FY07-09 proposal 199705100
Jump to Reviews and Recommendations
Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Yakima Basin Side Channels |
| Proposal ID | 199705100 |
| Organization | Yakama Nation -YKFP |
| Short description | The Yakima Side Channels project strives to protect the most productive alluvial floodplains through acquisition. The upper watershed is experiencing unprecedented residential growth which threatens to seriously degrade watershed productivity. |
| Information transfer | The project is coordinated with resource agencies, land trusts and other interested parties. Successful projects, planning objectives, strengths and weaknesses of the project approach will be discussed with these groups, whcih include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kittitas Conservation Trust, Cascade Land Conservancy, NMFS, USFWS, USFS, BOR and others. |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator | |
Contacts
| Contact | Organization | |
|---|---|---|
| Form submitter | ||
| Kelly Clark | Yakama Nation -YKFP | [email protected] |
| All assigned contacts | ||
| Kelly Clark | Yakama Nation -YKFP | [email protected] |
| Scott Nicolai | Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation | [email protected] |
| melvin sampson | yakama nation | [email protected] |
Section 2. Locations
Province / subbasin: Columbia Plateau / Yakima
| Latitude | Longitude | Waterbody | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46.5475804435025 | -120.44436247454754 | Yakima River | Union Gap Reach |
| 47.03519789163838 | -120.61885066990028 | Yakima River | Kittitas Reach |
| 46.712514242697566 | -120.69474108363194 | Naches River | Lower Naches River |
| 47.18339334522594 | -120.9176318263268 | Yakima River | Cle Elum Reach |
| 47.19773484073441 | -121.06582727991434 | Yakima River; | Easton Reach |
Section 3. Focal species
primary: Chinook Mid-Columbia River Spring ESUprimary: Coho Unspecified Population
primary: Steelhead Middle Columbia River ESU
secondary: River Lamprey
secondary: Sockeye All Populations
secondary: Westslope Cutthroat
secondary: Freshwater Mussels
secondary: Western Brook Lamprey
secondary: Bull Trout
secondary: Rainbow Trout
secondary: Mountain Whitefish
Section 4. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishments |
|---|---|
| 2005 | YSC acquires Holmes property (50 acres) using non-BPA funds; A 6 acre inholding is purchased by BPA. YSC is awarded $527,500 SRFB cost-share for Easton Protection Phase II. NFWF grant secured for restoration. Appraisals completed for fuY 2005 acquisition. |
| 2004 | 67 acres protected in lower Naches with non-BPA funding, adjacent to previous acquisitions. YSC secures $127,000 cost share from SRFB. Within Year Request processed for pending projects. BOG recommends and BPA awards $100k for preacquisition work. |
| 2003 | BPA places hold on habitat acquistions. YSC seeks match funds from SRFB, RFEG, CRITFC-managed PCSRF and other sources.The Hanson Ponds project is finalized, providing over 1 mile of side channel habitat, LWD, and road abandonment in the Cle Elum Reach. |
| 2002 | Major protection effort completed: 96 acres in the Easton Reach adjacent to BPA Easton Acclimation Facility, 417 acres in the Cle Elum Reach adjacent to the Cle Elum Hatchery, 105 acres in the Naches Reach adjacent to protected property. |
| 2001 | Preacquisition activities on several properties (totalling 623 acres) including appraisals, surveys, pursuance of grant- match sources, landowner negotiations, and county conservation zoning applications. |
| 2000 | Union Gap Reach: 139 acres protected. Cle Elum Reach: 1/2 mile long side channel protected; 31 acres. Total habitat protected: ~171 acres. |
| 1999 | Wapato Reach: restoration activities on a 1/2 mile long shoreline. Planning initiated on the Hanson Ponds side channel reconnection project. |
| 1998 | Landowner outreach continues, project appraisals on targeted properties were conducted. Naches Reach: 60 acre parcel containing riverine wetlands and side channels acquired; strategically located adjacent to WDFW and other protected properties. |
| 1997 | The Yakima Side Channels project was created to purchase/protect prime floodplain and side channel habitat for salmon spawning and rearing. A landowner outreach campaign was launched to soliciat willing sellers of targeted properties, post 1996 flood. |
Section 5. Relationships to other projects
| Funding source | Related ID | Related title | Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 04-1680 | Holmes Floodplain Property Pro | Cost-Share for the subject YKFP Habitat protection project (completed fall, 2005). |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 04-1679 | Upper Yakima River Easton Reac | Cost-Share for YKFP Habitat protection project that would be implemnted via the subject proposal (proposed - contingent upon this request). |
| BPA | 198811525 | YKFP - Design & Construction | This proposal supports YKFP Design and Construction activities in the Yakima Subbasin |
| BPA | 199506325 | YKFP - Monitoring And Evaluati | Umbrella proposal for monitoring and evaluation of natural production, harvest, ecological and genetic impacts for spring chinook, fall chinook, and coho fisheries enhancement projects in the Yakima Basin. M&E results guide adaptive management decisions. |
| BPA | 199701325 | Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Pro | This proposal supports O & M of YKFP fish production facilities in the Yakima Subbasin. |
| BPA | 200001700 | Recondition Wild Steelhead Kel | Continue to test and evaluate methods to recondition steelhead kelts and/or transport them around hydo system, generate science-based management recommendations, and assist in their implementation to rebuild wild steelhead populations throughout the Columbia Basin. A large part of this work is conducted in the Yakima Subbasin. |
| BPA | 200306200 | Eval Repro Success Kelt Steel | This evaluation program is designed to investigate the reproductive success of hatchery-reared, natural-origin, and reconditioned kelt steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in three different evolutionary significant units (Upper Columbia, Mid Columbia, and Snake River) under natural conditions. The two major goals are 1) directly examine reproductive success in several streams; and, 2) replicate and evaluate kelt reconditioning procedures and protocols at a variety of locations. A large part of this work is conducted in the Yakima Subbasin. |
| BPA | 200107100 | Wapatox Water Rights Purchase | This project restored instream flow in the lower Naches (one of the YSC target reaches) by purchasing an instantaneous water right totaling approximately 350 cfs. |
| BPA | 200202200 | Big Creek Passage & Screening | This project improved passage and screening into Big Creek at the primary irrigation diversion. |
| BPA | 200202501 | Yakima Tributary Access & Habi | This project provides additional rearing and spawning habitat by restoring migratory passage into productive tributaries that were historically blocked by irrigation diversions. These areas are beyond the geographic limits of the subject proposal. |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 01-1256 | Cowiche Creek Barrier Removal | This provides cost-share for BPA project #200202501 |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 02-1614 | Snow Mtn Ranch Acq & Barrier R | Habitat protection and restoration in the middle reaches of Cowiche Creek, approximately 12 miles upstream of the confluence with the lower Naches River. This address habitat protection in a tributary reach not covered through the subject proposal. |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 04-1672 | NF Teanaway River Floodplain - | Protects riparian and instream flow through securing a conservation easement. This addresses habitat protection in an area not covered through the subject proposal. |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 04-1675 | YTAHP Lower Reecer Creek Fish | This provides cost-share for BPA project #200202501 |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | 04-1676 | YTAHP Wilson Creek Riparian Re | This provides cost-share for BPA project #200202501 |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | [no entry] | Lower Naches Critical Habitat Protection | Cost-Share for the subject YKFP Habitat protection project (completed fall, 2004). Note: this project is #02-1617, and is not listed under the drop down menu |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | [no entry] | Yakima Corrections Riparian Enhancment Team | This project provides low-cost labor and some materials for restoration at protected parcels in the lower Naches and Union Gap Reaches (Yakima County). Note: this project is #00-1714, and is not listed under the drop down menu. |
| PCSRF - WSRFB | [no entry] | Yakima and Naches Tributaries Rootwad | This provides cost-share for rearing habitat restoration in priority reaches. |
| Other: PCSRF - CRITFC | 2001-4-02 | Hanson Ponds Floodplain Restoration Project | This project restored side channel, wetland riparian and floodplain habitat in a priority reach. |
| BPA | 198812025 | YKFP Management, Data, Habitat | This project provides salaries and O&M for protected habitats. |
| Other: YRBWEP | [no entry] | Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Program | This program, managed by the USDI Bureau of Reclamation, restores normative riverine processes through water and land acquisition and irrigation improvements. Several protection projects have adjoined YSC projects. BOR staff report that it is unlikely that YRBWEP will fund additional habitat protection. |
Section 6. Biological objectives
| Biological objectives | Full description | Associated subbasin plan | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect priority floodplain habitat | Protect functional side channel/floodplain habitat within the priority reaches. | Yakima | Fee simple acquisition. Work with cooperating landowners, tribes, and public agencies through purchase, easement, and land use agreements to protect intact floodplain habitats and to secure lands for restoration. |
Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)
| Work element name | Work element title | Description | Start date | End date | Est budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Purchase | WE #5 Yakima Side Channel Project: Phase 1 | The Yakima Side Channels Project has protected 976 acres of intact, functional floodplain and side channel habitat in five priority reaches including the Easton, Cle Elum, Kittitas, lower Naches, and Unin Gap floodplain reaches. The goal of Phase 1 is to protect a total of 2,000 acres. This request will help YSC meet it's Phase 1 goal. | 10/1/2006 | 9/30/2009 | $3,000,000 |
|
Biological objectives Protect priority floodplain habitat |
Metrics * # of acres of new purchase/easement: 1024 |
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| Conduct Pre-Acquisition Activities | WE #6 Conduct pre-acquisition activities | Conduct appraisals, reviews, help in development of an MOA, real estate negotiations, survey/photogrammetry, GIS work, and relocation costs. | 10/1/2006 | 9/30/2009 | $150,000 |
|
Biological objectives |
Metrics |
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Section 8. Budgets
Itemized estimated budget
| Item | Note | FY07 | FY08 | FY09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Work Elements #5, #6 and associated TBL activities | $1,050,000 | $1,050,000 | $1,050,000 |
| Totals | $1,050,000 | $1,050,000 | $1,050,000 | |
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
| Total itemized budget: | $3,150,000 |
| Total work element budget: | $3,150,000 |
Cost sharing
| Funding source/org | Item or service provided | FY 07 est value ($) | FY 08 est value ($) | FY 09 est value ($) | Cash or in-kind? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Land Conservancy | pre acq work/cash match | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | Cash | Under Development |
| Kittitas Conservation Trust | pre acq work/cash match | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | Cash | Under Development |
| MCRFEG | acqusition cash match | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | Cash | Under Development |
| PCSRF | acquisition cash match | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | Cash | Under Development |
| SRFB | acquisition cash match | $556,000 | $0 | $0 | Cash | Confirmed |
| SRFB | acquisition cash match | $0 | $250,000 | $250,000 | Cash | Under Development |
| Trust for Public Lands | Appraisal, Negotiations | $50,000 | $0 | $0 | In-Kind | Confirmed |
| Totals | $726,000 | $370,000 | $370,000 | |||
Section 9. Project future
|
FY 2010 estimated budget: $1,000,000 FY 2011 estimated budget: $1,000,000 |
Comments: O&M provided by BPA project #198812025 |
Future O&M costs: Future operations and maintenance costs will minimal, as the properties are enrolled in open space taxation programs once secured (no property taxes); restoration is miminal (the habitat is typically in excellent condition, or requires little restoration); and the habitats are monitored and enforced by YN YKFP and WDFW as a co-manager.
Termination date: Unknown
Comments: Kittitas County is less than two hours from the Puget Sound metropolis, and was recently reported to be the second fastest growing area in Washington State. The project objective is to protect functional or easily restored floodplain habitat within five priority reaches, that collectively comprise 18% of the mainstem Yakima and Naches Rivers. Given inherent uncertainties (landowner willingness, shifting growth patterns), it is impossible to predict when this objective will be achieved.
Final deliverables: Permanent protection of the most productive floodplain reaches, to the extent possible given private landowner willingness to participate.
Section 10. Narrative and other documents
Reviews and recommendations
| FY07 budget | FY08 budget | FY09 budget | Total budget | Type | Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $46,666 | $46,666 | $46,666 | $139,998 | Expense | ProvinceExpense | Fund |
| NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs] | ||||||
| $46,666 | $46,666 | $46,666 | $0 | ProvinceExpense | ||
|
Comments: Funding for work element #6. Acquisitions should go through within-year request process. |
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ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This project focuses on how the Yakima Side Channels project will complete protection of approximately 1,024 acres of high quality salmonid habitat using conservation easements and acquisition as the conservation tools. The sponsors have a history of success in this important effort. The project history is well described. Principles that have guided project direction are clearly listed. The potential benefits to fish are clearly identified. Monitoring programs are in place by other agencies. It is not clear from this proposal where the data and meta data are stored. The responsibility for conveying results pertaining to fish seems to reside with others, but this is not well explained. The protocol for land acquisition is described and seems reasonable, but no effort to tie the acquisition directly to fish/wildlife populations is provided. Evidence that upstream effects have been considered in prioritizing purchases should be more clearly provided in the future. The proposal would be strengthened if measurable objectives were presented in more detail rather than in general statements about recovery from impacts and land acquisition metrics. Proposed information transfer is limited to communication with resource agencies, land trusts and other interested parties. It would be beneficial if successes and lessons learned concerning effective acquisition strategies could be shared with others in the region involved with protection of salmonid habitat.
ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)
Recommendation: Fundable
NPCC comments: This project focuses on how the Yakima Side Channels project will complete protection of approximately 1,024 acres of high quality salmonid habitat using conservation easements and acquisition as the conservation tools. The sponsors have a history of success in this important effort. The project history is well described. Principles that have guided project direction are clearly listed. The potential benefits to fish are clearly identified. Monitoring programs are in place by other agencies. It is not clear from this proposal where the data and metadata are stored. The responsibility for conveying results pertaining to fish seems to reside with others, but this is not well explained. The protocol for land acquisition is described and seems reasonable, but no effort to tie the acquisition directly to fish/wildlife populations is provided. Evidence that upstream effects have been considered in prioritizing purchases should be more clearly provided in the future. The proposal would be strengthened if measurable objectives were presented in more detail rather than in general statements about recovery from impacts and land acquisition metrics. Proposed information transfer is limited to communication with resource agencies, land trusts and other interested parties. It would be beneficial if successes and lessons learned concerning effective acquisition strategies could be shared with others in the region involved with protection of salmonid habitat.