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
Sandy River Watershed and Fish Habitat Restoration

BPA project number   5520000

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
USFS

Sponsor type   OR-Federal Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   ,

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   

Short description
Plans, implements and monitors restoration of fish passage, watershed conditions and habitat on Sandy River tributaries located on the Mt. Hood National Forest. Projects are proposed for Gordon, Still, Clear, Lady, and Cheeney Creeks, and on Lower Bull Run, Little Sandy, Little Zigzag Rivers.

Project start year   1997    End year   2000

Start of operation and/or maintenance   2000

Project development phase   implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
Sandy River Subbasin BPA Powerline Right of Way Rehabilitation (BPA Contract #93-31): This project plans and implements projects to improve water quality and fish/wildlife habitat conditions within the powerline right of way boundary, largely within the Clear Fork of the Sandy drainage. The proposed new project would improve access, watershed and habitat conditions in other tributary drainages within the Sandy River subbasin.

Over the past 13 years, Mt. Hood National Forest has implemented watershed and habitat restoration in five other tributary drainages within the upper Sandy River subbasin (Salmon River, Clear Fork of the Sandy, Still, Camp, and Lost Creeks.) Approximately 18 miles of stream have been treated, installing over 1200 large logs and boulder structures to improve overwinter rearing habitat conditions (pools and cover); over forty off channel ponds and side channels have been created and passage to three miles of habitat provided by altering barrier culverts. Approximately 20 miles of eroding roads have been obliterated and revegetated. This work has been accomplished with approximately $500,000 of investment; another $100,000 has been invested in project monitoring and evaluation. The proposed new project would implement remaining high priority projects identified by watershed analysis and habitat inventories.

Project history
N/A

Biological results achieved
N/A

Annual reports and technical papers
N/A

Management implications
N/A

Specific measureable objectives
1) Restore access to at least two miles of winter steelhead, coho and cutthroat trout habitat by modification or replacement of six barrier culverts and two chutes created by road and pipeline installation.
2) Correct eleven undersized eroding culverts and stabilize eroding road surface/cutslopes along three miles of primitive road, to reduce sedimentation of key spring chinook, coho, winter steelhead and sea-run cutthroat spawning areas.
3) Rehabilitate one mile of spawning and side channel rearing habitat for spring/fall chinook, coho salmon, winter steelhead and cutthroat trout impacted by dams/water diversion.

Testable hypothesis
See above.
1) Fish utilization of 2+ miles of habitat is limited by 8 barriers (6 culverts and 2 chutes.)
2) Erosion from road surfaces and tributary crossings is contributing measurable amounts of fine sediment to key anadromous fish habitats.
3) Spawning gravel and large woody debris currently intercepted and detained by water diversion operations on the Bull Run and Little Sandy Rivers can be effectively replaced and retained in reaches below the diversions. Side channel habitat impacted by these diversions can be rehabilitated and retained in the same reaches.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
* Average or improved escapement of steelhead, coho, chinook and cutthroat (ocean rearing conditions improved ; harvest stable or decreasing; other adult mortality factors constant or decreasing.)
* Average water year assumed for success.

Methods
Culverts will be excavated and replaced with appropriately sized natural bottom arches, capable of passing 100 year floods; chutes will be modified to produce passable series of stepped pools and jumps; side channel areas with woody debris and spawning gravels will be created/enhanced below dams (approximately 1 mile of habitat will be treated.)

Brief schedule of activities
1997: Implementation- Gordon Creek watershed restoration (road oblit/improvements, riparian planting.)
Planning- Still , Cheeney, Lady Creeks; Lower Bull Run, Little Sandy, Little Zigzag Rivers.
Monitoring- All (preproject).
1998: Implementation- Still, Cheeney, Lady Creeks, Little Zigzag River.
Monitoring- All
1999: Implementation- Lower Bull Run , Little Sandy Rivers
Monitoring- All
2000- Monitoring and preparation of final reports.

Biological need
Anadromous fish production is being limited by 8 constructed barriers (6 culverts and 2 chutes), restricting access for anadromous fish to two miles of high quality habitat for winter steelhead and coho salmon. In addition, fine sediment produced from eroding road surfaces at tributary crossings is being introduced directly above key anadromous fish spawning sites. Also, operation of two diversion dams is limiting transport of woody debris and spawning gravel downstream to one mile of important habitat for spring/fall chinook, coho, winter steelhead and cutthroat trout.

Critical uncertainties
That freshwater habitat is limiting anadromous fish populations on the Sandy River.

Summary of expected outcome
1. Six barrier culverts and two barrier chutes will be removed, allowing access to two miles of habitat and increasing production of steelhead, coho and cutthroat trout.
2. Eleven undersized, eroding culverts will be replaced, decreasing sedimentation affecting chinook, coho, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.
3. One-half mile of side channel habitat (including high quality spawning and rearing conditions) will be added to the lower Bull Run River system, improving reproductive success for fall/spring chinook, coho and winter steelhead. Another one-half mile of riparian habitat will be restored through riparian plantings and erosion control work.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
NEPA analysis and detailed project planning have been incorporated into the project timeline and budget. One project area is currently ready for implementation (Gordon Creek.)

Risks
None

Monitoring activity
Utilization of accessed habitat will be evaluated through fish sampling. Riparian rehabilitation will be evaluated by photopoints and macroinvertebrate community analysis. Eroding culvert replacement will be documented by photos and sediment analysis above and below the project area.

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   Below Bonneville Dam

Recommendation    Tier 2 - fund when funds available

Recommended funding level   $40,000