BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal

Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE

see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations

Section 1. Summary

Title of project
North Fork John Day Area Riparian Fencing

BPA project number   9303800

Short description
Resetting and construction of seasonal electric fence and construction of barb wire exclosure fence.

Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
USDA Forest Service, Umatilla National Forest

Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Section 2. Goals

General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; increases run sizes or populations; provides needed habitat protection

Section 3. Background

Stream area affected

Stream name   North Fork John Day River tributaries
Stream miles affected   60
Subbasin   John Day River
Land ownership   Public
Acres affected   2,000

History
The project was proposed in 1993 to determine if seasonal electric fence would make effective livestock exclosures for riparian protection. The technique has proven effective and the project has expanded in scope to more sites and to include permanent fence construction.

Biological results achieved
Project monitoring has shown that electric fence at remote locations can be effective livestock exclosures. Water temperature, photo point, and fish observational monitoring is being conducted to document the effects of plant community and aquatic habitat recovery.

Project reports and papers
Progress reports are due bi-monthly and Opac billings are due quarterly.

Adaptive management implications
Since 1993, approximately 76 miles of seasonal electric fence has been constructed to protect an estimated 60 miles of riparian habitat. Monitoring results from 1994 have documented a 98% effectiveness in excluding livestock from riparian areas. The riparian fence allows management the flexibility to protect multiple riparian sites and sites with investments while continuing to graze traditional areas.

Section 4. Purpose and methods

Specific measureable objectives
Riparian vegetation recovery resulting in improved water quality and recovery of degraded fish habitat.

Critical uncertainties
N/A - There are no critical uncertainties or risks associated with this ongoing project.

Biological need
The North Fork John Day River is home to the one remaining totally wild run of summer steelhead trout and spring chinook salmon within the Columbia basin. Portable electric fence and barb wire exclosures allow management to continue grazing traditional areas while protecting and restoring aquatic habitat.

Hypothesis to be tested
N/A - This project is not a study

Alternative approaches
Immediate construction of permanent fence was considered but rejected due to the high initial cost.

Justification for planning
N/A

Methods
Major project tasks in the years 1997 to 2000 include new barb wire fence exclosure construction, maintenance of existing barb wire exclosure fence, and resetting and maintenance of seasonal electric fence exclosures.

Section 5. Planned activities

Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
There are no known risks associated with implementing the project.

Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation

SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
The expected outcome of this project is the recovery of stream adjacent vegetation along selected reaches of tributaries of the North Fork John Day River. The recovery of stream adjacent vegetation will lead to improved aquatic habitat with the expected outcome of increased production of wild steelhead trout and spring chinook salmon. Improvements are expected in both spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead.

Present utilization and convservation potential of target population or area
Summer steelhead trout and spring chinook salmon wild stocks are depressed in number in the John Day basin. Steelhead are presently proposed for further study by National Marine Fisheries Service underr Endangered Species Act implementation.

Assumed historic status of utilization and conservation potential
Stocks were historically healthy and supported a Native American fishery.

Long term expected utilization and conservation potential for target population or habitat
Wild stocks of anadromous fish have an excellent potential for recovery because of their position low in the Columbia basin. They need only to negotiate three major dams on the main stem Columbia.

Contribution toward long-term goal
Increase production of wild salmon and steelhead. Reduce stream temperatures and stream width. Increase rearing and spawning habitat , macro invertebrate populations, dissolved oxygen, bank cover and stream cover.

Indirect biological or environmental changes
None known

Physical products
76 miles of seasonal electric fence to protect and restore 60 miles of riparian habitat along with the construction of up to 10 miles of permanent fence each year.

Environmental attributes affected by the project
Riparian vegetation recovery will indirectly result from livestock exclusion.

Changes assumed or expected for affected environmental attributes
No near term detrimental effects with long-term water quality and fish habitat improvement.

Measure of attribute changes
N/A

Assessment of effects on project outcomes of critical uncertainty
No critical uncertainties were identified

Information products
Annual accomplishment report

Coordination outcomes
Big game utilization study of grasses and hardwood shrubs is monitored for representative exclosures.

MONITORING APPROACH
Effectiveness of seasonal electric and permanent fence for protection of riparian areas by livestock exclusion is monitored during periodic operation checks as part of project implementation.

Provisions to monitor population status or habitat quality
Annual redd surveys are conducted jointly by ODFW and USFS.

Data analysis and evaluation
An annual monitoring report will be published.

Information feed back to management decisions
Information from annual monitoring has resulted in an increased emphais on permanent fence.

Critical uncertainties affecting project's outcomes
No critical uncertainties are identified.

Evaluation
Riparian vegetation recovery documented by photopoints and transect monitoring.

Incorporating new information regarding uncertainties
We have complete control of on-the-ground activities and could make adjustments during project implementation.

Increasing public awareness of F&W activities
Permittees grazing livestock on the National Forest and Forest visitors have already observed the effectiveness of exclosure fencing in promoting recovery of riparian vegetation. Recent lawsuits have focused a great deal of attention on riparian management in the John Day River basin.

Section 7. Relationships

Opportunities for cooperation
Projects could share skilled workers

Section 8. Costs and FTE

1997 Planned  $80,000

Other non-financial supporters
None

Continued implementation with a continued increase in the proportion of funding of operation and maintenance.

How does percentage apply to direct costs
[Overhead % not provided so BPA appended older data.] Total direct project costs