FY 2001 Action Plan proposal 26025

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleLP Ranch Acquisition
Proposal ID26025
OrganizationUmatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District (Umatilla SWCD)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameRay Denny
Mailing address1229 SE Third Ave Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone / email5412768170 / ray-denny@or.nacdnet.org
Manager authorizing this projectPhil Walchli
Review cycleFY 2001 Action Plan
Province / SubbasinColumbia Plateau / Umatilla
Short descriptionAcquire 1,887 acres of rangeland, .27 cfs of surface water rights, .575 cfs of groundwater rights, 1.5 miles of East Birch Creek and 1 mile of Pearson Creek. ODFW considers this "key" Mid Columbia ESU summer steelhead spawning and rearing habitat.
Target speciesSummer Steelhead, Spring & Fall Chinook, Coho, Pacific Lamprey, Spotted Frog, Redband Trout, Bald Eagle, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Sharptail Grouse
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
45.3971 -118.7224 East Fork of Birch Creek at confluence of Birch & Pearson Creeks
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Aquire LP Ranch a.Capitol Acquistion of 1887 acres of rangeland, timber and 60 acres of irrigated bottomland and an 1875, .27 cfs water right plus a .575 ground water right 3 $1,395,000
b. Complete closing, negotiate MOA w/BPA title report and other similar needs 3 $5,000 Yes
c. Prepare NEPA document, complete consultations with USFW/NMFS 3 $1,340
d. Property taxes & fire insurance 1 $3,500
2. Conduct Interim Management Actions a. Hire property manager 12 $24,000
b. Building maintenance and operation 12 $12,000
c. Initiate Monitoring Plan in cooperation with ODFW, OSU & NRCS 6 $2,000
3. Other Management Costs a. Fringe 12 $3,184
b. Indirect 12 $15,518
c. Travel 12 $6,500
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2001 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2001 cost
Personnel FTE: .5 $13,840
Fringe 23% Salary $3,184
Supplies $5,000
Travel GSA Lease $6,500
Indirect 33% of budget capital and subcontracts $15,518
Capital $1,395,000
PIT tags # of tags: legal support for closing $5,000
Subcontractor Property Manager $24,000
$1,468,042
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2001 cost$1,468,042
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2001 budget request$1,468,042
FY 2001 forecast from 2000$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Plan & Management $20,000 in-kind
Natural Resource Conservation Service CREP & Conservation Planning $29,000 in-kind
Umatilla County Soil & Water Cons. Dist. Office Facilities $1,000 in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.

Recommendation:
Fundable?
Date:
Jun 21, 2001

Comment:

Fundable? This proposal meets ESA criteria, one-time (on-the-ground) criterion, and would yield a tributary flow increase. This project will acquire 1,887 acres of timbered rangeland, 0.27 cfs of surface water rights, 0.575 cfs of groundwater rights, 1.5 miles of East Birch Creek (Umatilla drainage) habitat, and 1 mile of Pearson Creek habitat. The proposal describes adequate justification for the priority of the LP ranch purchase within the Birch Creek drainage and makes linkages to appropriate prior assessments describing the biological importance of the property. Redd densities of summer steelhead in this property are highest of all Birch Creek (mostly wild fish). ODFW considers it key habitat for wild summer steelhead.

The surface water right is senior and would be left instream from 2001 onward (leased to Oregon Water Trust). The water right is identified as "senior," but its seniority relative to other users was not discussed. The percentage of increase in summer flow that 0.27 cfs represents was not presented. Without information to show otherwise, it seems doubtful that such a small increase in flow can be associated with significant improvement of conditions in Birch Creek. The purchase may provide some improved habitat, and perhaps increased survival, for the offspring of populations impacted by the power emergency as smolts in 2001, or in subsequent generations. In sum, it appears this is a good habitat protection project with the potential for minor instream benefits this year.


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 29, 2001

Comment:


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Jul 12, 2001

Comment:

Defer to Columbia Plateau: the criteria established for this solicitation did not include land acquisitions. Furthermore, these types of global watershed actions would be better defined within the context of their respective subbasins and best prioritized through upcoming subbasin assessments and revised subbasin plans.