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
Yakima Phase II Screens - Construction

BPA project number   9107500

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
US BOR

Sponsor type   ID-Federal Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Jodi Stroklund, EWN 503/230-4512

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   7.11B.1, 7.11B.3

Short description
Install new fish screens at all significant diversions in the Yakima River Basin to keep juvenile salmon and steelhead from being diverted and lost in the canals during outmigration. Also includes adult passage improvements at a few sites.

Project start year   1992    End year   2000

Start of operation and/or maintenance   

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
#9503300, NPPC# 7.4K.1 O&M on completed Phase II screens
#9200900, NPPC# 7.11B.1 O&M on completed Phase II screens

Project history
Planning Report completed in FY1990. Preliminary & final design initiated in FY1990-91. First construction initiated in FY1992. As of FY1996, construction of screens, consolidation of ditches, elimination of diversions or other corrective measures are complete on about 1/3 (22) of the Phase II diversions. Preliminary & final design is underway on the second 1/3, and will be initiated on the final 1/3 in FY1997.

Biological results achieved
Testing of completed screens using live fish indicates excellent performance that results insignificant losses or injury to juveniles.

Annual reports and technical papers
Conceptual plans are documented with Predesign Memoranda that serve as the basis for final design. Technical Work Group meeting dicsussions and decisions are documented in the minutes of the meetings. Biological evaluation and testing of completed screens has been documented at all Phase I sites and will continue at selected Phase II sites.

Management implications
Knowledge gained from observation, operation, and testing of completed facilities is used to refine and change design criteria and design details of new facilities.

Specific measureable objectives
All Phase II diversion sites will be screened to meet current design criteria for effective fish protection and fish passage by the year 2001. The target objectives of adequate juvenile fish passage are designed to meet three criteria which will: (1) reduce delay to a degree approaching zero; (2) reduce the possibility of injury to a degree approaching zero; and (3) allow fish to pass with little additional expenditure of energy.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints

Methods

Brief schedule of activities
Major tasks in FY1997 include ini tiation and continuation of predesign work at about 22 screen sites; prep a ration of final designs and specifications at about 15 screen sites; completion of c onstruction at 4 sites and initiation of construction at 6 additional sites. FY1998 - Complete construction at 5 sites & initiate construction at 10 additional sitesFY1999 - Complete construction at 9 additional sitesFY2000 - Complete construction at 4 additional sites and modifications at selected sites.

Biological need
Old screens do not meet current criteria for effective fish passage. As a result, many salmon and steelhead fry and smolts are injured at these facilities or are entrained into the irrigation canals and lost. These losses have been documented in studies of selected Naches and Yakima River screens and have been observed at various sites in the basin.

Critical uncertainties

Summary of expected outcome
Precise numerical estimates of fishery improvements attributable to the screening program are difficult to assess because of the lack of historical data and the many variables involved. The potential increases in returning adults with adequate fish passage and protective facilities installed at Phase I and II sites and with adequate instream flows, improved habitat conditions, and a hatchery is estimated at about 85,000 fish, of which half may escape and return to spawn.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Consolidation proposals at several diversions continue to delay construction of some new screens until final consolidation plans are made and funding secured. Water rights ajudication will delay construction at some sights because of uncertainties in selecting appropriate design flows. Difficulties in securing rights-of-way at some sites (particularly sites on the YIN reservation) has delayed and may continue to delay construction at some sites.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Selected Phase II sites will be evaluated using live fish to confirm the effectiveness of the new screens. Annual inspections by a multi-discipline team representing the different agencies and organizations on the Technical Work Group will monitor operation and maintenance activities.

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 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $1,500,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $1,500,000