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
Oregon Fish Screens Project

BPA project number   9306600

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
ODFW

Sponsor type   OR-State/Local Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Jay Marcotte, EWN 503/231-6962

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   7.6B

Short description
Installation & fabrication of fish screens in John Day, Umatilla, & Walla Walla Basins / Installation of DeNiel fish passage structures in the Trout Creek (Deschutes Basin), ensuring access for wild summer steelhead to habitat improved by BPA funded restoration efforts.

Project start year   1995    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1998

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
Fish Passage - Projects 9304200, 9304500, and 940400 share some equipment and personnel. Project 9304200 has provided habitat restoration work in Trout Creek.

Project history
Fish Screening: Through the State fish screening program and other federal moneys (BPA \ Mitchell Act) numerous fish screens and passage facilities have been installed in Eastern Oregon Basins. This Project will provide substantial protection and enhancement of anadromous and resident stocks in the John Day, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Basins.

Fish Passage: In the period between 1986 and 1994, BPA funded habitat improvement work in the Trout Creek Watershed. During that time, 132 miles of riparian fence. 4,764 habitat structures, 11 spring developments, 20,923 feet of bank stabilization, 35 fish screens, and 750 cubic yards of spawning gravel was installed to improve summer steelhead habitat in an effort to increase natural production.

This project will supplement this previous habitat work on Trout Creek by improving passage at 13 gravity diversion structures. Currently local landowners push up gravel berms annually to impound water to supply gravity diversions. These berms typically are installed with heavy machinery in April and are only removed by high water, usually in January. These berms delay or prevent upstream migration of adult steelhead, downstream migration of steelhead smolts, and the upstream migration of juvenile steelhead attempting to move upstream to cooler head waters as water temperatures increase in the summer.

Biological results achieved
It is well documented that fish screening of both pump and gravity diversions provide substantial protection for juvenile fish stocks. The enhancement of the Trout Creek Basin by the installation of DeNiel passage structures will greatly improve passage of wild summer steelhead at the thirteen gravity diversion sites throughout the mainstem of Trout Creek and allow these fish stocks to take full advantage of the improved habitat.

Annual reports and technical papers
Quarterly and annual reports regarding fish screening activities have been submitted to NMFS. Fish passage Progress reports and billings are due monthly.

Management implications
Properly constructed and maintained fish screens have been shown to be effective in protecting juvenile Chinook and steelhead stocks. The Fish Passage work on Trout Creek will improve access for salmonid stocks to critical habitat.

Specific measureable objectives
Complete the installation of modern fish screens on 15 - 25 gravity diversions and pump intakes in the listed Basins (see Short Description). The Trout Creek fish passage project will provide unobstructed passage for migrations of adults and juveniles to achieve full seeding and utilization of suitable rearing habitat.

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
None regarding the effectiveness of fish screening. The underlying assumption in the Trout Creek work is that by providing passage for adult , juvenile, and smolt wild summer steelhead and allowing access to restored habitat, the dwindling native steelhead population in Trout Creek will begin to rebound.

Methods
Fish Screening: The design and installation of effective fish screen devices is well understood.
Fish Passage:
1. Easements. ODFW will negotiate easements to allow construction of these passage structures on private lands. 2. Design. ODFW will perform design work and planning of these structures.
3. Construction. ODFW will contract the construction of the diversions and fish ladders.
4. Operation and Maintenance. ODFW will operate and maintain these diversions and fish ladders.

Brief schedule of activities
Fish Screening: 1997 through 2010 - Construction of approximately 30- 40 screens per year.
Fish Passage: 1997 through 2002 - Engineering and installation of diversion/fish ladder structures at the rate of two (2) per year. 2003 - Engineering and installation of final diversion/fish ladder structure.
1998 - 2008 - Operation and Maintenance of diversion/fish ladder structures.

Biological need
Fish Screening: Past monitoring in similar situations has documented that individual unscreened water diversions can result in the loss of large numbers of juvenile salmon and steelhead.
Fish Passage: The Trout Creek Basin supports a remnant population of natural producing wild summer steelhead. Summer steelhead produced in the Basin contribute to sport fisheries in the Deschutes and Columbia River. Trout Creek and its tributaries also support a locally important recreational resident trout fishery.
Steelhead production capacity of Trout Creek is estimated at 1,984 adults and 45,708 smolts (US v. Oregon - Trout Creek steelhead production report). Current spawner escapement, however, is estimated at <250 adults.
Adult steelhead are being blocked or detrimentally delayed on their upstream migration by the annual creation of the push-up irrigation water diversion barriers, resulting in the failure to seed suitable spawning and rearing habitat. Juvenile steelhead are likewise being blocked from suitable rearing habitat by these push-up irrigation diversion barriers.

Critical uncertainties
None for either fish screening or passage.

Summary of expected outcome
Fish screening efforts will increase the survival odds of juvenile salmonids in the John Day, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Basins. Likewise, fish passage structures in the Trout Creek system will increase successful steelhead spawning efforts and increase survival odds for juvenile steelhead and other salmonids by allowing them to migrate to suitable spawning rearing habitat.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
None for fish screening. The cooperation of the private landowners along Trout Creek is mandatory for a successful fish passage project. Preliminary discussions with affected landowners have been positive and supportive of the project so far.

Risks
None really for either type of works. Adverse weather may limit construction activities at times. Landowners also may have reasons for construction delays.

Monitoring activity
Construction, fabrication, and effectiveness of screening and passage structures are monitored on a monthly or more frequent basis.

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   $420,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $369,000