FY 2003 Columbia Cascade proposal 29015

Section 1. Administrative

Project location

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Outyear objectives-based budget

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Total estimated budget

Cost sharing

Other budget explanation

This is a joint project between the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) and the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) with the CCT acting as the lead. Preliminary planning for this project has already been conducted and final planning will be conducted as part of the above indicated cost share.

Reviews and recommendations

This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.

Comment:

This is a well-prepared proposal (initially presented as two proposals now combined, which would have included the Wenatchee subbasin) that is directed at the ultimate goal of reducing summer steam temperatures in the Okanogan subbasin through the CWA process. The ISRP notes that its previous reviews of proposals to use the FLIR technique were not clearly directed at the ultimate goal and had a predominant technology focus; this proposal is clearly focused on the end result. Part of the proposal is a straightforward and well-described plan to use a modern remote-sensing detection technique for obtaining temperature data over broad spatial and narrow temporal ranges (wide-area snapshot). The monitoring technique is valuable for identifying locations where thermal conditions change spatially, either by warming or cooling. The presumption is stated that one snapshot will be indicative of spatially varying conditions over much of the warm season even though actual temperatures will vary from day to day. Standard color aerial photos (taken simultaneously) are used in conjunction with the IR imagery to identify the habitat features related to temperature conditions. Rather than just providing pictures and numerical temperatures, however, the proposal would go the next step and incorporate the IR data, the in-situ calibration temperatures, and other temperature data into a model of water temperatures along the length of the study reaches. The model would then be used for TMDL assessments by WDOE. The proposal notes that this sort of work is already being done in Oregon and parts of the Mid-Columbia region (e.g., the Wenatchee subbasin) funded by other agencies.

The proposal meets the ISRP evaluation criteria. It makes good use of the Subbasin Summaries to justify the work, particularly the repeated statements that the waters are water quality (temperature) limited and listed under Clean Water Act 303(d). The work is specifically directed toward selection of remedial measures for such water quality exceedences, with a large benefit for fish. There are also good, specific references to the FWP, BiOp, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, and to CCT tribal goals. Related projects are listed specifically and discussed. There are clear objectives, tasks, methods and expected products for each phase of the work. The ISRP remains concerned that one IR over flight may not be sufficient to account for varying flows and other temporally varying factors, but acknowledges the high value of even one data set. The QUAL2K model might have been described in more detail, but it is a standard model used in water temperature analyses. Facilities and equipment are available from the contractors and used elsewhere. There is a good reference list accompanying the background and justification sections. Key personnel are clearly described in well-prepared resumes. The work is, of itself, of a monitoring nature with the measure of success being the follow-on monitoring that will be carried out by WDOE for the TMDL process (funded separately). There is excellent cost share, with $230,000 anticipated ($200,000 from WDOE) adding to the overall 2-year proposal cost to BPA of $261,654.

Comment:

Comment:

This is a well-prepared proposal (initially presented as two proposals now combined, which would have included the Wenatchee subbasin) that is directed at the ultimate goal of reducing summer steam temperatures in the Okanogan subbasin through the CWA process. The ISRP notes that its previous reviews of proposals to use the FLIR technique were not clearly directed at the ultimate goal and had a predominant technology focus; this proposal is clearly focused on the end result. Part of the proposal is a straightforward and well-described plan to use a modern remote-sensing detection technique for obtaining temperature data over broad spatial and narrow temporal ranges (wide-area snapshot). The monitoring technique is valuable for identifying locations where thermal conditions change spatially, either by warming or cooling. The presumption is stated that one snapshot will be indicative of spatially varying conditions over much of the warm season even though actual temperatures will vary from day to day. Standard color aerial photos (taken simultaneously) are used in conjunction with the IR imagery to identify the habitat features related to temperature conditions. Rather than just providing pictures and numerical temperatures, however, the proposal would go the next step and incorporate the IR data, the in-situ calibration temperatures, and other temperature data into a model of water temperatures along the length of the study reaches. The model would then be used for TMDL assessments by WDOE. The proposal notes that this sort of work is already being done in Oregon and parts of the Mid-Columbia region (e.g., the Wenatchee subbasin) funded by other agencies.

The proposal meets the ISRP evaluation criteria. It makes good use of the Subbasin Summaries to justify the work, particularly the repeated statements that the waters are water quality (temperature) limited and listed under Clean Water Act 303(d). The work is specifically directed toward selection of remedial measures for such water quality exceedences, with a large benefit for fish. There are also good, specific references to the FWP, BiOp, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, and to CCT tribal goals. Related projects are listed specifically and discussed. There are clear objectives, tasks, methods and expected products for each phase of the work. The ISRP remains concerned that one IR over flight may not be sufficient to account for varying flows and other temporally varying factors, but acknowledges the high value of even one data set. The QUAL2K model might have been described in more detail, but it is a standard model used in water temperature analyses. Facilities and equipment are available from the contractors and used elsewhere. There is a good reference list accompanying the background and justification sections. Key personnel are clearly described in well-prepared resumes. The work is, of itself, of a monitoring nature with the measure of success being the follow-on monitoring that will be carried out by WDOE for the TMDL process (funded separately). There is excellent cost share, with $230,000 anticipated ($200,000 from WDOE) adding to the overall 2-year proposal cost to BPA of $261,654.

Comment:

Comments
Given the extent to which Okanogan River temperatures are influenced by factors in Canada, not clear whether project will improve conditions. However, developing better understanding of US influence may be worth while.

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? Yes

Comment:

Comment: