S Idaho Wildlife Mitigation proposal 199505700

FY07-09 proposal 199505700

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	S Idaho Wildlife Mitigation
Proposal ID	199505700
Organization	Idaho Department of Fish & Game
Short description	This is for on-going coordination within the Council's CBF&W Program; and for operation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation at wildlife mitigation properties previously acquired with BPA funding, for the Southern Idaho Wildlife Mitigation project.
Information transfer	Project tracking and reporting in Pisces
Proposal contact person or principal investigator

Contacts

Contact	Organization	Email
Form submitter
Bob Martin	Idaho Department of Fish & Game	[email protected]
All assigned contacts
Bob Martin	Idaho Department of Fish & Game	[email protected]

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Upper Snake / Snake Upper

Latitude	Longitude	Waterbody	Description
		Upper Snake River vicinity	The Upper Snake Province, and 8 properties ranging from Rice property in the west to Deer Parks and Quarter-Circle-O in the eastern Snake Upper Subbasin and Winterfeld easement in the Snake Headwaters subbasin..

Section 3. Focal species

primary: All Wildlife
Additional: Bald eagle (breeding), bald eagle (wintering), elk/mule deer, greater sage-grouse, mallard, Canada goose, mink, river otter, black-capped chickadee, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse.

Section 4. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishments
2005	Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties. Presently, there are 8 properties totalling 5,715 acres, providing 11,566 HUs, at an acquisition cost of $7,891,432. Coordinate activities within Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.
2004	Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties. Coordinate activities within Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. Continue work to resolve BPA's issues with tribal mitigation.
2003	Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties. Coordinate activities within Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. Work to resolve BPA's issues with tribal mitigation.
2002	Acquire Allen ($283,800, 511 HUs) and Horkley ($336,000, 219 HUs) segments of Deer Parks Complex, and acquire Rice property ($901,632, 1,063 HUs). Continue O & M & M & E at previously acquired properties. Begin interim O & M at these new properties.
2001	Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties. Work with interagency/tribal groups on new mitigation implementation, including assisting Shoshone-Bannock Tribes with their SIWM projects.
2000	Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties. Work with interagency/tribal groups on new mitigation implementation.
1999	Acquire Boyle segment of Deer Parks complex ($5.2 million, 6,918 HUs), and Krueger property (Middle Snake province, $339,893, 69 HUs). Continue O & M & M & E at previously-acquired properties, and begin at these new ones.
1998	Acquire Quarter-Circle-O property ($260,000, 1,254 HUs), Menan property ($220,000, 317 HUs), and Beaver Dick property ($465,000, 901 HUs). Conduct operation and maintenance and monitoring and evaluation activities.
1997	Work with interagency/tribal groups. Acquire Winterfeld conservation easement for IDFG management ($225,000, 383 HUs), acquire Kruse conservation easement for Teton Regional Land Trust management ($310,000, 813 HUs); and implement Weed Project (499 HUs).
1996	Establish interagency/tribal working groups for each federal hydro project. Develop MOU's and plan for mitigation implementation. Coordinate activities within Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding source	Related ID	Related title	Relationship
BPA	199505701	S Idaho Wildlife Mitigation	O & M for the BPA-purchased Krueger property in the Middle Snake Province is administered under the same IDFG program.
BPA	199505702	S Idaho Wildlife Mitigation	Mitigation implementation and O&M for some BPA-purchased properties are cooperatively coordinated with this Shoshone-Bannock project.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectives	Full description	Associated subbasin plan	Strategy
Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc.	1. Manage water levels to benefit loafing, nesting, feeding, and brood rearing habitat for waterflowl, colonial waterbirds, shorebirds, and other aquatic focal species and their habitats.	Upper Snake	III. A. 1. b, c, and e
Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock.	2. Minimize impacts to native bunch grasses and forbs from livestock graing and maintiand diverse shrub-steppe canopy cover.	Upper Snake	IX. A. 2. a.
Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower	From the NW Power Act and NWPCC's Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.	Upper Snake	Numerous
Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas.	1. Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas.	Upper Snake	II.B.1.d)
Protect ... rip/wet areas impacted by recreation.	Recreation activities can damage riparian and wetland areas.	Upper Snake	II. E. 1. a and b.
Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest	Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest.	Upper Snake	II. A) a) through j).
Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing.	Protect, enhance, and restore riparian and wetland habitats where they are being impacted by grazing activities.	Upper Snake	II. D. 1. c.
Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat	1. Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitats.	Upper Snake	IX. A. 1. b.
Reduce the impact of invasive plant species...	Reduce the impact of invasive pland species on native species and ecosystems.	Upper Snake	II. 5. b, d, e, f, g.
Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats	A. Mountain brush regeneration.	Upper Snake	VIII. A. 1. a.

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 environmental compliance clearance	Required work under NEPA, ESA, CWA, NHPA, etc.	10/1/2007	9/30/2009	$91,059
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Create, Restore, and/or Enhance Wetland	Obliterate and rehabilitate ditches	This is necessary wetland protection work to reverse the wetland-draining ditches installed by private landowners previous to BPA acquisition of the properties. The primary work will be at the Rice property, with large areas to be benefited.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$45,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing.			Metrics * # of acres treated: To be determined
Plant Vegetation	Control noxious weed populations through plantings	At all properties, these are plantings intended to out-compete noxious weeds, while the plantings also provide forage/cover for wildlife.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$60,000
Biological objectives Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species...			Metrics * # of acres of planted: 70 ac @ Deer Parks, 40 ac @ Rice, 50 ac @ QCO
Remove vegetation	Prevent or control wildfires through vegetation removal	This is selective vegetation management to reduce the chances of fire ignitions and the spread of undesirable fires into mitigation area wildlife habitat.	10/1/2007	9/30/2009	$12,000
Biological objectives Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species... Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Remove vegetation	Protect habitat and HUs through control of noxious weeds	For all properties, this is the selective application of integrated pest management methods, including spraying, physical removal, introduction of biological agents, etc.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$150,000
Biological objectives Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species... Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics * # of acres treated: Survey 5,293 ac. Treat as needed.
Maintain Vegetation	Maintain previously planted vegetation	This includes operating and maintaining existing irrigation systems, including pivot sprinklers, handlines, ditches and canals, water control structures, wells, and pumps, and maintenance of water rights. It also includes 2 new center pivots during 2007-2008 to replace decaying delapidated equipment at Deer Parks.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$222,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species... Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage	Maintain fences and gates	Inspect fences and gates on the property to determine if they require maintenance. Complete necessary maintenance as required to protect habitat from undesireable livestock grazing and recreational impacts. Inspect, maintain, and operate water control structures to maintain open-water habitat, wetlands, and plantings.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$63,000
Biological objectives Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species... Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Remove Debris	Remove fence	This is to remove barriers to wildlife and eliminate fence maintenance costs at the Rice and Quarter-Circle-O properties.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$9,000
Biological objectives Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas.			Metrics
Coordination	Coordination	For all properties, this is the necessary coordination and cooperation required with other agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, sportsmens groupd, the public, elected officials, intra-agency, and others in order to complete contract requirements, comply with MOA's, MOU's, and coordinate activities with CBFWA, BPA, ISRP, and NWPCC.	10/1/2007	9/30/2009	$108,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Prevent future loss of riparian/wetland areas. Protect ... rip/wet areas impacted by recreation. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Protect, enhance, and restore shrub-steppe habitat Reduce the impact of invasive plant species... Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects	Manage and administer the contract and tasks included in the contract	For all properties, this is required to ensure contract compliance and performance.	10/1/2007	9/30/2009	$63,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Mitigation...for effects to wildl. from hydropower Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Produce Plan	Finalize management plan	This is for annual updating and amending of existing management plans for all properties, in order to document project changes and apply adaptive management.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$9,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Produce Annual Report	Annual Report	Contract requirement for all projects.	10/1/2007	9/30/2009	$15,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Produce Status Report	Produce quarterly status reports	Contract requirement for all projects.	10/1/2006	9/30/2007	$25,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Collect data on recreational use	This is necessary to ensure that public needs are met to the extent possible without jeopardizing the primary purpose of mitigation properties to protect target wildlife species' Habitat Units.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$13,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics Focal Area: @ Deer Parks; and other properties incidentally.
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Collect vegetation data	Required under the Council's Program, to monitor the baseline conditions of mitigation properties and the effects of management.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$112,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data	Collect wildlife data	Required under the Council's Program, to monitor the baseline conditions of mitigation properties and the effects of management.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$160,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics
Develop RM&E Methods and Designs	Develop site-specific monitoring plan and methods	Contract requirement for all properties, including monitoring of vegetation and wildlife, and monitoring Habitat Units with the Habitat Evaluation Procedure.	10/1/2006	9/30/2009	$22,000
Biological objectives Manage H2O levels to benefit waterfowl, etc. Minimize impacts to bunchgrasses from livestock. Protect and enhance the riparian cottonwood forest Protect rip/wet areas .. impacted by grazing. Restore, enh., and protect mountain brush habitats			Metrics

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget

Item	Note	FY07	FY08	FY09
Personnel	[blank]	$109,060	$112,802	$116,596
Fringe Benefits	[blank]	$35,881	$37,112	$38,360
Supplies	[blank]	$123,000	$126,690	$130,491
Travel	[blank]	$5,500	$5,781	$5,864
Capital Equipment	[blank]	$76,000	$71,000	$26,000
Overhead	[blank]	$51,297	$52,975	$54,650
Totals		$400,738	$406,360	$371,961

Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets

Total itemized budget:	$1,179,059
Total work element budget:	$1,179,059

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
Totals		$0	$0	$0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $390,559
FY 2011 estimated budget: $390,559

Comments: Assumes a 5% annual inflation rate.

Future O&M costs: These costs are for operation and maintenance of properties previously acquired by BPA, and they include the costs of monitoring, evaluation, and coordination within the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.

Termination date: N/A
Comments: This ongoing work is required under Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program guidance for BPA to provide reasonable funding for operation, maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation at previously acquired wildlife mitigation properties.

Final deliverables: Wildlife mitigation habitat units protected in perpetuity.

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]
$400,738	$406,360	$371,961	$1,179,059	Expense	ProvinceExpense	Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$400,738	$406,360	$371,961	$0		ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This proposal cites more appropriate literature than most wildlife proposals and demonstrates an emphasis on use of science in management. The authors clearly stated the problem. The ISRP wonders whether the proposed acquisitions link to other current or future parcels, perhaps under other ownership, that create a landscape level habitat network. Is there such a thing here, or could there be? The objectives are generally clear and measurable, but timelines are continuous. Work elements regarding monitoring protocols are especially clear and appear sound. Focal species’ links to the landscape are not presented. Persistence of benefits to fish and wildlife is implied, given continuing support. Could some of these sites become more self sustaining, for example, convert irrigated sites to native vegetation? It is not clear that monitoring data already being collected for prior acquisitions have been evaluated for adaptive management and achievement of Program goals. Information transfer is not mentioned, nor any published outputs. By the next review this proposal should report monitoring results in biological terms and applications for adaptive management based on the results.

ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable