BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1997 Proposal

Section 1. Administrative
Section 2. Narrative
Section 3. Budget

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Title of project
Columbia River Basin Tributary Adult Fish Passage

BPA project number   5507600

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
CBFWF

Sponsor type   CBFWF

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWI

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   7.10

Short description
Assess and rehabilitate adult anadromous fish passage facilities on tributaries throughout the Columbia River Basin.

Project start year   1997    End year   2000

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   Planning, Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
8906200 - Draft Annual Implementation Work Plan for NPPC Fish and Wildlife Program via Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority Agencies and Tribes. (CBFWA). Mitchell Act funding for fish passage facilities.

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
Reduce migration delay and injury at adult fish ladders through the range of flows that occur during upstream migration. Some of the existing fish ladders on Columbia River tributaries may cause injury and/or migration delay to adult salmon, steelhead, and resident salmonids because of the design or structural condition. Many of the older fish ladders have inadequate attraction flow that may preclude upstream fish passage. Results can be measured by observation and inspection of upgraded facilities. Success of the projects in terms of decreased migration time can be measured by radio telemetry. Spawning escapement, redd counts, and/or juveniles above the fish ladder will also gage success.

Testable hypothesis
Fish ladders within a river system should not cause significantly long upstream migration delays. At poorly designed or malfunctioning fish ladders passage takes longer and redd counts are generally higher downstream of the facility.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
In the 1950s and 1960s the Mitchell Act Columbia River Fisheries Development Program funded the installation of 45 formal and 48 "rock cut" adult fishways to provide access to over 4,000 miles of anadromous fish habitat. Most of these fish passage facilities have not been critically reviewed since construction and many have deteriorated to fair or poor condition. Several fish ladders are located in critical habitat of Snake River salmon. There are also numerous fish ladders at irrigation diversions that need to be assessed or improved. The large Willamette Falls fish ladder project will be covered as a separate proposal.

Methods
The Fish Screen Oversight Committee (FSOC) and other agency/tribal personnel will act as a steering committee and develop a prioritized list of work that is needed at fish ladders in the Basin. Fish passage evaluation studies will be subcontracted if necessary. Design work will begin for facilities that need an obvious upgrade. Where designs have been completed the work could be implemented. After completion of the projects, the facilities will be monitored and evaluated for fish passage effectiveness.

Brief schedule of activities
FY 1997 will mainly involve inspections and evaluation of facilities. The Tributary Passage and Habitat Coordinator at CBFWA will meet with FSOC to assess the currently known physical and hydraulic conditions of fish ladders in the Basin, to prioritize work on fish passage evaluations, designs, and construction work, and to choose subcontractors to perform evaluations, etc. CBFWA will coordinate and subcontract needed work. In FY 1998 to FY 1999, subcontractors will design and upgrade or rebuild fishways as needed. Work will be coordinated with CBFWA and the state fish passage shops in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The year after improvements are completed, fish passage effectiveness will be evaluated by fish ladder observation, radio telemetry, juvenile density, and/or spawning redd counts as deemed appropriate by the FSOC steering committee. By FY 2000 evaluations will be completed. Long-term O&M would be the responsibility of MA or the irrigation district, as applicable.

Biological need
Less than half of the historic habitat available in the Basin is currently accessible to anadromous fish. The structural condition and fish passage effectiveness of most adult fish passage facilities on Columbia River tributaries has not been critically reviewed since construction. Many are in immediate need of replacement, upgrade, or repair. An evaluation should also be made of the fisheries benefit.

Critical uncertainties
The total extent of needed upgrades and replacement of fish ladders will not be certain until they are critically evaluated.

Summary of expected outcome
Improved fish passage at many facilities in the Basin.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Some of the facilities are on Federal land. NEPA analysis and Endangered Species Act consultation with NMFS may be required at some sites. In-water construction will be conducted during approved work windows, usually during low flow months. FSOC will act as steering committee for the projects.

Risks
None

Monitoring activity
After completion of the projects, the facilities will be monitored and evaluated for fish passage effectiveness.

Section 3. Budget

* For most projects, Authorized is the amount recommended by CBFWA and the Council. Planned is amount currently allocated. Contracted is the amount obligated to date of printout.

Funding recommendations

CBFWA funding review group   System Policy

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $0