FY 2002 Columbia Plateau proposal 25054

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleIncrease Naches River In-stream Flows By Purchasing Wapatox Hydroelectric Project
Proposal ID25054
OrganizationYakama Nation (YN)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NamePaul J. Ward
Mailing addressP.O. Box 151 Toppenish, WA 98948
Phone / email5098656262 / ward@yakama.com
Manager authorizing this projectLynn Hatcher
Review cycleColumbia Plateau
Province / SubbasinColumbia Plateau / Yakima
Short descriptionCost share with Bureau of Reclamation to purchase and retire PacifiCorp's Wapatox Power Plant to benefit salmon and steelhead by increasing instream flows and enhance spawning and rearing habitat in the Naches River.
Target speciesSpring chinook, Bulltrout, coho, steelhead
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
45.2733 -119.5083 Naches RM 17.1
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription
NMFS 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
2000 USBOR leased 100 cfs from PacifiCorp in this reach to conduct research in habitat value potential of increased flows during irrigation season.
2001 USBOR is adding storage water to augment flows in the Wapatox by-pass reach.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
Provide funds to BOR as a cost share for the purchase of the Wapatox Hydroelectric Project Provide cost share to purchase Wapatox Power diversion from PacifiCorp on Naches River. 2002 $3,500,000
$0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
N/A $0
$0
$0
$0
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
N/A $0
$0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
N/A $0
$0
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
N/A $0
$0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
N/A $0
$0
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2002 costSubcontractor
N/A $0
$0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
N/A $0
$0
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2002 cost
Personnel $0
Fringe $0
Supplies $0
Travel $0
Indirect $0
Capital Cost share with BOR to purchase the Wapatox Hydroelectric Project. $3,500,000
NEPA $0
PIT tags $0
Subcontractor $0
Other $0
$3,500,000
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2002 cost$3,500,000
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2002 budget request$3,500,000
FY 2002 forecast from 2001$3,500,000
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind
USBOR Acquisition costs $3,500,000 cash
USBOR Canal redesign and construction $1,000,000 in-kind
USBOR Operation and Maintanence $200,000 in-kind
USBOR NEPA and Consultation $500,000 in-kind
Other budget explanation

This project proposal is a cost share to assist USBOR with the acquisition of the Wapatox Hydroelectric Project. The BPA cost share dollars will be dedicated only as half of the acquisition costs which is not yet determined and in negotiation with PacifiCorp. All other costs incurred in this acquisition will be coverd by USBOR through Yakima River Basin Enhancement Project funding.


Reviews and recommendations

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

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate
Date:
Jun 15, 2001

Comment:

Fundable only if an adequate response is provided.

As reviewers commented during the High Priority review process in which the project was ranked B, the project would benefit fish in that the portion of the river that is bypassed by the canal which at times is dry or otherwise inaccessible to spring chinook, steelhead and coho, as well as bull trout. Increased flow will lead to reconnection of the lower Naches River with upstream tributaries such as the American River. Costs will be shared with BOR. There are obvious policy issues of who should fund this that extend beyond the ISRP purview.

The project would clearly provide immediate and presumably substantial benefits to fish and wildlife, but the proposal does not provide a quantitative estimate of to what extent fish would be expected to benefit. Additional information on expected benefits (from EDT model, etc) is requested.

In addition, the monitoring and evaluation is not well described and needs to be clarified before being fundable (see ISRP General Comment on monitoring and evaluation).


Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Aug 10, 2001

Comment:

Fundable in the Columbia Plateau Provincial and the Action Plan reviews. The response makes the point that Wapatox is one part of a large program to significantly restore a large system whose ability to function naturally has been heavily reduced by a concerted human effort over a long period of time. As reviewers commented during the High Priority review process in which the project was ranked B, the project would benefit fish in the portion of the river that is bypassed by the canal which at times is dry or otherwise inaccessible to spring chinook, steelhead and coho, as well as bull trout. Increased flow will lead to reconnection of the lower Naches River with upstream tributaries such as the American River.

As requested, the response attempts to clearly and quantitatively address benefits to fish. The reviewers were convinced that this project offers substantial and immediate gains for salmon and steelhead. The monitoring and evaluation component of the project was not adequately described in the response, perhaps this could be worked out by the Council and BPA in the Columbia Plateau project selection process.

There are obvious policy issues of who should fund this that extend beyond the ISRP purview.


Recommendation:
Date:
Oct 1, 2001

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Project would substantially increase instream flows in August and during the winter in an eight mile long reach of the Naches River, thereby enhancing spawning & rearing habitat

Comments
Project was funded under the spill mitigation action plan.

Already ESA Req? no

Biop? yes


Recommendation:
Rank D
Date:
Oct 16, 2001

Comment:

This proposal is being considered under BPA’s Action Plan solicitation as proposal no. 23028. Although the proposal is consistent with RPA #149, the Yakima is not a priority subbasin. The BOR and Pacificorp should fund this proposal.
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Jan 3, 2002

Comment: