FY 2003 Columbia Estuary proposal 30008

Section 1. General administrative information
Section 2. Past accomplishments
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
Section 4. Budgets for planning/design phase
Section 5. Budgets for construction/implementation phase
Section 6. Budgets for operations/maintenance phase
Section 7. Budgets for monitoring/evaluation phase
Section 8. Budget summary

Reviews and Recommendations

Additional documents

Title	Type
30008 Narrative	Narrative
30008 Sponsor Response to ISRP	Response
Appendix 1: Zydlewski et al., Temperature and smolt migration	Narrative Attachment
Appendix 2: Zydlewski, Enhanced smolt characteristics of steelhead trout exposed to alternative hatchery conditions during the final months of rearing	Narrative Attachment
30008 Powerpoint Presentation	Powerpoint Presentation

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Instream evaluation of populations, migration timing, individual adult return rates, and wild-hatchery interactions of 3 naturally produced salmonids
Proposal ID	30008
Organization	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Gayle B. Zydlewski
Mailing address	1440 Abernathy Creek Road Longview, WA 98632
Phone / email	3604256072 / [email protected]
Manager authorizing this project	Carl Burger, Center Director
Review cycle	Columbia Estuary
Province / Subbasin	Columbia Estuary / Elochoman
Short description	Evaluate distribution and abundance of juvenile and adult coho salmon, steelhead trout, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek using new PIT tag techniques.
Target species	steelhead trout, coho salmon, cutthroat trout

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
46.371	-123.2312	Abernathy Creek (mouth = 87 km from mouth of Columbia River)

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
193
188
174(#4)
107
184

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agency	Action #	BiOp Agency	Description
NMFS	Action 184	NMFS	The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work within regional prioritization and congressional appropriation processes to establish and provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for a hatchery research, monitoring, and evaluation program consisting of studies to determine whether hatchery reforms reduce the risk of extinction for Columbia River basin salmonids and whether conservation hatcheries contribute to recovery.
NMFS	Action 193	NMFS	The Action Agencies shall investigate state-of-the-art, novel fish detection and tagging techniques for use, if warranted, in long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts.
BPA	Action 174	NMFS	Working through regional prioritization processes to the extent feasible and in coordination with NMFS, BPA shall collaborate with the regional, state, Tribal, and Federal fish managers and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to enable the development and implementation of a comprehensive marking plan. 1. Develop a comprehensive marking strategy for all salmon and steelhead artificial production programs in the Columbia River basin by the end of 2001. 2. Provide funding by March 1, 2001, to begin marking all spring chinook salmon that are currently released unmarked from Federal or Federally funded hatcheries. 3. Provide funding, beginning in FY 2002, to implement the Action Agencies’ share of the comprehensive marking plan for production not addressed in (2) above. 4. Obtain funding contributions as appropriate for additional sampling efforts and specific experiments to determine relative distribution and timing of hatchery and natural spawners.
BPA	Action 184	NMFS	The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work within regional prioritization and congressional appropriation processes to establish and provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for a hatchery research, monitoring, and evaluation program consisting of studies to determine whether hatchery reforms reduce the risk of extinction for Columbia River basin salmonids and whether conservation hatcheries contribute to recovery.
BPA	Action 188	NMFS	The Action Agencies and NMFS shall work within the annual planning and congressional appropriation processes to establish and provide the appropriate level of FCRPS funding for studies of PIT-tagged wild stocks from the lower river streams. The studies shall be used to contrast stock productivity and hydrosystem effects.
BPA	Action 193	NMFS	The Action Agencies shall investigate state-of-the-art, novel fish detection and tagging techniques for use, if warranted, in long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts.

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishment
2001	Smolt monitoring at a screwtrap in Abernathy Creek (WDFW). Juvenile steelhead trout production is estimated at 11,000 fish. Juvenile coho salmon smolt production is estimated at 7,000 fish. Juvenile cutthroat trout production is estimated at 750.
2001	PIT tag interrogation infrastructure established in coordination with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) at Abernathy Fish Technology Center (AFTC).
2001	PIT tag interrogation infrastructure was established in coordination with PSMFC at a remote location on Abernathy Creek.
2001	An array of three antennae (stationary detectors) were built and permanently positioned at AFTC in coordination with Destron Fearing, USFWS Columbia River Fisheries Program Office, and Smith-Root, Inc.
2001	An array of stationary detectors were built and permanently positioned at a remote location on Abernathy Creek.
2001	Remote communications and computer connectivity between both stationary units were established with PSMFC so that all data are continuously updated to the PTAGIS database.
2001	Initiated PIT tag retention study for coho salmon using 3 different PIT tag sizes. For the 207 coho tagged (averaging 132 mm fork length) over the current period of the study (3 months) one fish lost a 23 mm tag and one died, tag retention rate = 99.0%.
2001	Initiated PIT tag retention study for cutthroat trout with 23 mm tags. For the 101 fish tagged the tag retention rate was 100%.
2001	Initiated evaluation of a portable back-pack unit for mobile detection of PIT tagged fish.
2001	In October 2001 juvenile steelhead trout (1200 individuals) have been captured, PIT tagged and are being continuously monitored for movements from tagging location to stationary detectors on Abernathy Creek.
2001	In October 2001 juvenile and adult cutthroat trout (450 individuals) have been captured, PIT tagged and are being continuously monitored for movements from tagging location to stationary detectors on Abernathy Creek.
2001	In October 2001 seven juvenile coho salmon were captured, PIT tagged and are being continuously monitored for movements from tagging location to stationary detectors on Abernathy Creek.
2001	To date 42 individuals (steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, and coho salmon) have migrated 1-10 km downstream from all but the uppermost section of Abernathy Creek.
2001	Detection efficiencies at the remote site are optimized and approximate 100%. Efficiencies at the AFTC site are not optimized but are approximated to be greatere than 50% detection of all fish passing at any water level.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
198331901	New PIT Tag monitoring equipment	Both studies are working together to provide new and different PIT tag monitoring technology
199701501	Imnaha Smolt Survival and Smolt to Adult Return Rate Quantification (formerly the Imnaha Smolt Monitoring Program)	Researchers of the Imnaha Project hope to implement the technologies established in the current proposal. Results from this proposal will be important for their establishment of smolt emigration monitoring.
199008000	Columbia Basin PIT-Tag Information Systems	The current proposal will be providing information for the databases established by PSMFC in project #199008000. PSMFC has helped establish the infrastructure required for continuous connectivity to the database.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost
1. Determine abundance and natural production of juvenile, smolt and adult salmonids in Abernathy Creek	a. Monitor freshwater life history characteristics of naturally spawned juvenile steelhead trout, coho salmon, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek.	5	$2,197
1. Determine abundance and natural production of juvenile, smolt and adult salmonids in Abernathy Creek	b. Monitor adult return of juveniles PIT tagged in Task a.	5	$17,000
3. Evaluate novel tagging techniques for long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts	a. Evaluate effects of tag size on fish survival, growth, and physiology.	1	$10,000
3. Evaluate novel tagging techniques for long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts.	b. Evaluate effects of tag size on fish behavior.	2	$6,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Abundance and natural production of salmonids in Abernathy Creek Task a	2003	2007	$20,000
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task b	2004	2007	$4,000
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task c	2004	2005	$8,000

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$16,075	$4,017	$4,017	$4,017

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost	Subcontractor
1. Determine abundance and natural production of juvenile, smolt and adult salmonids in Abernathy Creek.	a. Monitor freshwater life history characteristics of naturally spawned juvenile steelhead trout, coho salmon, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek.	5	$34,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Abundance and natural production of salmonids in Abernathy Creek Task a	2003	2007	$100,000
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task b	2004	2006	$6,834
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task d	2004	2005	$8,576
3. Evaluate novel tagging techniques for long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts Task b	2003	2004	$28,000

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$57,620	$18,492	$18,492

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost	Subcontractor
1. Determine abundance and natural production of juvenile, smolt and adult salmonids in Abernathy Creek.	a. Monitor freshwater life history characteristics of naturally spawned juvenile steelhead trout, coho salmon, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek.	5	$54,000	Yes
3. Evaluate novel tagging techniques for long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts	a. Evaluate effects of tag size on fish survival, growth, and physiology.	1	$8,900

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Abundance and natural production of salmonids in Abernathy Creek Task a&b	2003	2007	$223,912

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$48,388	$62,743	$59,728	$53,053

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2003 cost	Subcontractor
1. Determine abundance and natural production of juvenile, smolt and adult salmonids in Abernathy Creek.	a. Monitor freshwater life history characteristics of naturally spawned juvenile steelhead trout, coho salmon, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek.	5	$81,643	Yes
3. Evaluate novel tagging techniques for long-term research, monitoring, and evaluation efforts	b. Evaluate effects of tag size on fish behavior.	2	$25,000

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1. Abundance and natural production of salmonids in Abernathy Creek Task a	2003	2007	$281,000
1. Abundance and natural production of salmonids in Abernathy Creek Task b	2003	2007	$120,320
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task b	2004	2006	$174,210
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task c	2004	2005	$21,306
2. Compare biological and ecological interactions of hatchery and wild fish Task d	2004	2005	$25,326

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006	FY 2007
$218,562	$205,966	$181,980	$104,250

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2003 cost
Personnel	FTE: 1.0 GS 7 1.25 GS 5 0.1 GS 11 0.25 GS 12	$78,706
Fringe	35%	$27,547
Supplies		$26,000
Indirect	overhead 34%	$44,966
NEPA		$0
PIT tags	# of tags: 6700	$15,075
Subcontractor	Smith-Root, Inc.	$6,500
Subcontractor	Destron Fearing	$15,000
Subcontractor	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife	$19,946
Subcontractor	Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission	$5,000
		$238,740

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2003 cost	$238,740
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2003 budget request	$238,740
FY 2003 forecast from 2002	$0
% change from forecast	0.0%

Cost sharing

Organization	Item or service provided	Amount	Cash or in-kind
Abernathy Fish Technology Center, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Longview, WA	GS12 time	$10,000	in-kind

Reviews and recommendations

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

REVIEW:
ISRP Preliminary Review (ISRP 2002-2)

Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate

Date:
Mar 1, 2002

Comment:

A response is needed. This is a complex proposal with several loosely related components. The sponsors propose to 1) assess the abundance and life history diversity of steelhead, coho, and cutthroat trout in Abernathy Creek using several different population assessment techniques including stationary remote PIT tag detection; 2) evaluate differences between wild juvenile steelhead and hatchery fish in migration timing, "microhabitat use," downstream movement in test tanks, and physiological characteristics; and 3) evaluate the effects of PIT tag size on survival, growth, physiology and downstream movement. The proposal is essentially an aggregate of these different components and the connection between them is not clear. Each component could itself constitute the basis of a stand-alone proposal. The proposal needs to be more integrated. The sponsors need to succinctly state the major contribution of the work as a whole, how the component objectives are interrelated and supportive of each other, and why they should be grouped together and not be submitted as separate proposals. There are a number of methodological details that need to be expanded and clarified. For objective 1, where are the detection stations located? How will winter survival be quantified? How will parr-smolt recruitment be determined? How will the number of residualized fish be determined? Objective 2 is broad and vague. This objective needs to be sharpened so that it is clear just what the sponsor is trying to accomplish. What is "microhabitat" and how will microhabitat preferences be determined? How will "interactions" between hatchery and naturally produced fish be determined?

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
May 17, 2002

Comment:

This project may also be considered in the Mainstem and Systemwide Province. Some portions may be funded under that province. NMFS has identified this project as a BiOp project.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2002-11)

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Jun 7, 2002

Comment:

Fundable at medium priority. Without knowledge of proposal 30003 this proposal appears unfocused; it makes sense only as part of an assessment of supplementation of steelhead by a hatchery population. The objectives of understanding salmonid stocks in Abernathy Creek and developing and understanding the PIT tag methods are best justified in support of that assessment. The study design is competent and the study site seems well suited to the research. The ISRP remain unconvinced, however, that habitat preference can be assessed by simply watching natural fish, and that the interaction of hatchery and wild fish can be observed by simply mapping the distribution of wild fish before hatchery fish are released. There is not enough information to give reviewers confidence that the project will produce valuable results.

REVIEW:
NMFS Review

Recommendation:

Date:
Jul 19, 2002

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit to ESU
Benefits are Indirect. A broad research and monitoring program based on PIT tag technology for a wide variety of applications. Specifically, the project proposes to assess life history variation and hatchery/wild interaction via PIT tagging.

Comments
Very broad program, not clear of the objectives, how they relate to each other, and how the information gathered will be used. LC SH are not an FCRPS Biop ESU.

Already ESA Req? No

Biop? No

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
C

Date:
Jul 23, 2002

Comment:

This project should be deferred to allow for coordinated development of a Status Monitoring Plan. See comment on proposal number 30003.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Do Not Fund

Date:
Oct 30, 2002

Comment: