Piscivorous Avian Resource Utilization of Moses Lake and the Relationship to Other Systems proposal 199502800

FY07-09 proposal 199502800

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Piscivorous Avian Resource Utilization of Moses Lake and the Relationship to Other Systems
Proposal ID	199502800
Organization	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Short description	Recent findings lead us to believe predatory birds may be impacting the resident fishery of lakes within the Columbia Basin including Moses Lake and potentially anadromous fishes within the Mainstem Columbia.
Information transfer	Annual reports will be completed every year at the end of the contract period to present results and inform BPA of project status. Annual reports will also present data, analysis and recommendations should they be required. Annual Reports will be available on line or by request.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Dave Burgess	Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife	[email protected]
All assigned contacts
Dave Burgess	Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife	[email protected]
Jeff Korth		[email protected]
Matt Polacek	Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife	[email protected]
Katrina Simmons	WDFW	[email protected]

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Columbia Plateau / Crab

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
		[none]	Moses Lake, Washington. Secondary location will be dictated by bird migrations.

Section 3. Focal species

primary: All Wildlife
Additional: Primary species. Avian predors; Specifically common mergansers and double-crested cormorants and impacts on resident fishe and anadromous fishes of the Columbia Basin.

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments
2005	Diet analysis. FAST modeling of walleye population (55,000 > 400mm) and creel survey suggested low harvest. Proposed regulation change to WDFW to 12 inch min. 8 fish limit. Data from ML used to also change regs at Sprague and Potholes Reservoir.
2004	Analysis suggest winter-bottleneck. Sampled predators during winter months to increase sample size. Expanded entrainment efforts to both Moses Lake outlets. Preliminary analysis suggest high rates of non-native fishes from Moses Lake. Continue analysis
2003	Begain intensive tissue, data and bioenergetics analysis. Began entrainment surveys, carp telemetry and continued previous tasks. Produced limited annual progress report. Anticipated Completion report with significant analysis and findings 3/1/06
2002	Began tasks from newly accepted council proposal. Tasks included: predator, population estimate, continued diet analysis, invertebrate collections and analysis, creel survey, shoreline sampling, water quality monitoring. Limited annual progress report.
2001	Continued to collect diet data and conduct analysis. Additional 20K awarded for advisor. Contracted Dr. David Bennett and assisted him with proposal re-write. Completed previously unfinished Annual reports with limited analysis.
2000	ISRP issued a do not fund as the proposal was lacking. Went through proper channels to re-apply for funding. NWPPC recommendation was to hire and Advisor. 50 K Extension granted. Continued to collect pertinent data. Prelim. analysis: winter mortality
1999	This was the first year of data collections. We were able to perform basic analysis and produce standard indicies that helped direct our objectives. Submitted Scope of Work for continuation.

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
BPA	200102800	Banks Lake Fishery Evaluation	Water from Banks Lake enters Moses Lake via Crab Creek. Entrainment fish is high from Banks Lake which may influence the fish assemblage in Moses Lake.
BPA	199700400	Resident Fish Above Chief Joe	Waters from above the blocked area is flows into Moses Lake.
BPA	199702400	Avian Predation On Juvenile Sa	The new focus of the Moses Lake project will be to investigate the relationship between basin waters and avian predators. Are these same birds migrating between resident fish waters and waters containing anadromous fishes?

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy
Project administration and reporting	This will include the administrative duties required with such a project as well as applying for required permits. Annual reports will be produced for public and internal consumption.	None	This objetive is required prior to implementing the other objective, quantify impacts of avian predators.
Quantify impacts of avain predators	We will collect data pertinent regarding the relationship between avian predators and both resident and anadromous fishes within the Columbia Basin. This will be accomplished with sat. telemetry studies, as well as food habits analysis.	Lower Middle Columbia	Simply listed as Predation. We will be able to address avian predation issues in Moses Lake. There may be a direct relationship, or comparisons may be available regarding diet preference and consumption rates.
Quantify impacts of avian predators	We will collect data pertinent regarding the relationship between avian predators and both resident and anadromous fishes within the Columbia Basin. This will be accomplished with sat. telemetry studies, as well as food habits analysis.	Crab	Hyp. 1 Obj. 1.This area has a large mixed fishery. Data from this project will help implement predator exclusion zones to increase fish production.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element name	Work element title	Description	Start date	End date	Est budget
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation	Obtain necessary sampling and collection permits.	We currently have a migratory bird permit to collect 30 double crested cormorants. We will renew this permit and apply for additional permits to conduct the sampling we have proposed.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$18,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Additional administrative duties.	This task will include the day-to-day operations associated with project personnel, agency policy, purchases, additional inter- and intra-agency exercises and budget monitoring.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$60,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Pices reporting	Complete and enter status reports into BPA’s data base Pisces, regarding project schedules and contractual obligations being met.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$10,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Quarterly reports	Annual reports will be completed every year at the end of the contract period to present results and inform BPA of project status. Annual reports will also present data, analysis and recommendations should they be required. This will also be the appropriate time to request budget modifications or changes within the work plan.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$10,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics
Outreach and Education	Stakeholder presentations	As a state agency receiving federal monies it is our obligation to not only inform WDFW and BPA of our results but also the many concerned stakeholders that have personal and professional interests in our project. Consequently, some time will be spent presenting our information in public forums. These presentations will include the data and results contained within our annual reports.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$5,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics * # of general public reached: Annual Public Meeting
Produce Annual Report	Draft and Final Annual Reports to BPA	Annual reports will be completed every year at the end of the contract period to present results and inform BPA of project status. Annual reports will also present data, analysis and recommendations should they be required. This will also be the appropriate time to request budget modifications or changes within the work plan.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$300,000
Biological objectives Project administration and reporting			Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data	Compare stable isotope data (predicted) to the stomach contents of avian predators.	Compare prdicted (SIA) to observed (diet analysis) isotope signatures using an isotope mixing model.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$36,000
Biological objectives Quantify impacts of avian predators			Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Conduct stable isotope analysis of avian predators	Using tissue samples collected during stomach content analysis, we will determine the isotope signature of avian predators. A trophic web will be created using previously collected isotope data as well as newly collected data.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$71,000
Biological objectives Quantify impacts of avain predators			Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Enumerate significant avian predators utilizing Moses	Monthly, low level (< 500’) aerial waterfowl counts will be conducted on Moses Lake during 2006. Aerial surveys will be performed by one member of the Moses Lake project as well as an experienced WDFW waterfowl biologist to accurately count the total number of birds occupying Moses Lake.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$60,000
Biological objectives Quantify impacts of avain predators			Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Quantify stomach contents and consumption rates of avian predators	Using lethal methods we will collect stomach contents form avian predators on Moses Lake. This data will then be used to determine consuption rates.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$300,000
Biological objectives Quantify impacts of avain predators			Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Use satellite telemetry to track avian predators	Using relatively new technology we will track avian predators that have been captured on Moses Lake to determine their resource utilizations associated with temporal and spatial parameters.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$24,000
Biological objectives Quantify impacts of avain predators			Metrics Primary R, M, and E Type: Uncertainties Research

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Personnel	[blank]	$121,000	$121,000	$121,000
Fringe Benefits	[blank]	$42,000	$42,000	$42,000
Supplies	[blank]	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000
Travel	[blank]	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000
Capital Equipment	[blank]	$60,000	$60,000	$60,000
Overhead	[blank]	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000
Totals		$298,000	$298,000	$298,000

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$894,000
Total work element budget:	$894,000

Cost sharing

Funding source/org	Item or service provided	FY 07 est value ($)	FY 08 est value ($)	FY 09 est value ($)	Cash or in-kind?	Status
WDFW	Primary fish collections on Moses Lake	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000	In-Kind	Under Review
WDFW	Conduct water fowl counts 4 months of the year	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000	In-Kind	Under Development
Totals		$30,000	$30,000	$30,000

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $0
FY 2011 estimated budget: $0

Comments: There are two phases to this project. The implementation of phase 2 will depend on results and recommendations from phase 1.

Future O&M costs: The goal for the continuation of the Moses Lake Project is to assess the impacts of avian predators on the resident fishery within Moses Lake and the possible connectivity to other systems where native ESUs may potentially be impacted. Application of collected data and analysis. This phase will be implemented should avian predators appear to be deleteriously impacting resident and anadromous fishes.

Termination date:
Comments:

Final deliverables:

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

199502800n revised

Jul 2006

Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget	FY08 budget	FY09 budget	Total budget	Type	Category	Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0	$0	$0	$0	Expense	ProvinceExpense	Do Not Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0	$0	$0	$0		ProvinceExpense
Comments: No subbasin plan

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: This is, in reality, a new project. The proposal uses an ongoing project number but is essentially new. The title is new, and the work proposed was never mentioned in the original scope of work. This proposal is inadequate in several respects and does provide confidence that this would be a successful project. There is an inadequate match to subbasin objectives. The literature review is fairly restricted and does not make a convincing case for avian control. Numerous relevant studies were not referenced: for example, Antolos, M., Roby, D. D., Lyons, D. E.; Collis, K.,Evans, A.F. Hawbecker, M., and B.A.Ryan.2005 Caspian tern predation on juvenile salmonids in the mid-Columbia River Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 134:466-480. The presence of mergansers and cormorants is indicative that forage fish are available and being consumed. A useful estimate of consumption would be generated quickly based upon a few metrics from the literature. The important issues involve the determination of (1) are "too many" fish being consumed, and (2) if so, what could be done that is effective and acceptable to the community. The proposal does not satisfactorily describe possible courses of action needed to deal with either of these issues.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Not fundable

NPCC comments: In the response, the project sponsor has not sufficiently altered the proposal or addressed the core concerns in the ISRP's assessment with sufficient detail to warrant a re-evaluation or change in recommendation. This is still an essentially new research project with a different focus than the previous fishery studies at Moses Lake. The proposed project will look at the effects of avian predation on Moses Lake and how these predators may travel and utilize the resources of the mainstem Columbia River. Although quantifying bird predation on salmonids is suggested in the Lower Columbia River Subbasin plan, it is neither part of the history of this project nor a part of the Crab Creek Subbasin plan. Existing data and activities already taking place by WDFW indicate that avian predators are known to be a problem in Moses Lake. It is not clear that determining the relative importance of juvenile salmon and other fishes in the diets of the avian predators utilizing Moses Lake is necessary prior to implementation of avian predator control activities. The ISRP's preliminary comments from June 1, 2006: This is, in reality, a new project. The proposal uses an ongoing project number but is essentially new. The title is new, and the work proposed was never mentioned in the original scope of work. This proposal is inadequate in several respects and does provide confidence that this would be a successful project. There is an inadequate match to subbasin objectives. The literature review is fairly restricted and does not make a convincing case for avian control. Numerous relevant studies were not referenced: for example, Antolos, M., Roby, D. D., Lyons, D. E.; Collis, K.,Evans, A.F. Hawbecker, M., and B.A.Ryan.2005 Caspian tern predation on juvenile salmonids in the mid-Columbia River Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 134:466-480. The presence of mergansers and cormorants is indicative that forage fish are available and being consumed. A useful estimate of consumption would be generated quickly based upon a few metrics from the literature. The important issues involve the determination of (1) are "too many" fish being consumed, and (2) if so, what could be done that is effective and acceptable to the community. The proposal does not satisfactorily describe possible courses of action needed to deal with either of these issues.