FY 2002 Mountain Columbia proposal 198806500

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
198806500 Narrative	Narrative
198806500 Powerpoint Presentation: 2003 Update	Powerpoint Presentation
Mountain Columbia: Kootenai Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map
Mountain Columbia: Kootenai Subbasin Map with BPA Fish & Wildlife Projects	Subbasin Map

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal title	Kootenai River Fisheries Recovery Investigations
Proposal ID	198806500
Organization	Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Name	Vaughn L. Paragamian
Mailing address	Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2750 Kathleen Ave Coeur d' Alene, ID 83815
Phone / email	2087691414 / [email protected]
Manager authorizing this project	Charlie Craig
Review cycle	Mountain Columbia
Province / Subbasin	Mountain Columbia / Kootenai
Short description	Recover the Kootenai River white sturgeon, develop a recovery plan for burbot and bull trout, improve fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish, rehabilitate ecosystem health.
Target species	Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), burbot (Lota lota) , rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss), bull (Salvelinus confluentus), and westslope cutthroat (O. clarki lewisi) trout, and mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni)

Project location

Latitude	Longitude	Description
48.82	-116.39	Kootenai River

Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agency	Action #	BiOp Agency	Description

Section 2. Past accomplishments

Year	Accomplishment
1991	White sturgeon eggs captured for the first time in Kootenai River.
1993	Capture of 17 burbot in Idaho indicates they are not extirpated.
1994	Burbot densities in Idaho are very low but concentrated at Ambush Rock (rkm 244.5).
1994	Abundance of rainbow trout in tributaries to Kootenai River are similar to those of late 1970s but numbers in river are lower.
1995	Hypothesis developed infering river flow impair burbot spawning migrations and fitness. Hypothesis was tested,in 1997-1998, high flows impairs burbot spawning migration.
1995	Juvenile sturgeon can be sampled with small mesh gill nets.
1995	Creel survey indicates rainbow trout are the most sought after species but whitefish are most important in harvest.
1996	Growth and condition of sturgeon in Kootenai River lower than other white sturgeon populations.
1996	Kootenai River white sturgeon are spawning over sand substarte in low velocity water and survival of eggs and fry thought to be very poor.
1996	Population estimate of sturgeon indicates about 1,555 adults and 87 juveniles.
1997	The capture of several juvenile wild white sturgeon from flow test years are the first measures of reproductive success.
1997	Burbot in Kootenai River and Kootenay Lake genetically distinct from burbot above Kootenai Falls in Montana
1997	Kootenai River white sturgeon migration behavior and environmental variables were modeled.
1998	Evidence is mounting, Many KR burbot are reproductively disfunctional, male burbot are found post-spawn in various stages of reproductive readiness, females are resorbing eggs.
1998	Rainbow trout spawners in Deep Creek (major tributary to Kootenai River in Idaho) are adfluvial stock and juveniles seed lower river in Idaho and Kootenay Lake, B.C.
1998	Seismic studies of the Kootenai River subbottom indicates 5 m of coarse sand, throughout the present spawning reach.
1998	Organized and managed the International Burbot Symposium in Baltimore, MD.
1998	Deep Creek is found to be the primary location of rainbow spawning below Bonners Ferry and many fish are transboundary, juveniles are seeding lower river and Kootenay Lake.
1998	Genetic studies of rainbow trout in the KR are thought tio be an intergrade of coastal and other strains.
1999	Most bull trout appear to be spawning in tribuitaries in Montana.
1999	Published results of mtDNA analysis of burbot in BC, Idaho, and Montana.
1999	Analysis of burbot from Duncan Lake, BC, indicates they are genetically similar to those of Kootenai River.
1999	Esitmated recruitment of rainbow trout from Deep Creek appears to be about 45,000 - 55,000 fish/year.
1999	Burbot population estimated at about 550 fish in Idaho and BC.
2000	Most spawning of rainbow trout above Bonners Ferry appears to be taking place in Montana.
2000	The capture of eight unspawned male burbot beyond the spawning season (in addition to five females and several males from previous seasons) adds further evidence to the hyothesis that a large segment of the poopulation is reproductively disfunctional
2000	Completed publication of Proceedings of the International Burbot Symposium.
2000	Published 3 ms. in Proceedings of the International Burbot Symposium.
2000	Detaled analysis of changes in KR white sturgeon focal spawning locations indicates Kootenay Lake elevations explain over 53% of the variation. Historic spawning is estimated to have occrred near Bonners Ferry and sediment corings show a layer of gravel.
2000	Telemetry indicates burbot in Duncan Lake have a similar adfluvial behavior as fish in Kootenai River.

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project ID	Title	Description
19101903	Libby Reserrvoir levels/Kootenia River IFIM	Recovery of Kootenai River white sturgeon is dependent on augmented spring flows for sturgeon spawning and rearing. Winter low flows to test limitations to burbot migrations are dependent on water management from Libby. IFIM studies will provide habitat
198806400	Kootenai River white sturgeon study and experimental culture	IDFG is a cooperator with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI). IDFG assists the tribe in the capture of brood fish for their hatchery and evaluates the hatchery contribution to the population, interaction between juvenile wild/hatchery sturgeon.
199404900	Kootenai River ecosystem improvement study	IDFG is a partner in the Adaptive Ecosystem Assessment method (AEA) with the Kootenai Tribe. IDFG has been a participant in the AEA process. Present studies with KTOI are building a large scale data base for pre-fertilization treatment.

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost

Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor
Obj. 2) Test Null Hypothesis: survival of larval sturgeon released over sand substrate is higher than larvae released over cobble substrate.	a.Release two groups of larval sturgeon.	2002-2004	$2,000
	b.Measure larval abundance of two groups	2002-2004	$2,000
	c.Measure fingerling and larval abundance	2002-2004	$2,000
Obj. 3) Determine how changes in Kootenay Lake elevation effects white sturgeon spawning location. Will cost share with USGS.	a.Develop lake/river flow model.	2002	$40,967	Yes
	b.Revise model to iden.lake/river interface	2002	$40,967	Yes
	c.Determine historic lake river interface	2002	$40,967	Yes
Obj 4) Evaluate the use of artificial substrates and instream structures to improve white sturgeon egg and larval survival and relocate sturgeon spawning	a.Develop an artificial spawning channel	2003-2006	$0
	b.Integrate w/Obj 1, M&E, egg deposition	2003-2006	$0
Obj 5) Test null hypothesis that winter operation of Libby Dam does not effect burbot migration distance or travel rate. Measure test and control in travel time, km/day	a.Capture adult burbot in hoopnets.	2002-2006	$12,050
	b.Implant or attach transmitters to 10.	2002-2006	$12,050
	c.Monitor burbot during test and control	2002-2006	$12,050
	d.Evaluate spawning success with gear.	2002-2006	$12,050
	e.Deploy continous recording temp gauge	2002-2006	$12,050
	f.Monitor burbot migration to Idaho.	2002-2006	$12,050
Obj 6) Test null hypothesis that high winter flows do not cause stress in burbot and impair reproductive fitness.	a.Collect blood samples from 25 burbot	2002-2004	$1,000
	b.Evaluate 4 plasma steroids (hormones)	2002-2004	$2,500
	c.Collect 15 samples from control popula	2002-2004	$3,000
	d.Evaluate plasma steroids from control.	2002-2004	$2,500
	e.Statisically compare blood steroids	2002-2004	$500
	f.Biopsy post spawn burbot, % unspawned	2002-2004	$1,500
Obj 7) Test null hypothesis under laboratory conditions that various flows and temperatures do not cause stress in burbot and impair reproductive fitness.	a.Subject burbot to 4 flow and temp tests	2002-2003	$12,500
	b.Set up labcontrol for burbot	2002-2003	$12,500
	c.Evaluate 4 plasma steroids in burbot	2002-2003	$2,500
	d.Evaluate control and compare to test	2002-2003	$2,500
Obj 8) Estimate the number of burbot from Bonners Ferry, ID, to Kootenay Lake, BC. and provide estimate of recruitment and survival.	a.Implant PIT tags in all burbot.	2002-2006	$1,000
	b.Enter all burbot captured from 1993-06	2002-2006	$1,000
	c.Use Seber-Jolly model-Pop/recruit/survi	2002-2006	$2,000
Obj 9) Determine affective means of sampling larval burbot and white sturgeon.	a.Deploy drift nets.	2002-2004	$3,850
	b.Use benthic trawls	2002-2004	$3,850
	c.Use paired half m nets	2002-2004	$3,850
	d.Deploy D-rings	2002-2004	$3,850
Obj 10) Conduct a sportfishery survey on the Kootenai River from the Montana border to Deep Creek to determine angler use, harvest, sprtfish catch, catch effort, and as part of Large Scale sampling to determine eventual benefits to fertilization.	a.Establish statistical design for creel surv	2002	$1,000
	b.Interview anglers	2002	$40,000
	c.Measure weigh all fish	2002	$1,000
	d.Conduct instantaneous counts	2002	$10,000
	e.Note finclips and tags	2002	$500
	f.Estimate angler exploitation	2002	$250
	g.Estimate use, harvest,and catch rates	2002	$250
Obj 11) Determine the contribution of mainstem rainbow, Westslope cutthroat, and bull trout spawners to the Idaho reach of the Kootenai River downstream of the Montana border.	a.Trap migrating juvenile trout.	2002-2004	$5,850
	b.Locate marked juvenile trout in Koot.	2002-2004	$5,850
	c.Tag adults w/floy &/or radio tags	2002-2004	$5,850
	d.Determine movement and spawn locatio	2002-2004	$5,850
	e.Search for trout redds in KR river.	2002-2004	$5,850
	f.Survey spawning habitat in KR river	2002-2004	$5,850
Obj 12) Enhance spawning habitat in the mainstem Kootenai R. and/or tributaries and evaluate.	a.Identify suitable areas for enhancement.	2003-2004	$0
	b.Identify suitable control areas in Koot R	2003-2004	$0
	c.Exp.enhancement-spawn channels	2003-2004	$0
	d.Sample outmigration for evaluation	2003-2004	$0
Obj 13) Large scale sampling, within two refernence reaches, to determine the pre-fertilization and post-fertilization status of the fish community, trophic structure, densities, standing stocks, and the population dynamics of salmonids.	a.Sample fish pop. in two reference reachs	2002-2006	$40,000
	b.Idaentyify, measure, weigh, and mark	2002-2006	$3,340
	c.Estimate trophic structure of community	2002-2006	$3,340
	d.Age&growth&relative w of salmonids.	2002-2006	$3,340
	e.Conduct pop.est for salmonids.	2002-2006	$3,340
	f.Esimate standing stock of salmonids		$3,340
Obj 14) Evaluate the potential to reduce the temperature of Deep Creek to develop a resident trout fishery.	a)Determine feasibility of cooling water.	2004-2005	$0

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
2) Test Null Hypothesis: survival of larval sturgeon released over sand substrate is higher than larvae released over cobble substrate.	2002	2004	$25,030
3) Determine how changes in Kootenay Lake elevation effects white sturgeon spawning location. Will cost share with USGS.	2002	2003	$126,587
4) Evaluate the use of artificial substrates and instream structures to improve white sturgeon egg and larval survival and relocate sturgeon spawning	2003	2006	$502,035
6) Test null hypothesis that high winter flows do not cause stress in burbot and impair reproductive fitness.	2002	2004	$10,609
7) Test null hypothesis under laboratory conditions that various flows and temperatures do not cause stress in burbot and impair reproductive fitness.	2002	2003	$30,900
8) Estimate the number of burbot from Bonners Ferry, ID, to Kootenay Lake, BC.	2002	2006	$17,237
9) Determine affective means of sampling larval burbot and white sturgeon.	2002	2004	$32,200
10) Conduct a sportfishery survey on the Kootenai River from the Montana border to Deep Creek to determine angler use, harvest, sprtfish catch, catch effort, and as part of Large Scale sampling to determine eventual benefits to fertilization.	2002	2002	$0
11) Determine the contribution of mainstem rainbow, Westslope cutthroat, and bull trout spawners to the Idaho reach of the Kootenai River downstream of the Montana border.	2002	2004	$144,612
12) Enhance spawning habitat in the mainstem Kootenai R. and/or tributaries and evaluate.	2003	2004	$152,440
13) Large scale sampling, within two refernence reaches, to determine the pre-fertilization and post-fertilization status of the fish community, trophic structure, densities, standing stocks, and the population dynamics of salmonids.	2002	2006	$244,328
14) Evaluate the potential to reduce the temperature of Deep Creek to develop a resident trout fishery.	2004	2005	$25,000

Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$538,814	$417,137	$298,391	$280,819

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost

Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget

Objective	Task	Duration in FYs	Estimated 2002 cost	Subcontractor
Obj. 1) M&E experimental flows for sturgeon spawning and rearing, determine the minimum flow that will provide spawning and rearing habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon and bring off a successful year class	a. Sample 50 adult sturgeon.	Ongoing	$81,170
	b.Tag 12 mature sturgeon w/transmitters.	Ongoing	$47,970
	c.Determine response of sturgeon to flow.	Ongoing	$47,970
	d.Measure physical habitat parameters.	Ongoing	$47,970
	e.Measure egg deposition and habitat.	Ongoing	$47,970
	f.Measure larval abundance.	Ongoing	$47,970
	g.Measure fingerling and juv. abundance.	Ongoing	$47,970
	h.Sample sturgeon in Kootenay Lake	Ongoing	$50,000	Yes
Obj 15) M&E implementation of a recovery strategy for burbot as prescribed in the Recovery Strategy for burbot.	a.Enhancewith donar stock from DuncanL	Ongoing	$0
	b.Captive brood fich in Boundary&Smith	Ongoing	$0

Outyear objectives-based budget

Objective	Starting FY	Ending FY	Estimated cost
1) M&E experimental flows for sturgeon spawning and rearing, determine the minimum flow that will provide spawning and rearing habitat for Kootenai River white sturgeon and bring off a successful year class	2002	2006	$1,622,868
15) M&E implementation of a recovery strategy for burbotas prescribed in the Recovery Strategy for burbot..	2003	2006	$522,954

Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

FY 2003	FY 2004	FY 2005	FY 2006
$518,990	$534,560	$550,597	$567,115

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget

Item	Note	FY 2002 cost
Personnel	FTE: Permanent and temporary staff	$240,100
Fringe	Permanent and temporary staff	$83,630
Supplies		$100,775
Travel		$15,000
Indirect		$174,986
Capital		$30,000
NEPA	0	$0
PIT tags	# of tags: 0	$0
Subcontractor	British Columbia Ministry of Environment	$50,000
Subcontractor	Grduate student	$30,000
Subcontractor	US Geological Survey	$100,900
		$825,391

Total estimated budget

Total FY 2002 cost	$825,391
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds	$0
Total FY 2002 budget request	$825,391
FY 2002 forecast from 2001	$0
% change from forecast	0.0%

Reason for change in estimated budget

Recent siesmic and coring findings confirm the existence of spawning gravels in the same location projected by a lake elevation/white sturgeon spawning location model. The Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team needs vital information on the lake level and river interaction and this project has requested funding to the USGS to determine how the lake effects river velocities so remedial actions can proceed. In addtion, a creel survey requested in 2001 was delayed until 2002. The creel survey is a necessary component as a data base of the anglers catch and harvet pre-fertilization. The creel survey and a follow-up survey during implimentation of fertilization will allow IDFG and KTOI to measure the direct benefits to anglers from the experimental fertilization. Further, Large scale sampling is needed to develop a pre-fertilization data base of the fish community and vital statistics of salmonids to determine benefits of fertilization (scheduled in three years).

Cost sharing

Organization	Item or service provided	Amount	Cash or in-kind
US Geological Survey	Detailed anaysis of acoustic doppler current profiles and river gradient to determine Kootenay Lake and Kootenai River interface, how this has changed since construction of Libby Dam and lowering of Kootenay Lake, and prediction of preLibby interface.	$108,600	cash

Reviews and recommendations

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

REVIEW:
ISRP Preliminary Review (ISRP 2001-2)

Recommendation:
Fundable - no response required

Date:
Feb 9, 2001

Comment:

Fundable. This is a well-prepared proposal that addresses the deficiencies noted in the FY 2000 ISRP review. The technical and scientific background is complete, well organized by topic, and includes numerous pertinent references to the literature. The proposal links its work to all relevant plans, specifically including the FWP, Subbasin Summary, Idaho's regional plan, and the FWS's BiOp and Recovery Plan. There are specific linkages discussed with other projects, with the strong statement that this work is collaborative with others. The proposal showed strong indication of active cooperation between KTOI and BCME. There is a good listing and narrative showing the project history in terms of funding, studies, and principal results. The objectives and tasks are well organized and expressed. The methods are well described. Monitoring and evaluation constitute a large part of the program and the relevant objectives, tasks and methods are well presented. Facilities, equipment, and personnel are described and are appropriate for the work. Information transfer has been a strong feature of this project and its professional staff, and the proposal indicates that this information transfer will continue. There is less direct evidence in the proposal of basinwide coordination for sturgeon studies than is shown for Project 198806400. The benefit to fish and wildlife from this project should be high, with no negative side effects. However, the hypotheses for reduced recruitment are still evolving, and further consideration of alternative hypotheses seems desirable. For example, the actual physical processes involved with the relationship of spawning location to lake elevation were not discussed and could form the basis for additional hypotheses. The sturgeon program objectives seemed reasonable and would take advantage of "new" information to propose a test of the hypothesis that fish will spawn in the cobble at RM 242 if Kootenay Lake elevation is held high enough. However, this may be very expensive emergency room surgery without being sure of the exact causes of the patients' maladies. The stress assessment objective for burbot still shows no indication that it would be done by qualified personnel. These comments do not require a response, but are for the benefit of the investigators.

REVIEW:
CBFWA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Mar 16, 2001

Comment:

FY 02 Budget Review Comments: if the USGS project gets funded, the 100k subcontract in this proposal should be removed from the project.

REVIEW:
CBFWA FY02 Budget Review Comments

Recommendation:
High Priority

Date:
Mar 16, 2001

Comment:

if the USGS project gets funded, the 100k subcontract in this proposal should be removed from the project.

REVIEW:
ISRP Final Review (ISRP 2001-4)

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Apr 6, 2001

Comment:

The sturgeon program objectives seemed reasonable and would take advantage of "new" information to propose a test of the hypothesis that fish will spawn in the cobble at RM 242 if Kootenay Lake elevation is held high enough. However, this may be very expensive emergency room surgery without being sure of the exact causes of the patients' maladies. The stress assessment objective for burbot still shows no indication that it would be done by qualified personnel. These comments do not require a response, but are for the benefit of the investigators.

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fundable

Date:
May 30, 2001

Comment:

This project should be funded as described. Bonneville has no additional comments on this project.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Oct 19, 2001

Comment:

REVIEW:
BPA Funding Decision

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Mar 25, 2002

Comment:

Bonneville will fund... as recommended to meet requirements of the USFWS's BiOp as described in the Action Agencies 2002 Annual Implementation Plan.

REVIEW:
NWPPC Funding Recommendation

Recommendation:
Fund

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

Need to follow up with sponsor to confirm 05. Low accruals.

REVIEW:
Project Sponsor Request for FY04-05

Recommendation:

Date:
Sep 20, 2003

Comment:

REVIEW:
NW Power and Conservation Council's FY 2006 Project Funding Review

Funding category:
expense

Date:
May 2005

FY05 NPCC start of year:	FY06 NPCC staff preliminary:	FY06 NPCC July draft start of year:
$951,697	$951,697	$951,697

Sponsor comments: See comment at Council's website