Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Williams Ranch Fish and Wildlife Acquisition Project |
| Proposal ID | 32018 |
| Organization | Burns Paiute Tribe (BPT) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
| Name | Daniel Gonzalez |
| Mailing address | HC 71 - 100 Pasigo St. Burns, Oregon 97720 |
| Phone / email | 5415731375 / [email protected] |
| Manager authorizing this project | Daniel Gonzalez |
| Review cycle | Middle Snake |
| Province / Subbasin | Middle Snake / Malheur |
| Short description | Acquisition will expand, restore and enhance habitat for the purpose of fish and wildlife management and will replace critically important habitat for the persistance of T&E, sensitive and culturally important fish, wildlife and plant species. |
| Target species | Big Horn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, American Antelope, Sage Grouse, California Quail, Migratory Birds (raptors and watergowl), Bull Trout, Redband Trout and other resident fish. |
Project location
| Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|
| 43.8273 |
-118.6586 |
T 22 S, R 37 E. Project site encompases over 9000 deeded acres and holds permits to 50,000+ acres of BLM allotments on the North Fk and South Fk Malheur River |
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)
Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:
| Reviewing agency | Action # | BiOp Agency | Description |
|---|
Section 2. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishment |
|---|
| 2001 |
Made efforts to begin negotiations with landowner and realtor. |
| 2001 |
Sought assitance form TNC and TPL to secure property |
| 2001 |
Began coordinating management possiblities with ODFW and BLM |
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
| Project ID | Title | Description |
|---|
| 200002700 |
Malheur Wildlife Mitigation Project |
Fish and wildlife mitigaiton - within 5 miles if proposed project |
| 200000900 |
Logan Valley Wildlife Mitigation Project |
Fish and wildlife mitigation - upper watershed |
| 199701900 |
Evaluation of the Life History of Native Salmonids in the Malheur Basin |
Redband and bull trout research - Subbasin Effort |
| 200000900 |
Securing Wildlife Mitigation Sites - Oregon |
Oregon wildlife mitigation umbrella project - ID GAP analyses |
Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Pre-acquisition |
a. Federal appraisal |
1 |
$17,000 |
Yes |
|
b. NEPA Analyses (BPA and BPT) |
1 |
$5,000 |
|
|
c. Complete consultation with regulatory agencies i.e. SHIPO, USFWS, ODFW |
1 |
$5,200 |
|
|
d. Purchase - Title Co., leagal council, documentation i.e. MOA with BPA , escrow and deed transactions, meetings etc. |
1 |
$10,000 |
|
| 2. Baseline Analyses |
a. HEP Surveys |
1 |
$8,000 |
|
|
b. Data analyses and write up |
1 |
$16,000 |
|
| 3. Plan Development |
a. Compile and gather necessary data and information to formulate a working plan |
1 |
$42,000 |
|
|
b. Coordinate advisory group |
1 |
$10,000 |
|
|
c. Plan write up - draft and final |
1 |
$72,000 |
|
|
d. Coordinate management with BLM and ODFW on allotments |
1 |
$22,000 |
|
|
e. Coordinate with ODFW on the management of adjacent state lands |
10 |
$4,692 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| 1. Annually update management plan |
2004 |
2007 |
$10,000 |
| 2. Coordinate with all federal and state agencies that are involved in the active management of the project site |
2004 |
2007 |
$5,000 |
| 3. Coordinate with advisory group, local governments and watershed councils on annual activities, accomplishments and future strategies |
2004 |
2007 |
$5,000 |
| 4. Coordinate with Tribal Council, elders and youth on educational activities/opportunities for tribal members and the community at large. |
2004 |
2007 |
$5,000 |
| 5. Coordinate with BLM to extend exisitng MOU on managememt coperation between the Tribe and BLM on the allotment permits to reflect new acquisiton |
2004 |
2005 |
$5,000 |
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $30,000 | $25,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| Willimas Ranch Aqcuisition |
a. Complete MOA with BPA |
1 |
$5,000 |
|
|
b. Complete Hazardous Material Survey |
1 |
$5,000 |
|
|
c. Complete Title, escrow and deed transactions |
1 |
$2,020,000 |
|
|
d. Purchase Property negotiatoins with Union Pacific, BLM and Division of State Lands |
1 |
$7,000 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| 1. Maintain boundary fences |
2004 |
2007 |
$10,000 |
| 2. Screen irrigaiton ditches and sturctures |
2004 |
2007 |
$10,000 |
| 3. Gradual restoration of meadow communities to native vegetaion with respect to invasive weed and undesirable species management |
2004 |
2010 |
$52,000 |
| 4. Restore upland and sagebrush step communities by reducing AUM's and negotiating pasture retirements with federal agencies |
2004 |
2010 |
$8,000 |
| 5. Maintain existing fences along South Fk Malheur (ODFW) property (15 miles) to eliminate trespass livestock in wildlife areas |
2005 |
2010 |
$22,000 |
| 6. Manipulate and maintain irrigation ditches to properly irrigate floodplain and meadow vegetation (irrigation practices may change once a detail investigation is conducted and assessed) to benefit terrestrial and aquatic species. |
2004 |
2007 |
$16,000 |
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $100,000 | $90,000 | $90,000 | $90,000 |
Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Maintain native plant communities and habitat diversity |
a. Restore and maintain vegetative communities |
10 |
$0 |
|
|
b. Enhance plant structural diversity |
|
$0 |
|
|
c. Increase forage quality for wildlife |
|
$0 |
|
|
d. Contain and eradicate weed infestations |
|
$0 |
|
| 2. Enhance and maintain culturally important plants |
a. Locate and protect culturally significant plant populations |
10 |
$0 |
|
|
b. Design management prescriptions that will promote plant vigor and propagation of these species |
|
$0 |
|
| 3. Maintain the historical distribution of dry and wet meadow types |
a. Establish methods of irrigation that mimic natural flooding regimes and water table levels |
10 |
$0 |
|
| 4. Restore stream channel morphology and functions to proper functioning conditions |
a. Prevent channel down cutting |
10 |
$0 |
|
|
b. Stabilize stream banks |
|
$0 |
|
|
c. Reestablish woody species where appropriate |
|
$0 |
|
| 5. Provide opportunities to involve interested parties both locally and regionally |
a. Seek cooperation with neighboring landowners, agency personnel, special interest groups, and other interested parties |
10 |
$0 |
|
|
b. Use the mitigation site as a regional demonstration site for habitat enhancement. |
|
$0 |
|
| 6. Maintain field office and onsite facilities and structures |
a. Utilize existing structures for field offices and facilities for working staff |
10 |
$10,500 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| 1. Maintain native plant communities and habitat diversity |
2004 |
2007 |
$36,000 |
| 2. Enhance and maintain culturally important plants |
2004 |
2007 |
$5,000 |
| 3. Maintain the historical distribution of dry and wet meadow types |
2004 |
2007 |
$30,000 |
| 4. Restore stream channel morphology and functions to proper functioning conditions |
2004 |
2007 |
$30,000 |
| 5. Provide opportunities to involve interested parties both locally and regionally |
2004 |
2005 |
$3,600 |
| 6. Maintain field office and onsite facilities and structures |
2004 |
2005 |
$10,000 |
| 7. Achieve and maintain healthy plant communities that are relatively weed resistant while meeting wildlife habitat objectives |
2004 |
2007 |
$6,000 |
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $120,600 | $110,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Monitor response to fish and wildlife populations with change in management and enhancement activities (ODFW, USGS, OSU & BPT) |
a. gather baseline data on existing ungulate population |
10 |
$0 |
|
| 2. Monitor the changes in vegetation over time on upland and meadow communities
(BPT& BLM) |
a. Frequency, cover, density and biomass will be used as indicators of habitat quality and quantity |
10 |
$0 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| Monitor ungulate response to management changes on aquired and leased lands (removing cattle and increasing forage quality and quantity). Coordinate with ODFW, USFWS and BLM |
2005 |
2010 |
$10,000 |
| Monitor fish popualations and response to management activities (once every 3-5 years) |
2005 |
2010 |
$30,000 |
| Monitor the changes in vegetation in upland and meadow communities over time with management changes and activities. |
2005 |
2010 |
$45,000 |
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Section 8. Estimated budget summary
Itemized budget
| Item | Note | FY 2003 cost |
|---|
| Personnel |
FTE: 2.5 |
$90,000 |
| Fringe |
28% |
$25,200 |
| Supplies |
Office supplies, ATV, general equipment |
$18,000 |
| Travel |
30,000 @ $.345/mile x 2 vehicles |
$20,700 |
| Indirect |
28% |
$43,092 |
| Capital |
acquisition, leagal council, title company, |
$2,020,000 |
| NEPA |
5,000 |
$5,000 |
| Subcontractor |
Appraisal |
$15,000 |
| Other |
Annual Vehicle Lease x 2 |
$22,400 |
| $2,259,392 |
Total estimated budget
| Total FY 2003 cost | $2,259,392 |
| Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds | $0 |
| Total FY 2003 budget request | $2,259,392 |
| FY 2003 forecast from 2002 | $0 |
| % change from forecast | 0.0% |
Cost sharing
| Organization | Item or service provided | Amount | Cash or in-kind |
|---|
| Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife |
On site management, fish and wildlife inventories, planning, designing and implementation of management plan. Coordinated management of adjacent state lands |
$80,000 |
in-kind |
| Bureau of Land Management |
On site management of allotments, planning, designing and implementation of management plan |
$25,000 |
in-kind |
| Bureau of Reclamaiton |
Fish surveys and assessments on North Fk. Malheur River below Beulah Reservoir |
$30,000 |
cash |
| The Nature Conservancy |
Assist with management plan, design and implementation and possibly acquisition retainer |
$15,000 |
in-kind |
| US Fish and Wildlife Sercvice |
Fencing material to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat - ongoing coperative agreement |
$10,000 |
cash |
Reviews and recommendations
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate
Date:
Mar 1, 2002
Comment:
A response is needed. This project appears fundable as an acquisition. This is valuable wildlife habitat that borders the Warm Springs reservoir and 16.6 miles of South Fork Malheur River. It would link up with ODFW held lands on the Malheur River, protect bighorn sheep habitat, and allow for better grazing enforcement on fenced property in the area for the benefit of fish and wildlife habitat. There must be detailed monitoring and evaluation plans in the "Objectives, tasks and methods" section. We note that this is not a new requirement. The FY200 review of acquisition proposals included the following ISRP statement "Subsequent funding for monitoring and evaluation contingent on development of a clear plan for monitoring and evaluation with criteria to evaluate efforts."
The review comments concerning M&E in Proposal #200000900 apply.
The area contains an unregulated section of the South Fork of the Malheur, which is planted with hatchery rainbow trout and often supports a viable recreational fishery, in spite of occasional dewatering in low water years. What are the plans for the use of the water rights associated with property? Can they provide instream flow for the portion of the South Fork of the Malheur that is occasionally dewatered and through the Jones Property to the Snake River Reservoirs? The sponsors should also investigate Oregon water law to determine if instream flow rights from the Logan Valley Project can be extended below Warm Springs Reservoir.
Resumes of the principal investigators should be provided.
Recommendation:
High Priority
Date:
May 17, 2002
Comment:
Proposed work is located in "core" bull trout habitat as identified by the USFWS. Sponsors will provide information regarding what facility mitigation would be credited to during the CBFWA review. The BPT has provided the following information regarding the crediting questions that CBFWA had: MOA between the Burns Paiute Tribe and BPA Page (1)C. The Tribe has developed the Logan Valley and Malheur River Projects, collectively called the Malheur River Basin Project (Project), to assist BPA in fulfilling its wildlife mitigation obligation. A legal description of the Project is in Attachment A of this Agreement. In addition, at some future date the parties may wish to expand the scope of the Project to include other property .If the other property is added to the Project, its acquisition and management shall be pursuant to this Agreement. (the "in addition" wording pertains to the Williams and Stanbro proposals as far as the Tribe is concerned whether or not BPA as one of the parties to the MOA agrees is another issue, but one would think that a funding of either project is in fact BPA's stamp of approval of where the credits (past, future) will be applied since there is a mechanism for that built into the MOA ).BPA CREDIT page (7)(c) BPA shall receive full credit for all HUs, including those from both the acquisition of real property interests and from habitat improvement and management activities which are a direct result of BPA funding. BPA may credit these HUs toward its mitigation duty for wildlife habitat losses at the Lower Monumental, Lower Granite, Little Goose, and Ice Harbor Projects or any other Federal Columbia River Power System project (i) agreed to by BPA, the Tribe and the Council, or (ii) adopted by BPA consistent with the Northwest Power Act and applicable law. (that covers where our HU's for the current project will be credited to and the areas where future credits will be assigned. The MOA is a binding legal document agreed to in whole by both parties The Burns Paiute Tribe and Bonneville Power, no outside input was sought or needed)
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002
Comment:
Fundable in part. This project is fundable as an acquisition; however, the long-term monitoring and evaluation plans are not adequate and should not be implemented at this time. Detailed plans for M&E should be developed and reviewed by the ISRP before funding is recommended. The ISRP believes that it is not appropriate to recommend unconditional funding for projects when one of the ISRP's four primary review guidelines (from the 1996 Power Act Amendment) is that we review and recommend only projects that "have provisions for monitoring and evaluation of results." This is valuable wildlife habitat that borders the Warm Springs Reservoir and 16.6 miles of South Fork Malheur River.
If this property is purchased, the long term monitoring and evaluation plans are not adequate and should not be implemented. The ISRP suggests that the proponents work with the interagency work group supporting Proposal #1992-06100"Albeni Falls Wildlife Mitigation," to develop plans for terrestrial monitoring and evaluation. These plans were reviewed by the ISRP in the addendum to report ISRP 2001-4"Review of Draft Albeni Falls M&E Plan." The proponents should review the response provided by the sponsors of the four wildlife mitigation project proposals in southern Idaho (199505700-03). Also, the draft wildlife monitoring and evaluation plan provided by the sponsors of Proposal #32008 is a significant step toward development of wildlife monitoring protocols that might be recommended to Provinces in the Columbia Basin.
Long-term monitoring for habitat must have probabilistic procedures for site selection with economical data collection procedures. Intensive procedures for subsampling a few subjectively selected macroplots or clumps of willows, i.e., "index" sites, do not provide the coverage necessary to evaluate long-term trends and changes in habitat over large areas. The ISRP encourages the proponents to join the interagency work group to develop plans for monitoring and evaluation of wildlife and terrestrial habitat and to review the Draft Albeni Falls M&E Plan.
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002
Comment: