FY07-09 proposal 199701501

Jump to Reviews and Recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleImnaha River Smolt to Adult Return Rate and Smolt Monitoring Project
Proposal ID199701501
OrganizationNez Perce Tribe
Short descriptionThis project will estimate total juvenile emigrant abundance, smolt survival and smolt-to-adult return rates (SAR) of wild/natural chinook salmon and steelhead at Lower Granite and McNary Dams and support the Smolt Monitoring Program and NEOH M&E Projects
Information transferThe Department takes seriously the need to make primary data and meta data available within the region (ISRP 2005). This project will result in the collection of extremely valuable data given society’s monetary investment and the important management questions to be answered. Hence, the volume and complexity of information gathered through the monitoring and evaluation activities will need to be compiled and organized in a systematic manner. It will involve archiving monitoring data, integrating data from different co-manager M&E activities, and making the data accessible in local and regional databases. For these reasons it is imperative that data management receive careful attention. In addition to annual reports posted to the BPA website, we will utilize project specific and region-wide databases that have been developed to centralize data associated with widely used data collection activities and standardized performance measures. The Nez Perce Tribe website (www.nezperce.org/~dfrm/research) will house a standardized database for primary data, description of meta-data, and summary/annual reports related to this project. Appropriate components of program data and results will be provided to the following websites: Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), including: PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS), and the Regional Mark Information System (RMIS); StreamNet, CSMEP, and Northwest Environmental Data Network (NED; when functional). The Tribe currently is coordinating with the Columbia River InterTribal Fish Commission to seek additional Streamnet funds which would be dedicated for the Nez Perce Tribe to make project data more readily available. Publication of a data summary for all standardized performance measures will be provided every 5 years.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Brian Michaels Nez Perce Tribe [email protected]
All assigned contacts
Jay Hesse Nez Perce Tribe [email protected]
Brian Michaels Nez Perce Tribe [email protected]
Brian Michaels Nez Perce Tribe [email protected]
Jason Vogel Nez Perce Tribe [email protected]

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Blue Mountain / Imnaha

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
45º45'48 116º44'52 Imnaha River North of the town of Imnaha at Cow Creek Bridge, rkm 7.

Section 3. Focal species

primary: Chinook Snake River Spring/Summer ESU
primary: Steelhead Snake River ESU

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments
2005 Operated the trap for approx. 120 days of emigration data. We estimated post-release survival of hatchery chinook smolts, survival and arrival timing of chinook and steelhead smolts at various dams. PIT Tagged approx. 24,000 smolts. Report in progress.
2004 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 23,577 smolts. Completed and uploaded 2003 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D00004004-3.pdf).
2003 Operated trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of steelhead/chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 24,751 smolts. Completed and uploaded 2000-03 Annual Reports to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D00004004-1.pdf, www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D00004004-2.pdf).
2002 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 20,000 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1999 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D30423-8.pdf).
2001 Operated the trap and reported 136 days of emigration data to the FPC and BPA. We estimated post-release survival of hatchery chinook smolts, survival and arrival timing of chinook and steelhead smolts at various dams. PIT Tagged 19,819 smolts.
2000 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 17,759 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1998 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D30423-5.pdf).
1999 Operated the trap and reported 115 days of emigration data to the FPC and BPA. We estimated post-release survival of hatchery chinook smolts, survival and arrival timing of chinook and steelhead smolts at various dams. PIT Tagged 15,526 smolts.
1998 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 12,921 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1997 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D38906-18.pdf).
1997 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 8,137 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1996 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D38906-13.pdf).
1996 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 5,859 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1995 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D38906-6.pdf).
1995 Operated juvenile emigration trap, calculated arrival timing and survival of hatchery and natural steelhead and chinook smolts. PIT Tagged 2,691 smolts. Completed and uploaded 1994 Annual Report to BPA (www.efw.bpa.gov/Publications/D38906-4.pdf).
1994 Operated the trap and reported 92 days of emigration data to the FPC and BPA. We estimated post-release survival of hatchery chinook smolts, survival and arrival timing of chinook and steelhead smolts at various dams. PIT Tagged 5,078 smolts.

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 199403300 Fish Passage Center Provide PIT tag data for emigration studies (arrival time, travel time, and survival)
BPA 198712700 Smolt Monitoring By Non-Feder Provide PIT tag data and fish groups for emigration studies (comparative survival studies)
Other: USFW 0002644 Lower Snake River Compensation Project Share crew time at the trap facility in exchange for operating two adult weirs in nearby streams (Lighting and Cow Creeks) during the spring emmigration period.
BPA 198805301 Ne Or Hatchery Master Plan - N Monitoring of hatchery fish survival from acclimation facility to the trap site.
BPA 200303600 CBFWA Monitor/Eval Program Quantifying standardized performance measures utilized for basin-wide analyses

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance Quantify the total juvenile emigrant abundance of natural and hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead emigrating from the Imnaha River Basin. Performance Measures Quantified: Age-at-emigration, Size-at-emigration, Juvenile emigrant abundance, Condition of juveniles at emigration and Smolt equivalents Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing. 2B4: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of hatchery and natural production strategies. 4A2: Evaluate Imnaha subbasin-specific
2: Quantify Chinook and steelhead emigrant timing Quantify the Imnaha River natural and hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead emigrant timing from the Imnaha River to Lower Granite. Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, and McNary Dam in coordination with the Fish Passage Center (or replacement agency). Performance Measures Quantified: Mainstem arrival-time and emigration timing Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing. 2B4: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of hatchery and natural production strategies
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information Provide real time smolt monitoring information to fisheries managers and the public through the Fish Passage Center’s (FPC) Smolt Monitoring Program (or entity replacing the FPC) Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing. 2B4: Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of hatchery and natural production strategies. 4A1: Evaluate and update ongoing effort
4: Quantify life-stage survival to LGD -MCN Quantify the Imnaha River natural and hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead life-stage survival from the Imnaha River to Lower Granite Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, and McNary Dam. Performance Measures Quantified: Juvenile survival to Lower Granite Dam and Juvenile survival to all mainstem dams Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing.
5:Quantify and monitor Chinook and steelhead SARs Quantify and monitor Imnaha natural Chinook salmon and steelhead smolt to adult returns (SAR). SARs from Imnaha to Lower Granite Dam (LGD), and LGD to LGD. Performance Measures Quantified: Smolt-to-adult return rate and Adult escapement to Snake Basin Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing. 1A2: Continue annual monitoring of escapement. 1A4 Utilize a mix of hatchery and natural production strategies. 2B1: Maximize
6: Determine temperature and flow measurements Determine status and trends of temperature and flow in the Imnaha River. Performance Measures Quantified: Water temperature and Instream flow Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing.
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities It is imperative that planning, communication, and coordination of the monitoring and evaluation activities occur in order to communicate program findings to resource managers for the successful implementation of the SMP program. An annual Statement of Work (SOW) will guide activities and will be based on performance measure evaluation presented in the NEOH M&E Plan and integrated into the PISCES format. Imnaha 1A1: Participate in province and basinwide coordinated studies designed to examine mortality associated with migration timing. 1A2: Continue annual monitoring of escapement. 2B1: Maximize hatchery effectiveness in the subbasin. 2B3: Implement artificia

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation Ensure Environmental Compliance Requirements Have Been Met Submit SOW and supporting documents as needed for BPA's Environmental Compliance Group to determine environmental compliance status. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $9,563
Biological objectives
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Coordination Attend Smolt Monitoring and Fish Production Coordination Meetings Attend regional, inter-agency and intra-agency coordination meetings. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $9,563
Biological objectives
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Manage and Administer Project Perform all necessary functions to manage and administer the project. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $133,880
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
2: Quantify Chinook and steelhead emigrant timing
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
4: Quantify life-stage survival to LGD -MCN
5:Quantify and monitor Chinook and steelhead SARs
6: Determine temperature and flow measurements
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Provide Technical Review Local and Regional Smolt Monitoring Project Planning Participate in reviewing and preparing juvenile fish monitoring and survival studies associated with the Fish Passage Center. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $9,563
Biological objectives
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Produce Annual Report Annual Report Submit 2007 annual reports for contract periods 1/1/2007-12/31/2009. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $38,252
Biological objectives
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Produce Status Report Quarterly Reports Submit quarterly status reports to superiors. Prepare update reports that are submitted on a quarterly basis within 15 days at end of quarters ending in March, June, September, and December that provides information on project activities for the previous quarter. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $19,126
Biological objectives
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data Analyze Length and Weight Data Analyze length and weight data for each FCAP release group. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $38,252
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring
Analyze/Interpret Data Analyze PIT Tag Data Analyze PIT tag data for all Imnaha River release groups. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $38,252
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Collect PIT Tag Data Collect PIT tag codes and associated tagging session data for release groups PIT tagged at the lower Imnaha trapping site. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $128,802
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
2: Quantify Chinook and steelhead emigrant timing
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
4: Quantify life-stage survival to LGD -MCN
6: Determine temperature and flow measurements
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Status and Trend Monitoring
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Operate Juvenile Screw Trap Operate juvenile screw traps in the Imnaha River to monitor juvenile chinook salmon and steelhead emigration. Record data on fork length, weight, number of juveniles captured, and marked fish recaptured to estimate brood year production. This WE will be conducted concurrently with WE 158 to provide marked fish to compute migration estimates. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $389,621
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
Metrics
Focal Area: Tributaries, Hydrosystem, Hatchery
Disseminate Raw/Summary Data and Results Disseminate Summary Reports Disseminate various data summary reports and presentation at workshops, training as required to coordinate program activities. Coordinate activities and share project information through attendance and participation in professional meetings (e.g., AFS, CBFWA Implementation Reviews, NPCC) and meetings with other regional monitoring and evaluation programs. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $28,689
Biological objectives
3: Provide real time smolt monitoring information
7: Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities
Metrics
Install Fish Monitoring Equipment Install Screw Traps and Adult Weirs Install and remove juvenile screw trap (s) in the Imnaha River to monitor juvenile fish emigration. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $9,563
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
Metrics
Mark/Tag Animals PIT Tag Hatchery and Natural Origin Chinook and Steelhead Tag or mark fish to obtain survival data, trap efficiencies, and population estimates. Provides for PIT tags to be detected at both juvenile and adult monitoring facilities in the Columbia River basin. Juveniles are PIT tagged in a number proportional to the daily catch. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $128,806
Biological objectives
1: Quantify total juvenile emigrant abundance
Metrics
Focal Area: Tributaries, Hydrosystem, Hatchery
Submit/Acquire Data Download River Flow and Temperature Data Download flow and temperature data for locations on the Snake and Imnaha rivers. Data is gathered for annual report as well as to correlate fish movement to environmental conditions. 1/1/2007 12/31/2009 $9,563
Biological objectives
6: Determine temperature and flow measurements
Metrics
Submit/Acquire Data Upload/Download PIT Tag Data to/from the PTAGIS Database PIT tag files for Imnaha Chinook Salmon and steelhead interrogation and release groups will be uploaded to the PTAGIS database, queried and reports downloaded to local database/spreadsheet. 2/1/2007 12/31/2009 $28,689
Biological objectives
2: Quantify Chinook and steelhead emigrant timing
4: Quantify life-stage survival to LGD -MCN
5:Quantify and monitor Chinook and steelhead SARs
Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Personnel 3.6 FTEs $153,642 $162,404 $171,166
Fringe Benefits FICA, FUTA, SUTA, Workmans Compensation, Medical, Life Insurance, Voluntary 401-K. $64,124 $66,221 $68,318
Travel Admin Travel, field per diem, project coordination $6,098 $6,281 $6,464
Other GSA Vehicles $5,988 $6,168 $6,347
Overhead Computers, Communications, Rent, Equipment Lease $6,323 $6,512 $6,702
Supplies Supplies, Materials, Repair, Maintenance, Field Supplies $6,600 $6,799 $6,997
Capital Equipment no capital equipment expenditures expected $0 $0 $0
Other Hiring and Training $600 $618 $636
Other Indirect costs (29.64 %) $72,136 $75,583 $79,029
Other Pit Tags purchased by BPA $9,476 $9,476 $9,476
Totals $324,987 $340,062 $355,135
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $1,020,184
Total work element budget: $1,020,184
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Personnell, GSA Vehicles, Travel, Materials, Supplies, PIT tags $214,554 $220,990 $227,621 Cash Confirmed
Totals $214,554 $220,990 $227,621

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $335,152
FY 2011 estimated budget: $335,152
Comments: Budget assumes a 4.62% annual increase, based off of previous years budget

Future O&M costs: Future operations include primarily crew time to operate and maintain the trap. Future maintenance include primarily trap and trapping equipment (computers and PIT tag tables) maintenance. Each of these issues are covered under the 4.62% annual budget increase.

Termination date: Unknown
Comments: There are no specific temination plans. This monitoring program is considered to be a long-term monitoring and evaluation (M&E) program tied to both hatchery and natural production within the Imnaha River subbasin. One of the primary values of this program is the long-term dataset which allows for status and trend monitoring.

Final deliverables: Continued long-term monitoring. Quantification of key performance measures as required by NEOH and utlilized by FPC (or replacement entity) and Regional M&E projects such as CSMEP

Section 10. Narrative and other documents

199701501response.doc 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 Fund Pending Available Funds
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$0 $0 $0 $0 ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Response requested

NPCC comments: This proposal adequately outlines a project for several fish collection activities potentially useful in monitoring and evaluation. The proposal was not clear on how the sixobjectives – really tasks – under F explicitly link with aquatic objectives. As the proposal is drafted, the "Objectives:" under F are tasks to be undertaken, not objectives, in the sense that counting fish through traps, tagging fish, and getting counts at dams are not objectives, but methods. A response is requested that establishes a linkage between what is proposed to be done and how these actions relate to the overall objectives. The project history and accomplishments in measurable terms are documented in the proposal. However, evaluation of results and their management implications are not clear. A response should address this issue.


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: Viewed in the context that this is essentially a data collection project, the rationale for the presentation of tasks as objectives is understandable. The proposal as constructed must be viewed not as a research investigation per se but a data supply project. The response does an adequate job of showing how the data collected by this project are applied through other analyses and inform management decisions. Interpretation of the data is acknowledged by the presenters as probably someone else's primary responsibility, or is at least outside of the scope of this proposal. However, the sponsors should remain vigilant on staying current on how the information is being used in management decisions to ensure that they are collecting the highest priority data. The proposal is fundable on that basis.