FY 2000 proposal 20061

Additional documents

TitleType
20061 Narrative Narrative
20061 Sponsor Response to the ISRP Response

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleInfluence of Marine-Derived Nutrients on Juvenile Salmonid Production
Proposal ID20061
OrganizationU.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Columbia River Research Laboratory (USGS)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameMatthew G. Mesa
Mailing address5501A Cook-Underwood Rd. Cook, WA 98605
Phone / email5095382299 / matt_mesa@usgs.gov
Manager authorizing this project
Review cycleFY 2000
Province / SubbasinMainstem/Systemwide / Systemwide
Short descriptionEvaluate the influence and efficacy of marine-derived nutrient influx via adult salmonid carcass decomposition on the productivity of selected Columbia River basin tributaries and stream-rearing salmonids.
Target speciesVarious species of Salmonidae, including but not limited to, spring chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead.
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
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
9154 Wind River Ecosystem Restoration Project 9154 has baseline fish and habitat data from potential streams to be used for our research
83319 New fish tag system We plan to use the new flat-plate PIT-tag detector technology to be developed under project 83319

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2000 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 2000 costSubcontractor
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 2000 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 2000 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2000 cost
Personnel GS-12@2080 h; GS-11@2080 h; GS-7@1040 h; GS-5@3120 h $140,951
Fringe @ 28% of personnel for perms and terms; @ 7% for temps $32,635
Supplies Electrofishers, field supplies, computer, PIT-tag detectors, laboratory supplies $27,150
PIT tags 4000@ $2.90 ea. $11,600
Travel Vehicle rentals (2), vehicle mileage, and travel to meetings $11,475
Indirect @ 38% $85,048
Subcontractor Initial work on stable isotope analysis $1,000
$309,859
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2000 cost$309,859
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2000 budget request$309,859
FY 2000 forecast from 1999$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

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

Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Jun 15, 1999

Comment:

Recommendation: Do not fund, programmatically and technically deficient. Submit revised proposal next year.

Comments: This is a commendable idea that needs development. In a proposal next year, proponents should specify the study system and demonstrate their technical ability to design and interpret natural isotopes studies. The proposal in its present form is regarded to be of questionable benefit to fish and wildlife, not based on sound science principles, and CBFWA itself questions how results might be integrated in current management actions.

How is this proposal going to advance ongoing efforts in the region? Would the information provide another tool for salmon recovery? The proposal is written with unseemly hyperbole: For example, "historically the Columbia River supported overwhelming numbers of spawning salmon". Science demands greater specifics than to use such words as 'overwhelming,' particularly without offering any scale. The historical numbers were small compared to some Pacific salmon ecosystems.

One of several studies to test the role of marine-derived-nutrients (MDN) from salmon carcasses in stream and riparian productivity and fish production, this study is intended to determine optimum test site, conduct MDN supplementation experiment, and assess various responses including fish condition and other factors influencing their survival. As with so many extrapolations of the Bilby et al. hypothesis, there is inadequate comparison with stream systems that have viable salmon populations and carcass deposition. Yet the proponents devote one of the three objectives to characterizing stream and salmon productivity prior to addition. The question remains whether increased stream productivity will necessarily result in increased returns, and thus increased natural salmon carcass deposition, which this study would not evaluate. The technical basis is explained and rationale for benefits to fish and wildlife are given. They appear to acknowledge that MDN will complement, but not necessarily be the sole factor, in potential recovery.

The proponents correctly identify an obvious problem associated with depressed salmon populations in the Basin. The proposal describes the relationship to Section 7 of the FWP relating to "coordinated salmon production and habitat," but it exhibits too little appreciation of how much this issue and approach is on-going or proposed for the Basin. Only minimal collaborative efforts (e.g., with Wind River Ecosystem Restoration Project, #9154) are described.

With regard to methods: Stable isotope sampling should probably encompass more sources (e.g., stream POM), and reviewers find it curious that no effort is to be made to examine the potential contribution of MDN to riparian and adjacent upland consumers. Replication of stable isotope samples is not addressed, and the proposal offers no description of the qualifications of the contractor who would conduct the stable isotope analyses.

The success of the study will depend on identification of suitable study sites. Since the proponents plan to evaluate response over the entire length of the stream, locating streams with adequate pre-data as well as being logistically feasible to work in might be a problem. The concept of paired treatment and control streams is good as well as before and after evaluations. The approach to documenting productivity (obj 2) seems reasonable.

Proponents intend to examine physiological factors as a measure of fish health, but no justification is provided. They propose to PIT tag juvenile salmonids to examine survival and movement but neglect to describe how fish will be collected, indicate how many fish will be tagged (except in the budget), or advise if wild or hatchery fish are to be employed. In Obj 3, introducing carcasses at a density comparable to historical escapement along the entire streams seems very ambitious unless this is a small stream. While the time period proposed for evaluation is not expressed, page 4 suggests it is 3 yrs.


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Aug 20, 1999

Comment:


Recommendation:
Date:
Aug 20, 1999

Comment:

Criteria all: Met? yes -
Recommendation:
Date:
Aug 20, 1999

Comment:

May be considered an innovative project. Not clear that results from this study would affect current management actions. This work is currently taking place. Should be revisited in FY01 in the context of monitoring and evaluating ongoing implementation of carcass placement.
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Mar 1, 2000

Comment:

[Decision made in 9-22-99 Council Meeting];