Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

Budget for FY 2006 will be prepared using the 1,371,000 funding umbrella limit. A portion of this amount is used annually to support the Colville Confederated Tribes, Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement project. The balance has been used to provide a sub contract budget for PNNL to conduct the electronic research and logistical support. Dependant upon findings from the limited strobe light deployment scheduled for this summer period, the project may have to seek additional funding. We have purchased 4 omni-directional strobe lights, associated controllers and cables at a cost of $63,500 for installation on a single turbine intake. Potentially a complete strobe light deployment across the third power-plant could cost an additional $317,500 just for equipment purchase not including funding required for operation, monitoring, and maintenance. The planned light installation directly on each turbine intake trash rack will greatly reduce the number of needed lights from nearly 100 to 24.

Accomplishments since the last review

Past Accomplishments. · Conducted single beam acoustic monitoring at 14/24 turbine intakes at Grand Coulee Dam that determined that entrainment is severe. · Determined that entrainment may be the greatest threat to the success of the BPA funded Lake Roosevelt hatchery program. · Identified the third power plant as entraining the majority of fish (85%) · Determined that the probable species of entrained fish were kokanee and rainbow trout followed by walleye and small mouth bass. · Determined that the highest rate of entrainment occurred during daytime power peaking operations. ·Conducted sonic tagging work indicating that unidentified entrainment rates are occurring at the Grand Coulee Pumping/generating station · Conducted annual adult kokanee spawning recruitment enumeration studies that indicated that the status of wild origin kokanee is tenuous at best. · Conducted DNA genetic analysis to determine basic genetic blueprint of blocked area kokanee stocks. · Determined that at a minimum 6 distinct kokanee stocks exist within the blocked area. · Determined that strobe light technology has the potential to reduce entrainment at the third power plant of Grand Coulee Dam. · Purchased a single 4 light strobe array for installation at a single turbine intake. · Assisted in developing kokanee management actvities on Lake Roosevelt to allow reintroduction of a more appropriate locally adapted kokanee stock into Big Sheep Creek. · Coordinated Lake Roosevelt fishery managers access to small family owned hydropower facility to facilitate fingerling kokanee planting. · Fenced a total of 1200 feet of riparian habitat on the Nespelem River to protect spawning habitat from cattle grazing and reduce siltation and water temperatures.

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

wild origin, naturally producing kokanee in the blocked area. Following the fy 2005 preliminary strobe light deployment we expect to have sufficient data to indicate the success in using strobe lights as a deterrent to fish entrainment at Grand Coulee Dam. We anticipate that subsequent project work related to strobe lights will entail strobe light deployment at all six third power plant turbine intakes and an initial assessment of entrainment at the Grand Coulee Pumping/Generating Station. Summer 2005 work will include a twice-weekly gill net assessment of species composition near the light array. Additional project work will involve continuing monitoring of adult spawner recruitment, completion of the genetic blueprint work and initiation of an adult brood stock program, a juvenile kokanee supplementation program or both. We are currently developing an RFP for an HGMP for the blocked area and are moving toward a limited artifical production capability. This project in cooperation with the Lake Roosevelt monitoring program and the BPA funded kokanee hatcheries has assisted in reintroducing a locally adapted kokanee stock into an upper reservoir stream. We anticipate that this effort will lead to increased sport and subsistence fishing, while providing a potential egg source to help support the current hatchery program. Finally, our assistance to the Rainbow trout habitat improvement project will have increased available spawning and rearing habitat for both kokanee and rainbow trout in the San Poil sub-basin.

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

Sub-basin planning consistency Within the intermountain province, this project is consistent with and implements many of the aquatic strategies identified in 4 of 6 sub-basins. Kokanee were identified as a focal species in all sub basins of the province. In the Spokane sub-basin, strategy 1A1; Complete assessments of resident fish losses strategies a, b, c, & d. (Pg26-18). 1A2 fully mitigate and compensate for Resident fish losses, strategies a & b. (Pg 26-21) In the Upper Columbia sub-basin, aquatic strategies 1A1, Continue to evaluate strategies a, b, c &d are addressed, (pg 34-6 & 34-7); 1A5 strategies a, c &d ( pg 34-7) 1C1, 1C2 (pg 34-12) 2A2 Maintain, restore and enhance resident fish, Strategies a, b, c &d are being implemented ( pg 34-18) ) 2A1 Protect genetic integrity strategies a, b, c & d are being implemented (pg 34-17) San Poil sub-basin strategy 2A2,Maintain genetic integrity while maintaining fishery strategies a, b, c, d, e & f (pg 42-16) 2C2. Artificially produce native salmonids strategies a-e (pg 42-18) 2A2, strategies a, b, c, & d (pg 42-16. Rufus Woods sub basin: 2A1Determine genetic distribution of focal species, strategfies a-c (pg 50-24; 2A3, Protect and enhance native fish. Strategies a, b, & c. (pg 50-21)

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

The Chief Joseph Kokanee Enhancement project goals and work elements accomplish work identified as priorities under the Intermountain province sub-basins. Kokanee are a focal specie in all of the sub-basin within the Intermountain Province. In the Spokane sub-basin priorities 1 and 2 are being accomplished. In the Upper Columbia priorities 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, &7 are being met. In the San Poil sub-basin priorities 1, 2, 7 &8 are being addressed. In the Rufus Woods sub-basin, Priorities 2, 7, 9, 15, 16 and 18 are being met.

Other comments

At this time, the ongoing project effort regarding the use of strobe lights as an effective tool to reduce fish entrainment at Grand Coulee Dam is in jeopardy. Currently we are beginning our limited light deployment on a single turbine intake at the third power plant forebay. Permission to install the light array on the single turbine intake was granted by the USBR for this year only. The engineering staff at the Grand Coulee Power Office has questioned the validity of the earlier single beam acoustic data that determined that entrainment was a problem at Grand Coulee. Additionally the engineering staff has questioned the biological validity of reducing entrainment using strobe light technology while suggesting that hatchery production be increased to off set the entrainment. This is truly an unfortunate happening since we have completed so may steps leading to the actual deployment of strobe lights as a deterrent to entrainment. Currently, strobe light installation and operation beyond 2005 at Grand Coulee Dam is being denied by Mr.David Lyngholm, Grand Coulee Power Manager.