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
Upper Yakima Species Interaction Studies

BPA project number   9506402

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
WDFW

Sponsor type   WA-State/Local Agency

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

BPA technical contact   Kelly Kittel, EWN 503/230-5199

Biological opinion ID   

NWPPC Program number   7.4K.1

Short description
This task is one of an integrated suite of tasks which, collectively, implement the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project. This task establishes the baseline status of resident trout, steelhead, and spring chinook salmon and associated species and implements experiments to help define the competitive and ecological interactions that may occur between resident trout and supplemented anadromous species. Key risk factors are identified in the context of target and on-target species objectives and monitoring procedures and plans are developed and implemented to assess ecological responses to supplementation.

Project start year   1989    End year   2005

Start of operation and/or maintenance   

Project development phase   implementation

Section 2. Narrative

Related projects
9506400 - The Intergovernmental Agreement "Yakima Fisheries Project Scientific and Management Services" which provides the contract for WDFW policy oversight and technical direction for this and other priority tasks within adaptive management framework of the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project.

9506401 -"Refinement of Marking Methods for the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project" is developing the marking technology necessary to identify project fish at the treatment replicate level and recover information about those fish by benign sampling. Evaluation of project objectives and success is dependent upon this assumption.

9506403 - "Development of the Genetic Management Framework for Upper Yakima Spring Chinook' provides the genetic management component, a complement to the ecological interactions component described above. Both are central to Project objectives as defined by the NPPC. Evaluation of project objectives and success is dependent upon this element.

950604 - "Policy/Technical Involvement and Planning in the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project" provides for WDFW policy and technical planning and coordination for the Project.

9506405 - "Further Development of the "NIT" and "LNIT" Strategies for the Yakima Fisheries Project" provides field testing and final definition of the new innovative treatments to be used for fish rearing to produce individuals with traits similar to their wild counterparts. Evaluation of project objectives and success is dependent on accomplishment of this element.

Project history
This task was initiated in 1989 to respond to NPPC and public comments to the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project Master Plan and, subsequently, the August, 1991 NPPC response to the Refined Goals and Objectives for the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project. The task now includes assessment of spring chinook interactions and monitoring planning consistent with the expected preferred alternative in the Yakima Fisheries Project Final EIS. Funding levels for the task have been:
FY 1996 $410,610
1/1/93 - 9/30/95 $991,422

Biological results achieved
This task has assessed and described characteristics of rainbow trout spawning activity in the mainstem and tributaries of the Yakima River above Roza Dam; developed a biological profile of resident trout spawning populations in tributaries and mainstem; estimated spatial and temporal overlap with resident trout, steelhead, and spring chinook; characterized the distribution and abundance of resident trout and spring chinook rearing; experimentally assessed potential for impacts of hatchery steelhead and spring chinook on resident rainbow trout.

Annual reports and technical papers
Hindman, J., G. McMichael, J. Olson, and S. Leider. 1991. Yakima River Species Interactions Studies. Annual Report FY 1990 submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. DOE/BP-01483-1. 75 pp.

McMichael, G., J. Olson, E. Bartrand, M. Fischer, J. Hindman, and S. Leider. 1992. Yakima River Species Interactions Studies. Annual Report FY 1991 submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. DOE/BP-01483-2. 177 pp.

Pearsons, T., G. McMichael, E. Bartrand, M. Fischer, J. Monahan, and S. Leider. 1993. Yakima Species Interactions Study. Annual Report FY 1992 submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. DOE/BP-01483-3. 98 pp.

Pearsons, T., G. McMichael, S. Martin, E. Bartrand, M. Fischer, and S. Leider. 1994. Yakima River Species Interactions Studies. Annual Report FY 1993 submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon. DOE/BP-99852-2. 247 pp.

Pearsons, T., G. McMichael, S. Martin, E. Bartrand, J. Long, and S. Leider. In progress. Yakima River Species Interactions Studies. Annual Report FY 1994 submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon.

McMichael, G. 1993. Examination of electrofishing injury and short-term mortality in hatchery rainbow trout. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 13:229-233.

Martin, S., J. Long, and T. Pearsons. 1995. Comparison of survival, gonad development, and growth between rainbow trout with and without surgically implanted dummy radio transmitters. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 15:494-498.

Management implications
The data gathered from baseline development and experimentation will be used to identify key ecological response indicators to be monitored and evaluated following introduction of supplementation fish as part of the YKFP adaptive management risk containment process.

Specific measureable objectives
- Determine spawning characteristics in 1997-1998
- Determine rearing characteristics in 1997-1998
- Determine smolt and presmolt production in 1997-1998
- Experimentally assess effects of hatchery and naturally produced spring chinook salmon on resident trout and steelhead
- Develop monitoring plan and experimental design for post-supplementation implementation.

Testable hypothesis
To be determined during 1996 monitoring plan development task.

Underlying assumptions or critical constraints
none identified

Methods
N/A

Brief schedule of activities
Baseline biological information and monitoring feasibility work will continue through 1997. Key ecological response variables will be used to develop specific post-supplementation monitoring and evaluation protocols. The task will evolve into monitoring ecological response variables after brood collection in 1997.

Biological need
To identify potential for ecological interactions associated with the YKFP and develop key response variables and monitoring plans to assess interactions as part of the adaptive management process.

Critical uncertainties
Critical uncertainties are presented in the Project Status Report; Vol. 3; Upper Yakima Spring Chinook, May, 1995.

Summary of expected outcome
Descriptive baseline of stock status, spawning characteristics, rearing characteristics, and productivity for rainbow trout, steelhead, and spring chinook salmon. Identification of key interaction potentials among target and non-target species following supplementation; a monitoring and evaluation plan to assess impacts of supplementation, contain risks, and evaluate ecological interactions.

Dependencies/opportunities for cooperation
The cooperating fishery managers on the YKFP are the Yakama Indian Nation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. A project management framework stipulates that project management is directed by a Policy Group consisting of representatives of the fishery managers. the USBOR is an interested party in the basin and several proposed monitoring facilities are operated by BOR. BPA is the funding entity and has the lead responsibility for NEPA document development and compliance. A Final EIS has been printed and announced in the Federal Register. A Record of Decision is scheduled for February 26, 1996. Biological Assessments are being processed by NMFS and USFWS. State of Washington SEPA requirements will be met by adoption of the NEPA EIS. Failure of one or more of these processes is unlikely but could delay construction of the Cle Elum Hatchery and delay implementation of the supplementation monitoring and evaluation plan.

Risks
No risks have been identified. Failure to implement the task represents risk of undetected ecological interactions and inability to meet the risk containment tenets agreed to by parties to the YKFP.

Monitoring activity
An initial monitoring plan is included in the FEIS. A detailed monitoring plan is being developed to include the following biological variables; ecological interactions, reproductive success, long-term fitness, post-release survival. This task contributes a major element of that plan.

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   $400,000

BPA 1997 authorized budget (approved start-of-year budget)   $423,000