FY 2003 Middle Snake proposal 32001

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

Reason for change in estimated budget

NA

Reason for change in scope

NA

Cost sharing

Reviews and recommendations

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

Comment:

The proposal justifies the project on the grounds of measures in the 1994 Fish and Wildlife Program, stocking needs for the three DVIR reservoirs, and a perceived need to relieve fishing pressure on native stream-dwelling redband trout in the DVIR streams. The status of redband trout (i.e., distribution and abundance) on the DVIR is not presently known. Indeed, the presence of redband trout on the DVIR has yet to be demonstrated; it is in fact the purpose behind Project 200007900. That project plans to inventory trout in DVIR streams, and to collect tissue samples from observed trout specimens to determine if redband trout populations exist on the DVIR that are not hybridized with rainbow trout as a result of the widespread indiscriminate stocking of rainbow trout through much of the west during the 20th century.

If Project 200007900 identifies redband trout as present on the DVIR in numbers sufficient for brood stock collection, this project proposes to construct a state-of-the-art artificial production facility that could serve as a model for other similar facilities used in native fish programs. The difficulties of bringing native wild trout into medium- to large-scale aquaculture are enormous and technically challenging, as the rearing conditions and diets developed for semi-domesticated stocks of rainbow trout are often not adequate for wild redband or cutthroat trout. The proposal does not adequately address these potential difficulties. If redband trout are not present on the DVIR, then the facility would be devoted to growing rainbow trout for stocking into the three DVIR reservoirs, and presumably would not need to be as state-of-the-art.

As noted in the ISRP Final 3-Step review of the now-terminated Joint Culture Facility, it is premature to consider an artificial production facility for the DVIR until the results of the stock and genetic inventory project are known (Project 200007900). These results would provide direction about the scale and sophistication of the production facility, as well as insights as to whether the facility is needed at all. As noted above, a more modest facility may meet the proposal objectives if production focuses on rainbow trout, rather than redband trout.

A cost-benefit analysis should be employed to shed additional insight into the need and justification for the facility and proposed program. Program needs may be met as economically through annual purchase of needed fish. Current annual expenses to produce rainbow trout for stocking two DVIR reservoirs are cited at $130K; with the stocking of Lake Billy Shaw, the third reservoir, those costs would likely approach $200K annually. Construction costs (estimated at roughly $2 million) and projected annual operations and maintenance costs (projected at $200K/yr) should be weighed against the estimated costs of purchasing rainbow trout for stocking over some timeframe (10, 20, 30 years). Numerous commercial aquaculture operations exist along the Snake River near Hagerman, Idaho, from which rainbow trout could likely be obtained.

Finally, most of the implementation steps outlined in the proposal call for RFPs rather than for direct involvement by DVIR staff. How will oversight be provided to ensure quality control and appropriate designs? What criteria will be used to evaluate potential subcontractors and to evaluate their proposals? After construction, will the facility and staff also be run by subcontractors or by DVIR staff?

Comment:

Comment:

As noted in the ISRP Final 3-Step review of the now-terminated Joint Culture Facility, it is premature to consider an artificial production facility for the DVIR until an inventory of stock status and genetic status is completed for resident salmonids in DVIR streams and watersheds. These results would provide direction about the scale and sophistication of the production facility, as well as insights as to whether the facility is needed at all.

Comment: