Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Survival of adfluvial Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the upper Blackfoot River drainage |
| Proposal ID | 33004 |
| Organization | Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
| Name | David Teuscher |
| Mailing address | 1345 Barton Rd. Pocatello, ID |
| Phone / email | 2082324703 / dteusche@idfg.st.id.us |
| Manager authorizing this project | Dexter Pitman |
| Review cycle | Upper Snake |
| Province / Subbasin | Upper Snake / Upper Snake |
| Short description | This proposed project will identify which life stage survival is most limiting the population growth of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the upper Blackfoot River drainage. |
| Target species | Yellowstone cutthroat trout |
Project location
| Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|
| 42.82 |
-111.51 |
Blackfoot River |
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)
Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:
| Reviewing agency | Action # | BiOp Agency | Description |
|---|
Section 2. Past accomplishments
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
| Project ID | Title | Description |
|---|
Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
|
2002 |
2010 |
$0 |
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase
Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| Annual escapement of 14,000 Yellowstone cutthroat trout adults to the upper Blackfoot River |
1.a In April and May, implant radio transmitters into 100 pre-spawn YCT at the Blackfoot River adult migration trap. |
1 |
$41,250 |
|
|
1.b Document movements, timing, and geographical distribution of spawning YCT. This task will be completed by tracking radio tagged fish using a combination of plane, boat and foot surveys. Locations of each fish will be recorded using GPS coordina |
1 |
$13,750 |
|
|
1.c Determine egg-to-fry survival by hydraulic sampling of redds. |
1 |
$20,625 |
|
|
1.d Document post-spawning mortality and possible causes of that mortality. A fixed location receiver will be placed at the adult migration trap, located 1 mile above the confluence of Blackfoot Reservoir. |
1 |
$6,875 |
|
|
1.e Estimate total recruitment of juvenile YCT to Blackfoot Reservoir. |
10 |
$55,000 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| Annual escapement of 14,000 Yellowstone cutthroat trout adults to the upper Blackfoot River |
2004 |
2007 |
$237,002 |
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $56,650 | $58,350 | $60,100 | $61,903 |
Section 8. Estimated budget summary
Itemized budget
| Item | Note | FY 2003 cost |
|---|
| Personnel |
FTE: 1.3 16 months of technician time |
$26,790 |
| Fringe |
47.0% |
$11,396 |
| Supplies |
|
$14,501 |
| Travel |
|
$13,116 |
| Indirect |
20.4% |
$13,753 |
| Capital |
|
$57,944 |
| $137,500 |
Total estimated budget
| Total FY 2003 cost | $137,500 |
| Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds | $0 |
| Total FY 2003 budget request | $137,500 |
| FY 2003 forecast from 2002 | $0 |
| % change from forecast | 0.0% |
Cost sharing
| Organization | Item or service provided | Amount | Cash or in-kind |
|---|
| IDFG |
The adult migration trap needs to be improved so that traping can be completed during high water years. IDFG engineers are designing |
$100,000 |
cash |
| IDFG |
IDFG's regional biologist and fish manager participate in the operation and maintenance of the adult migration trap. |
$20,000 |
cash |
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:
Mar 1, 2002
Comment:
A response is needed with respect to the potential control of rainbow trout hybridization in the Blackfoot system even if it is not part of this specific proposal.
Due to a recent population decline of indigenous Yellowstone cutthroat trout, the upper Blackfoot has been closed to harvest, thus providing good protection for the fish. The population seems to have responded favorably. Now IDFG wishes to gain information that they hope would justify future harvest.
This project builds logically on previous work by IDFG, however the proposal shows little indication that its authors have any understanding of the Blackfoot cutthroat. To state (p 7) that important spawning and rearing locations have not been identified misleads reviewers and is an insult to the efforts of previous research! The Upper Blackfoot River YCT population has been identified by IDFG for some time as a priority YCT population for management and restoration. Substantial work has occurred on this population and watershed.
Reviewers suggest that the project be refocused on control of rainbow trout and hybridization in the Blackfoot system, rather than on the life history work that is proposed. The Blackfoot River system has supported a well-known fishery in the past, noted for its large-sized indigenous Yellowstone cutthroat trout. With proper management it could become a regional trophy cutthroat fishery and depending on the genetic status of the populations in the Upper Blackfoot River (Projects 199800200 and 33001), YCT populations in this area may serve as an important conservation management unit.
It seems curious that such large-scale and expensive efforts are being expended to reduce the effects of introgressive hybridization on YCT in the South Fork of the Snake, a large system where controlling hybridization will be difficult and uncertain, when the efficacy of a similar effort might be much more effective in a system the size and scale of the Blackfoot. Perhaps this work is happening in the Blackfoot River through other IDFG efforts and was not adequately represented in the proposal or the presentation?
Recommendation:
Recommended Action
Date:
May 17, 2002
Comment:
This work will allow for the collection of survival/mortality data which is needed for developing development management strategies for this species.
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002
Comment:
Fundable. The response, while not clearly written, does clarify some key items and improves the quality of the project. The response was illuminating: How is it possible that such a large-scale rainbow removal effort (as described in the response) could be underway in the Blackfoot and not have been adequately described in the original proposal? While the proposal has its strong points, it falls short of being a comprehensive proposal aimed at managing Yellowstone cutthroat trout (and the non-native rainbow trout) in the Blackfoot River subbasin. A more comprehensive, watershed-level approach is recommended for management of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the Blackfoot subbasin.
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002
Comment: