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
Lower Yakima River Riparian Restoration

BPA project number   5512400

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Yakama Indian Nation

Sponsor type   WA-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
The lower mainstem Yakima River is inhospitable for salmonids during much of the summer due to high temperatures. In cooperation with private landowners, This project would promote riparian recovery through public outreach, project development and implementation. Native cottonwoods would ultimately be replanted on insufficiently vegetated stream banks. Monitoring plant survival would occur for three years, replanting as necessary. Summer temperatures would be reduced, which would help rebuild existing stocks. Summer chinook, which are now extinct in the basin, could then be reintroduced.

Project start year   1997    End year   1999

Start of operation and/or maintenance   0

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
None

Project history

Biological results achieved

Annual reports and technical papers

Management implications

Specific measureable objectives
Change in riparian canopy closure will also be measured.

Testable hypothesis
Restoring riparian habitat will increase rearing productivity and improve water quality.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
None

Methods
Changes in riparian canopy will be determined with a densiometer.

Brief schedule of activities
The project would begin with the mailing of fliers to landowners. Public meetings would be held to discuss stream functions, appropriate management and the goals of the project. Past habitat restoration/protection successes that the Yakama Indian Nation has undertaken would be displayed. Landowners would be solicited to voluntarily initiate riparian restoration/protection on their land. After restoration projects have been implemented in year one, monitoring would occur in years two and three. Ultimately, field trips would be scheduled to display individual restoration projects.

Biological need
From past research fish managers know that summer maximum temperatures in the lower Yakima River are too high to support salmonids. This effectively truncates the out migration of zero-age spring chinook, and prevents the reintroduction of stocks that require this reach during the critical season. This project would redress rearing habitat function through increasing riparian canopy closure, reducing sedimentation, increasing in-channel habitat complexity and improving water reducing substrate embeddedness.

Critical uncertainties
The lower 100 miles of the mainstem Yakima River cannot support anadromous fish because of lethal temperatures.

Summary of expected outcome
Native riparian vegetation density will increase. In turn, water quality will improve because canopy closure will improve. Ultimately, summer maximum temperatures will decrease. Ultimately the project will be used as a local demonstration area to encourage additional landowners to protect and restore streams.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
The restoration project will be developed in consultation with the USDA - NRCS and the WDOE. A cost-share application will be presented to the USDA - CFSA, the WDNR, the USFWS, and other agencies that administer funding programs.

Risks
Invasive weedy species may out-competent replanted species.

Monitoring activity
Monitoring of revegetation and weed invasion be done for three years.

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   Bonneville Dam - Priest Rapids Dam

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $50,400