FY 2003 Columbia Cascade proposal 29015

Additional documents

TitleType
29015 Narrative Narrative
29015 and 29056 Powerpoint Presentation Powerpoint Presentation

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleThermal Imaging and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development on the Okanogan Subbasin.
Proposal ID29015
OrganizationConfederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation (CCT)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameJerry Marco
Mailing addressP.O. Box 150 Nespelem, WA 99155
Phone / email5096342114 / cctfish@mail.wsu.edu
Manager authorizing this projectJoe Peone
Review cycleColumbia Cascade
Province / SubbasinColumbia Cascade / Okanogan
Short descriptionExpedite the development of a water cleanup plan (TMDL) for the Okanogan to identify sources of pollution related to temperature, DO and pH; allocate maximum allowable pollution from various sources; and develop strategies to improve salmonids habitat.
Target speciesSockeye, Summer/Fall Chinook, Spring Chinook, Steelhead
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
Okanogan (rm 0-125) and Similkameen rivers and tributaries
48.0985 -119.7334 Okanogan River
48.8918 -119.4285 Similkameen River
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
Action 150
Action 152

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription
NMFS Action 152 NMFS The Action Agencies shall coordinate their efforts and support offsite habitat enhancement measures undertaken by other Federal agencies, states, Tribes, and local governments by the following:
BPA Action 153 NMFS BPA shall, working with agricultural incentive programs such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, negotiate and fund long-term protection for 100 miles of riparian buffers per year in accordance with criteria BPA and NMFS will develop by June 1, 2001.

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
200000100 Improvement of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Passage in Omak Creek. Provide basic water temperature data and modeling capability to support habitat restoration efforts in Omak Creek
199604200 Restore & Enhance Anadromous Fish Populations & Habitat in Salmon Creek. Provide basic water temperature data and modeling capability to support habitat restoration efforts in Salmon Creek
29037 Ecosystems Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) in the Columbia Cascade Province. The FLIR data will be a vital component of the EDT model assessment proposed for the Okanogan Subbasin.
29021 Develop a Physical Processes Method (PPM) to Supplement Habitat Conditions Analysis and Subbasin Planning. PPM links EDT to a method identyfing causal mechanisms for environmental degredation and corrective actions. The FLIR data for the Okanogan Subbasin will provide information used by both EDT and PPM.
29022 Omak Creek Water Temperature Model. FLIR data collected as part of this project will include Omak Creek and can therefore be used to augment the Omak Creek Water Temperature modeling work also proposed. Data sharing between the two programs will occur.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
. $0
. $0
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 2003 costSubcontractor
1. Accuratly assess water quality factors limiting salmonids a. Characterize current temperaures through use of FLIR multispectral imagery 1 $68,254 Yes
1 b. Validate FLIR data with on the ground monitoring 2 $59,073 Yes
1 c. Data sharing. 2 $0
1 d. Digitize data for stream banks and riparian vegetation attributes for use in ArcView. The cost is included in task 1. 1 $0 Yes
1 e. Statistical analysis of data using predictive models to determine targets and establish TMDLs 2 $53,000 Yes
1 f. Project coordination 2 $16,327
1 $0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Objective 1. Accurately assess water quality factors limiting salmonids 2004 2004 $65,000
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2004
$65,000

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 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 2003 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2003 cost
Personnel FTE: 0.5 $17,976
Fringe Benefits @ 24% $4,314
Travel miles @ $.345/mile $690
Indirect Indirect Overhead at 42.1% $9,674
PIT tags # of tags: 0 $0
Subcontractor FLIR Survey, TMDL Development $164,000
$196,654
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2003 cost$196,654
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2003 budget request$196,654
FY 2003 forecast from 2002$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
Washington Department of Ecology Task 1f, and all tasks under Objective 2. $100,000 in-kind
Colville Confederated Tribes Donated Labor - Final Planning/Coordination $30,000 in-kind
Washington Department of Ecology Conduct FLIR survey, modeling, and TMDL development of Wenatchee subbasin - previously included as a task under this proposal (29015) prior to proposal revision. $100,000 in-kind
Other budget explanation

This is a joint project between the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) and the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) with the CCT acting as the lead. Preliminary planning for this project has already been conducted and final planning will be conducted as part of the above indicated cost share.


Reviews and recommendations

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

Recommendation:
Fundable - no response required
Date:
Mar 1, 2002

Comment:

Fundable. No response is needed. The proposed work is a multifaceted project aimed at correcting the chronic high summer temperatures in waters of the Okanogan Subbasin. This project plans to use Forward Looking Infra-Red Technology (FLIR) to collect surface water temperature data remotely by helicopter from 175 miles of waterways in the Okanogan Subbasin, collect in situ temperature data simultaneously, incorporate this information into a river temperature model (QUAL2K), and use the data and model to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for temperature, which include remedial measures. Temperature is a major impairment of the waters of the Okanogan subbasin for ESA-listed salmonid use in summer. The Washington Department of Ecology is mandated to assess 303(d) listed waters and develop remedial measures under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The IR measurements, in-situ measurements, and modeling are intended to identify and quantify the sources of heating in the river basin that contribute to overly warm water in summer, and suggest remedial measures. The FLIR will give a broad spatial snapshot, submersible recorders will give ground-truth information and temporal variations, GIS will handle the spatial data, modeling will assimilate the data for predictive purposes, and the TMDL analyses by WDOE will satisfy the CWA mandate and offer solutions. Broad public participation at the solution stage is intended. The CCT and WDOE have combined forces to provide an integrated project focusing on the Okanogan basin. The WDOE will, somewhat incidentally to this project, use the information for its TMDL activities for dissolved oxygen, pH, and pesticides. It is a 2-year project for BPA funding, but embodies an implementation plan by WDOE extending through FY 2005 and likely longer.

This is a well-prepared proposal (initially presented as two proposals now combined, which would have included the Wenatchee subbasin) that is directed at the ultimate goal of reducing summer steam temperatures in the Okanogan subbasin through the CWA process. The ISRP notes that its previous reviews of proposals to use the FLIR technique were not clearly directed at the ultimate goal and had a predominant technology focus; this proposal is clearly focused on the end result. Part of the proposal is a straightforward and well-described plan to use a modern remote-sensing detection technique for obtaining temperature data over broad spatial and narrow temporal ranges (wide-area snapshot). The monitoring technique is valuable for identifying locations where thermal conditions change spatially, either by warming or cooling. The presumption is stated that one snapshot will be indicative of spatially varying conditions over much of the warm season even though actual temperatures will vary from day to day. Standard color aerial photos (taken simultaneously) are used in conjunction with the IR imagery to identify the habitat features related to temperature conditions. Rather than just providing pictures and numerical temperatures, however, the proposal would go the next step and incorporate the IR data, the in-situ calibration temperatures, and other temperature data into a model of water temperatures along the length of the study reaches. The model would then be used for TMDL assessments by WDOE. The proposal notes that this sort of work is already being done in Oregon and parts of the Mid-Columbia region (e.g., the Wenatchee subbasin) funded by other agencies.

The proposal meets the ISRP evaluation criteria. It makes good use of the Subbasin Summaries to justify the work, particularly the repeated statements that the waters are water quality (temperature) limited and listed under Clean Water Act 303(d). The work is specifically directed toward selection of remedial measures for such water quality exceedences, with a large benefit for fish. There are also good, specific references to the FWP, BiOp, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, and to CCT tribal goals. Related projects are listed specifically and discussed. There are clear objectives, tasks, methods and expected products for each phase of the work. The ISRP remains concerned that one IR over flight may not be sufficient to account for varying flows and other temporally varying factors, but acknowledges the high value of even one data set. The QUAL2K model might have been described in more detail, but it is a standard model used in water temperature analyses. Facilities and equipment are available from the contractors and used elsewhere. There is a good reference list accompanying the background and justification sections. Key personnel are clearly described in well-prepared resumes. The work is, of itself, of a monitoring nature with the measure of success being the follow-on monitoring that will be carried out by WDOE for the TMDL process (funded separately). There is excellent cost share, with $230,000 anticipated ($200,000 from WDOE) adding to the overall 2-year proposal cost to BPA of $261,654.


Recommendation:
High Priority
Date:
May 17, 2002

Comment:

The WA SRFB funded $84,750 for 2003 for this project. The budget has been adjusted to reflect this. Should be EPA funded or at least cost shared, the project could utilize temperature data collected by OCD and CCT. Cold water inputs will be more difficult to detect in the summer than warm water inputs in the winter. Experimental design is questionable for providing usable information. Flight time cost could be reduced with better design. NMFS has identified this project as a BiOp project.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002

Comment:

Fundable. A response was not needed. The proposed work is a multifaceted project aimed at correcting the chronic high summer temperatures in waters of the Okanogan Subbasin. This project plans to use Forward Looking Infra-Red Technology (FLIR) to collect surface water temperature data remotely by helicopter from 175 miles of waterways in the Okanogan Subbasin, collect in situ temperature data simultaneously, incorporate this information into a river temperature model (QUAL2K), and use the data and model to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for temperature, which include remedial measures. Temperature is a major impairment of the waters of the Okanogan subbasin for ESA-listed salmonid use in summer. The Washington Department of Ecology is mandated to assess 303(d) listed waters and develop remedial measures under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The IR measurements, in-situ measurements, and modeling are intended to identify and quantify the sources of heating in the river basin that contribute to overly warm water in summer, and suggest remedial measures. The FLIR will give a broad spatial snapshot, submersible recorders will give ground-truth information and temporal variations, GIS will handle the spatial data, modeling will assimilate the data for predictive purposes, and the TMDL analyses by WDOE will satisfy the CWA mandate and offer solutions. Broad public participation at the solution stage is intended. The CCT and WDOE have combined forces to provide an integrated project focusing on the Okanogan basin. The WDOE will, somewhat incidentally to this project, use the information for its TMDL activities for dissolved oxygen, pH, and pesticides. It is a 2-year project for BPA funding, but embodies an implementation plan by WDOE extending through FY 2005 and likely longer.

This is a well-prepared proposal (initially presented as two proposals now combined, which would have included the Wenatchee subbasin) that is directed at the ultimate goal of reducing summer steam temperatures in the Okanogan subbasin through the CWA process. The ISRP notes that its previous reviews of proposals to use the FLIR technique were not clearly directed at the ultimate goal and had a predominant technology focus; this proposal is clearly focused on the end result. Part of the proposal is a straightforward and well-described plan to use a modern remote-sensing detection technique for obtaining temperature data over broad spatial and narrow temporal ranges (wide-area snapshot). The monitoring technique is valuable for identifying locations where thermal conditions change spatially, either by warming or cooling. The presumption is stated that one snapshot will be indicative of spatially varying conditions over much of the warm season even though actual temperatures will vary from day to day. Standard color aerial photos (taken simultaneously) are used in conjunction with the IR imagery to identify the habitat features related to temperature conditions. Rather than just providing pictures and numerical temperatures, however, the proposal would go the next step and incorporate the IR data, the in-situ calibration temperatures, and other temperature data into a model of water temperatures along the length of the study reaches. The model would then be used for TMDL assessments by WDOE. The proposal notes that this sort of work is already being done in Oregon and parts of the Mid-Columbia region (e.g., the Wenatchee subbasin) funded by other agencies.

The proposal meets the ISRP evaluation criteria. It makes good use of the Subbasin Summaries to justify the work, particularly the repeated statements that the waters are water quality (temperature) limited and listed under Clean Water Act 303(d). The work is specifically directed toward selection of remedial measures for such water quality exceedences, with a large benefit for fish. There are also good, specific references to the FWP, BiOp, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, and to CCT tribal goals. Related projects are listed specifically and discussed. There are clear objectives, tasks, methods and expected products for each phase of the work. The ISRP remains concerned that one IR over flight may not be sufficient to account for varying flows and other temporally varying factors, but acknowledges the high value of even one data set. The QUAL2K model might have been described in more detail, but it is a standard model used in water temperature analyses. Facilities and equipment are available from the contractors and used elsewhere. There is a good reference list accompanying the background and justification sections. Key personnel are clearly described in well-prepared resumes. The work is, of itself, of a monitoring nature with the measure of success being the follow-on monitoring that will be carried out by WDOE for the TMDL process (funded separately). There is excellent cost share, with $230,000 anticipated ($200,000 from WDOE) adding to the overall 2-year proposal cost to BPA of $261,654.


Recommendation:
Date:
Jul 19, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Indirect benefit. Could result in identification of important thermal refugia. Could lead to development of TMDL to improve water quality in the Okanogan River Basin.

Comments
Given the extent to which Okanogan River temperatures are influenced by factors in Canada, not clear whether project will improve conditions. However, developing better understanding of US influence may be worth while.

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes


Recommendation:
C
Date:
Jul 26, 2002

Comment:

Recommend deferral to Subbasin Planning
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002

Comment: