FY 2003 Mainstem/Systemwide proposal 200307600

Additional documents

TitleType
35015 Narrative Narrative
35015 Powerpoint Presentation Powerpoint Presentation
35015 Sponsor Response to the ISRP Response

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleReplicated stream system for the evaluation of hatchery and wild juvenile salmonid interaction and development of innovative culture technologies
Proposal ID200307600
OrganizationUniversity of Idaho/Columbia River Inter Tribal Fisheries Commission (UI/CRITFC)
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
NameDavid L. Smith
Mailing addressUniversity of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute Moscow, ID 83844-2260
Phone / email2088857860 / [email protected]
Manager authorizing this projectErnie Brannon
Review cycleMainstem/Systemwide
Province / SubbasinMainstem/Systemwide /
Short descriptionDevelop sixteen independent streams using spring water at the University of Idaho Hagerman Research Station with the goal of providing a research facility for investigating interaction between wild and hatchery salmonids and rearing technique development.
Target speciesfall chinook
Project location
LatitudeLongitudeDescription
42.8073 -114.8842 University of Idaho Hagerman Research Station Collaborative Center for Applied Fish Science
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)

Sponsor-reported:

RPA
184
169

Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:

Reviewing agencyAction #BiOp AgencyDescription

Section 2. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishment
This is a new project

Section 3. Relationships to other projects

Project IDTitleDescription
200104600 Collaborative Center for Applied Fish Science support
199105500 NATURES support

Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
1 Coordinate with others a. hold scooping meetings 1 $197,007
2. Project design and engineering a. Develop construction drawings 1 $103,107 Yes
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
1. Maintain coordination and plan experimets 2004 2005 $180,750
2. Maintain coordination and plan experiments 2005 2006 $49,000
3. Maintain coordination and plan experimets 2006 2007 $54,750
4. Maintain coordination and plan experiments 2007 2008 $56,280
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
FY 2004FY 2005FY 2006FY 2007
$180,750$49,000$54,750$56,280

Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
No construction. $0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
construction 2004 2005 $663,046
2005 2006 $0
2006 2007 $0
2007 2008 $0
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
FY 2004
$663,046

Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
$0
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
. Sediment removal and habitat development to support experiments 2004 2005 $0
2. Sediment removal and habitat development to support experiments 2005 2006 $142,000
3.Sediment removal and habitat development to support experiments 2006 2007 $149,100
4. Sediment removal and habitat development to support experiments 2007 2008 $156,555
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase
FY 2005FY 2006FY 2007
$142,000$149,100$156,555

Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase

Task-based budget
ObjectiveTaskDuration in FYsEstimated 2003 costSubcontractor
Outyear objectives-based budget
ObjectiveStarting FYEnding FYEstimated cost
Continue to monitor experiments 2004 2005 $0
2005 2006 $203,409
2006 2007 $213,579
2007 2008 $224,257
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
FY 2005FY 2006FY 2007
$203,409$213,579$224,257

Section 8. Estimated budget summary

Itemized budget
ItemNoteFY 2003 cost
Personnel FTE: 5.7 $94,140
Fringe @34.5 and 28.5% $26,952
Supplies substrate, wet suits, etc $10,300
Travel regional coordination $6,420
Indirect @31.5% on personel. supplies, travel $59,195
Capital 0 $0
NEPA 0 $0
PIT tags # of tags: 0 $0
Subcontractor Fishpro and Rivermasters $103,107
Other $0
$300,114
Total estimated budget
Total FY 2003 cost$300,114
Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds$0
Total FY 2003 budget request$300,114
FY 2003 forecast from 2002$0
% change from forecast0.0%
Cost sharing
OrganizationItem or service providedAmountCash or in-kind

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:
Aug 2, 2002

Comment:

Response required. There is an important opportunity for a unique research facility, but we question the proposed initial use. While we agree that replication and use of controls could advance research on issues concerning hatchery-wild interactions in streams, the proposal does not address whether 16"streams" could truly be constructed as replicates and what the experience in other such studies have been. Have there been ecological studies that truly accomplished replication of environments? If so reference to them would have substantially aided in the presentation of this proposal. The author did comment on the issue of scale in ecological studies and that issue would be of consideration in this application, but if scale alone were the concern, then presumably the design could be modified to compensate. What is the origin of the proposed design of 16 replicate streams? Task 1 requests substantial funding for consultation but the design and choice of species is already proposed. Will these consultations lead to new research proposals? What is the basis of fall chinook use and why would these fish come from Hanford? What fish transfer and fish disease protocols would be implemented to protect investment in the facility and the local environment?

We see little value in immediately undertaking such a demanding construction program. It would be reasonable to undertake the initial improvements as described and to distribute information on this facility; there may be substantial interest from other organizations with funds to support independent research. Unless the technical capability of constructing several replicates can be addressed more strongly (through support from the literature, etc.) and strong regional support for such an investment is provided, the ISRP does not support the immediate construction of these 16"stream sections". We would favorably review a proposal to develop this research opportunity but leaving the construction aspects to the needs of the chosen research program that eventually is provided access to this facility. Such programs may only want a few larger stream sections or, in an alternative use, may require construction of a few spawning reaches to experiment with the re-introduction of captive brood parents into a semi-natural (and protected) stream environment.

The budget presentation should provide more information for review. For example, what does 5.7 FTE but only $94,000 actually mean?

Action Agency/NMFS RME Group Comments:

HARVEST AND HATCHERY SUBGROUP -- Address critical element of RPA? No. Proposal itself is not directly responsive to either RPA. Proposal is for design and construction of 16 experimental stream channels. There is a possibility that the experimental stream facility proposed in this project could be used to investigate issues of relevance to RPA 184.

Scope? ESU's covered, Transferability, Species covered] Future research at the proposed facility would target fall chinook. No evidence in proposal of transferability to other populations, ESU's, or species.

Study design adequate, as is, or as may be modified? No comment at this time.

ISRP Remarks on RME Group Comments:

The ISRP generally agrees with the RME group comments, but the ISRP can see potentially valuable uses for the facility other than those proposed that may have significant value for endangered ESU's.


Recommendation:
High Priority
Date:
Oct 24, 2002

Comment:


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Nov 5, 2002

Comment:

Do Not Fund. We disagree with the CBFWA ranking of high priority. The proposal focuses on an important opportunity for a unique aquaculture research facility in southern Idaho at the University of Idaho's Hagerman Experimental station and a new acquisition on the nearby Billingsley Creek. However, we do not support the proposed initial use: construction of a series of replicated streams on the Billingsley Creek site. While the project sponsor provided a detailed response to the ISRP preliminary review comments, we continue to have a fundamental problem with building a research facility without identifying the research to be conducted. The ISRP recognizes the potential value of this site, understands that the facility is under the care and ownership of the University of Idaho, and believes the site offers potential as a regional aquaculture research facility. It seems logical therefore, to regionally solicit input and identify aquaculture and conservation research needs and interest on the part of potential participants and funding agencies before proposing construction of a specific aquaculture facility design.

The requested evidence of regional support for the facility (three letters attached to the response) acknowledged the potential value of such a facility, but the letters were certainly not extensive responses, nor convincing in arguments. Further, despite the ISRP's suggestion, the response did not present a more basic research proposal.


Recommendation:
Date:
Jan 21, 2003

Comment:

Statement of Potential Biological Benefit
Indirect. Set up a facility consisting of 16 experimental stream channels. As a first experiment in the channels, isolate the interactions between wild and hatchery fish.

Comments
The proposal is basically for the construction of experimental facilities and does not have any direct relevance to ESA-listed species. However, there is a possibility that the 16 experimental stream facilities proposed in this project could be used to investigate issues of relevance to listed species, but the proposal does not spell this out. Future research at the proposed facility would target fall chinook, but there is no evidence in the proposal of transferability to other populations, ESUs or species. The use of control streams could advance research on issues concerning hatchery-wild interactions in streams but the proposal does not address whether 16 "streams" could truly be constructed as replicates and what the experience in other such studies has been. The proposal does not justify the origin of the proposed design of 16 replicate streams. It is not clear in the proposal why fall chinook will be used and why these fish would come from Hanford.

Already ESA Required?
No

Biop?
No


Recommendation:
Do Not Fund (Tier 3)
Date:
Jun 11, 2003

Comment:

Category:
3. Other projects not recommended by staff

Comments: