The sponsors suggested that the trap and haul should begin immediately, providing near-term benefits to fish, while the managers determine the long-term solution. The ISRP found the argument convincing. Albeni Falls Dam is a major bull trout migration barrier and therefore impacts fluvial and adfluvial populations. Passage is needed to preserve these two life histories. The problem is similar to bull trout passage difficulties in the Lower Clark Fork River. So, is this potentially the right (or at least a workable) approach? Is it designed to at least figure this out? The short answer is yes for the first, but no for the second. The ISRP believes that at this time the idea of volitional migration following assisted dam passage is sufficient without the genetic assignment to natal streams coupled with radio-telemetry. That each population sampled above the dam has a differing constellation of msDNA alleles is not improbable. In fact, it would be surprising if it were not the case given the population sizes and the high variation in msDNA. It is not clear to the ISRP whether the genetic samples and assignment methods are sophisticated enough to assign the natal river with sufficient accuracy (what level is this accuracy set at?) to warrant this kind of approach and not create a mis-assignment error that is detrimental to the population. Detrimental because the fish were passed above more than one dam owing to the natal stream assignment. Collecting bull trout below the dam is an equipment (floating trap [screw trap?]) and labor (60 + hours of electrofishing) intensive effort. Work on the Lower Clark Fork suggests it can be accomplished. Ultimately, it is necessary to demonstrate that it has helped the population(s). Is the population stabilized? Is it growing? Is it still shrinking? And which of the tributary populations are contributing (or failing to contribute) to improved abundance. That fish can be collected, genotyped, and tracked to a spawning location is an interesting observation, but not really a biological end-point. In the proposal there are also related trap improvement efforts (cold water, natal stream water) to be tested. Pheromone release has worked for other adfluvial species. The sponsors could begin by testing electrofishing for one year to determine if the effort yields 40 + adults. If that is successful then initiate the trapping trials. Monitoring needs to determine if there are increases to population sizes in the tributaries and increases in down stream migrants, regardless of where they spawned.