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
Island Ranch

BPA project number   5508500

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Burns Paiute Tribe

Sponsor type   OR-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   , EWP

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   11.3D.2

Short description
Preservation of important feeding, nesting and resting area for waterfowl, raptors and shorebirds adjacent to Malheru Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Project start year   1997    End year   1998

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Planning, Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
95-19 Mitigation Coordinator

Project history
N/A

Biological results achieved
N/A

Annual reports and technical papers
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1995 Fish Review (Southwest Region). Scientific Resources Inc. (Paul Henson) March 16 1993 11830 SW Kerr Parkway Suite 375 Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035 SRI Project Number 92140

Management implications
N/A

Specific measureable objectives
BPA would be credited with appropriate habitat units gained and/or restored.

Testable hypothesis
N/A

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Willingness of seller to sell to the Burns Paiute Tribe. The county allowing the tribe to put the property into trust in lieu of taxes.

Methods
Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Methods.

Brief schedule of activities
1st year (97) acquired property, survey property for fish & wildlife and vegetation. Develop plan based on information from surveys and known needs for fish & wildlife.
2nd year implement program developed.
3rd & 4th years monitor and adjust to suite needs.

Biological need
This project site contains a diverse mix of habitats. Flooded meadows dominate, but riparian corridors and shallow slough channels with willow and other shrubs occur in several portions of the property. The site provides excellent habitat for cranes, waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds. These values are enhanced by its location adjacent to the Malheur Lake National Wildlife Refuge, making the site an important feeding, nesting and resting area for raptors, phalaropes, blackbirds, ibises, cranes, curlews, willets, and several species of geese, ducks, and gulls.

The property is heavily grazed and mown, and it often has limited cover for nesting and brooding birds. Proper management of agricultural activities and creative use of existing water rights would greatly increase wildlife productivity.

Critical uncertainties
County, seller, and general public might not support project.

Summary of expected outcome
Increase nesting, cover, and food availability for migratory & shorebirds. This could be done by using water right to flood portions of the property to create more wetlands. Streambank restoration: Planting trees, willows, and different grasses. Enhance and encourage Redband trout & native suckers in the lower reaches of the Silvies River. Develop & implement program to remove carp from the lower Silvies River and Malheur Lake.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
This project would be supported by the Closed Basin Working Group of the Intermountain West Joint Venture which is a partnership of private and public interests in waterfowl and wetland restoration. This group would help solicit funds for wetland restoration. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Malheur Refuge and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife would cooperate with technical advise on planning, wetland restoration, riparian restoration, wetland management, and wildlife and fisheries management.
Other potential sources of funds for wetland or riparian restoration include:
Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board
North American Wetland Council
Ducks Unlimited
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Wildlife Program
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's Wetland Joint Venture
Natural Resource Conservation Service's Wetland Reserve Program
Natural Resource Conservation Service's Conservation Reserve Program
Oregon Waterfowl and Wetland Association

The full purchase price of the property is shown below as the required amount for FY1997, but we are seeking contributions from these other potential funding sources, and this may reduce the total contribution needed from BPA Fish and Wildlife Program funds.

Risks
Target species might not take advantage of area set aside.

Monitoring activity
Resident and exotic fish populations would be monitored using standard fish survey techniques employed by Oregon Dept. of Fish Wildlife. Waterfowl, sandhill crane, and other waterbirds use of the property would be monitored during migration periods. Surveys would be conducted to estimate breeding populations of waterfowl, cranes and other waterbirds on the property.

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   Wildlife

Recommendation    No recommendation