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
Kalispel Tribe Resident Fish

BPA project number   9500100

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Kalispel Tribe of Indians

Sponsor type   WA-Tribe

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Marcella Lafayette, EWP 503/230-3781

Biological opinion ID   None

NWPPC Program number   10.8B.8

Short description
Cutthroat trout and bull trout habitat and population assessment and enhancement. Largemouth bass supplementation and habitat implementation.

Project start year   1995    End year   

Start of operation and/or maintenance   1997

Project development phase   Implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
9106000 Kalispel-Pend Oreille Wetlands Acquisition (Kalispel Tribe Wildlife Project)
9990059 Yellow Perch Aquaculture Facility (Kalispel Tribe Resident Fish Project)
9990060 Joint Resident Fish Stock Status Assessment (Kalispel Tribe Joint Resident Fish Project)

Project history
Phase I Coordinator Position - Feasibility Study
Phase II Hatchery Component
A) Designed warm water hatchery located near Kalispel Indian Reservation.
Phase III Habitat Component
A) Habitat assessment and status of bull trout and cutthroat trout in priority tributaries of Box Canyon
Reservoir.
B) Recommendations for habitat improvements.
C) Implementation of recommendations.

Biological results achieved
A) Assessed habitat within priority tributaries to Box Canyon Reservoir.
B) Assessed bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout populations within these tributaries.
C) Recommended habitat improvements within priority tributaries.

Annual reports and technical papers
1995 annual report due end of March, 1996 Stream survey technical document (internal document, Kalispel Natural Resource Department)

Management implications
Beginning year of implementation. Following implementation 1996, adaptive management will be utilized based upon annual monitoring and evaluation. Based on numbers from fish and habitat assessment, subsequent monitoring and evaluation will indicate types of enhancement measures that are cost effective and provide the greatest benefits. This data will be applied to monitor the goals of the biological objectives.

Specific measureable objectives
Increase largemouth bass from a current 6 lbs/acre to a final target of 12 lbs/acre by 2003 (NWPPC 10.8B). Increase 0+ largemouth bass overwinter survival from current 0.4-3.9% to approximately 15-20% (NWPPC 10.8B). Attain densities (all age classes) of 9.8 bull trout/100m2 in the upper 1/3 of each major tributary system (NWPPC 10.8B). Attain population of 242,212 adult fish in 500 miles of suitable cutthroat trout habitat in tributaries to Box Canyon Reservoir (NWPPC 10.8B).

Testable hypothesis

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
Funding will be available for M & E, O & M, and implementation of projects.

Methods
Habitat Component:
Conduct habitat assessments on priority tributaries of the Box Canyon Reservoir, using a transect method. Identify limiting factors within the stream and determine stream restoration measures. Enhancement consists of riparian planting and fencing, and instream structures. Monitoring and evaluation of these enhancement measures will continue for at least 4 years. Through the bass habitat utilization study, determine which habitat structures are most conducive for bass overwintering survival. Hatchery Component: Construction of a low-cost/low maintenance largemouth bass hatchery. Two sloughs will be used for rearing.

Brief schedule of activities
Habitat Component:Monitor and evaluation of habitat enhancement projects. Monitor effectiveness of structures within study slough. Construct bass habitat structures for placement in Box Canyon Reservoir. Continue habitat assessments and snorkeling to determine bull trout and cutthroat trout populations. Remove exotic brook trout from Cee Cee Ah Creek. Hatchery Component: Begin production of largemouth bass.

Biological need
To protect, mitigate and enhance resident fish populations within Box Canyon Reservoir and its tributaries to reach the biological objectives adopted by the Northwest Power Planning Council.

Critical uncertainties
Funding will be available for M & E, O & M, and implementation of projects.

Summary of expected outcome
Increase the number of largemouth bass within Box Canyon Reservoir. Enhance the natural recovery process in disturbed reaches of streams, through riparian planting and fencing. Increase fish numbers through instream structures and riparian restoration.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
Cooperating with USFS for removal of exotic brook trout from Cee Cee Ah Creek. Opportunity for cooperation with local Trout Unlimited Chapter for help in installing instream structures. Cooperation with local bass club for structure placement in Box Canyon Reservoir. Environmental assessment to be completed in a timely manner.

Risks

Monitoring activity
Monitor and evaluate bass supplementation through annual sampling. Monitor and evaluate instream restoration and riparian restoration. Monitor and evaluate bass habitat structures and their effectiveness.

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   Resident Fish

Recommendation    Tier 1 - fund

Recommended funding level   $645,300

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $645,300