Response for project 198710002: Umatilla Anad. Fish Hab - Odfw
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
The ODFW Umatilla River Subbasin Fish Habitat Improvement Program (1987-100-02) wishes to renew its project for the 2006 Fiscal Year. The $300,264 budget figure quoted is consistent with past years and our expectations for FY2006. The budget is sufficient to implement the scope and nature of activities proposed for the 2006 fiscal year. In recent years our budget has been under-spent in part due to the 2002 BPA/Council-imposed halt on "Active" Restoration activities. BPA and Council should expect a modification in our Program’s Scope of Work during the upcoming Rolling Provincial Review process, possibly coupled with a request for increased funding, in order to resume Active Restoration efforts and address fish passage issues within the Umatilla Subbasin (consistent with objectives and strategies identified in the Subbasin Plan).
Accomplishments since the last review
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Completed a "Biological Assessment" and "Habitat Improvement Program Biological Opinion Implementation Monitoring Report" for instream maintenance activities conducted on Westgate Creek: 2004 | |
| # of people reached in each of 3 classes (T/S/G): Teachers, Students, General public | Gave presentations showcasing program accomplishments to various community groups, stakeholder groups and members of the public | |
| Produce Plan | Currently developing a 5-Year Action plan in cooperation with the CTUIR Habitat Program aimed at directing Fish Habitat Improvement efforts and advancing Subbasin Plan recommendations for the years 2006 to 2010 | |
| Produce Annual Report | Produced 2003 Annual Report outlining program accomplishments for the 2003 calendar year, as well as activities carried out from 1996 to 2002. Produced 2004 Annual Report – DRAFT | |
| Produce Annual Report | Produced 2004 Annual Report – DRAFT | |
| Develop Alternative Water Source | Installed 1 Off-Site Water Development (electric pump and heated trough) on East Birch Creek: 2002 | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Riparian Fence Construction on 2 properties along East Birch Creek – 4.57 miles: 2002, 2003 | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | Riparian Planting Projects (willow cuttings and rooted stock) on 2 properties along East Birch Creek – 26,800 stems on approximately 0.75 ac: 2002-2004 | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Annual Weed Control Treatments on all properties under lease – 319.8 acres: 2002-2005 | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Annual Riparian Fence Maintenance (including watergaps and stream crossings) on all properties under lease – 16.48 miles: 2002-2005 | |
| Replace/Maintain Instream Structure | Maintenance of Stable Channel Design project – 0.5 stream miles: 2002. Maintenance of Instream Habitat Structures (rock weirs) on Westgate Creek – 8 structures: 2004 | |
| Replace/Maintain Instream Structure | Maintenance of Instream Habitat Structures (rock weirs) on Westgate Creek – 8 structures: 2004 | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Maintenance of Riparian Planting projects – 26,800 stems: 2002-2005 | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Stream Temperature Data Collection within Birch and Meacham creeks – 11 sites: 2002-2005 | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Post-project Fish Species Habitat Utilization and Population Assessments on 2 properties along East Birch Creek: 2.8 stream miles: 2004. Pre-project Fish Species Habitat Utilization and Population Assessments on West Birch Creek – 3.42 stream miles: 2004 | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Spawning Ground Surveys on East and West Birch and Pearson Creeks – 6 stream miles: 2002-2004 | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) flights conducted within the Birch Creek Watershed 52.4 stream miles: 2004 | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Photos taken at 109 permanent Photopoint locations throughout the Program’s area of operation | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Pre-project Fish Species Habitat Utilization and Population Assessments on West Birch Creek – 3.42 stream miles: 2004 | |
| Is the measuring device portable or fixed (P/F)? | Installed 2 fixed stream flow gauging stations (with air and water temperature probes) at the mouths of East and West Birch creeks: 2005 |
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Complete NEPA consultation activities (NEPA checklists, etc.) for all applicable program activities | |
| # of people reached in each of 3 classes (T/S/G): Teachers, Students, General public | Continue to present Fish Habitat Improvement Program results to various community groups, stakeholder groups and members of the public, as opportunities arise | |
| Identify and Select Projects | Expand the Program’s operating area to include a greater portion of the Umatilla Subbasin, in addition to Birch and Meacham creeks, based on priorities identified in the Subbasin Plan and 5-Year Action Plan | |
| Identify and Select Projects | Initiate Landowner contacts and develop working relationships with willing landowners - Sign new Cooperative Agreements for Habitat Improvement projects | |
| Coordination | Work cooperatively with the CTUIR Fish Habitat Program to ensure efficient coverage of Habitat Improvement efforts throughout the Subbasin based on priorities outlined in the Subbasin Plan and using the approach described in the 5-Year Action Plan | |
| Produce Plan | Develop plans for 2 bridge replacements within the upper West Birch Creek watershed – contingent on Landowner cooperation | |
| Produce Plan | Develop plans for 6 barrier remediation projects in the Birch Creek Subbasin – contingent on Landowner cooperation | |
| Produce Annual Report | Produce Annual Project Completion Report for the 2005 calendar year | |
| # of stream miles treated (0.01 mi.) | Install Vegetated Geogrid Bank Stabilization Treatments at two sites, along a 300-foot (0.06 mi.) section of East Birch Creek | |
| Develop Alternative Water Source | Install 3 Off-Site Water Developments within the Birch and Meacham creek watersheds | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Construct Livestock Exclusion Fence on 4.5 miles of stream in the Upper Meacham and Birch creek watersheds | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Conduct Weed Control Treatments on all properties under lease | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Maintain Fence (including watergaps and stream crossings) on all properties under lease | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Maintain Off-Site Water Developments on all properties under lease | |
| Replace/Maintain Instream Structure | Inspect and Maintain Instream Habitat Structures and Stable Channel Design projects | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Maintain Riparian Planting projects – re-plant as required | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Coordinate with willing Landowners enrolled in the Federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to provide maintenance of CREP sponsored Riparian Planting projects | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Locate and collect Reference Reach Data for use in the development of future Stable Channel Design projects | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect Stream Temperature Data at 11 sites within Birch and Meacham creek watersheds. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect stream flow, stream temperature and air temperature data form gauging stations installed on East and West Birch creeks | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Complete Habitat Monitoring Transect surveys at historical projects sites within the Program’s operating areas |
The program will continue to coordination with Umatilla Subbasin Landowners in order to develop working relationships and sign additional Cooperative Agreements for fish habitat improvement. Agreements will enable the program to identify, design, plan, implement, maintain, monitor and evaluate additional Passive Restoration projects within the Umatilla River Subbasin. Our program will also work towards identifying and designing Active Restoration projects (including barrier remediation, instream habitat improvements and bridge replacements) within the Subbasin, so that such projects will be ready for implementation should funding become available in out years. Additional details regarding specific project tasks, will be outlined in the Program's FY2006 Statement of Work and Budget.
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
Program activities are consistent with, and implement Management Strategies 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 described in the Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan (Management Plan: pages 5-8 and 5-9). These Strategies relate directly to Management Objectives 1, 2, 4, 10 and 12 (Management Plan: pages 5-4 and 5-5) and are aimed at addressing limiting factors for Threatened Mid-Columbia steelhead, including: water temperature, flow, channel stability, sediment, habitat quantity, habitat diversity, and obstructions (Management Plan: pages 5-29 through 5-37).
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
The Program accomplishes priority work under the Subbasin Plan by developing and implementing projects in 8 of 18 Priority GA’s identified within the prioritization framework of the Plan: i.e., upper Meacham Creek - GA # 38, Birch Creek Watershed GA #s 12, 15, 13, 14, 19, 18 & 17 (Management Plan: pages 5-29 through 5-37). All GA’s are highly ranked for steelhead protection and/or restoration.