Response for project 199902500: Sandy River Delta Habitat
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
The Forest Service desires to renew project 1999-025-00, Sandy River Delta Habitat Restoration, for 2006. The $235,000 budget is consistent with our expectations for 2006. The Council originally approved $902,000 in 2005 in order to implement the dike removal. However, the dike removal has been delayed at the request of BPA while the presence of Snake River fall Chinook in the area is determined. It is expected that NEPA will be conducted in 2006 and a new proposal for dike removal would be submitted for 2007. $102,000 is proposed for continued wetland and riparian forest restoration, which is consistent with the 2005 budget for these tasks. $133,000 is proposed for the dike removal NEPA.
Accomplishments since the last review
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2003: Planted 67 acres with native grasses to prepare for riparian forest restoration | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2004: Planted 115 acres of riparian forest with native grasses; planted a 50 acre subset of this 115 acres with shrubs. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2004: Planted 10 acres of wetland edge. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2005: Planted 65 acres of riparian forest with trees and shrubs (completed). | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2005: Planted 115 acres of previously planted riparian forest by interplanting with shrubs (completed). | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2003: Removed vegetation on 57 acres by disking, spraying and mowing to prepare for riparian forest planting. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2004: Removed vegetation by disking on 90 acres to prepare for riparian forest restoration planting. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2004: Removed vegetation by disking on 30 acres wetland edge. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2005: Removed (maintained) vegetation on 115 acres of previously planted riparian forest by spot spraying (completed); additional mowing, spraying treatments proposed for summer 2005. Note: 2005 SOW used Remove Vegetation; Maintain Veg may be closer. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2005: Removed (maintained) vegetation on wetland by pumping water from newly installed well (in progress). Note: 2005 SOW used Remove Vegetation; Maintain Veg may be closer. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | 2005: Remove (maintain) vegetation on 10 wetland edge acres by spot spraying treatments (proposed for summer 2005). Note: 2005 SOW used Remove Vegetation; Maintain Veg may be closer. | |
| Create, Restore, and/or Enhance Wetland | 2004: Installed well to augment natural runoff into wetlands. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2003: Maintained vegetation by disking and spot spraying on 213 acres riparian forest restoration | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2003: Maintained vegetation by repeat disking and spraying on 50 acres wetland edge to prepare for planting | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2004: Maintained vegetation by mowing and spot spraying on 115 acres riparian forest. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2004: Maintained vegetation by spot spraying on 30 acres wetland edge. |
Note: the Forest Service produced an annual report and status reports, and conducted monitoring in 2003, 2004 and 2005, but did not use BPA funds for the work, so these items are not included in the metric accomplishments.
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | 2006: Conduct NEPA for proposed restoration of the original Sandy River channel (dike removal). | |
| Manage and Administer Projects | 2006: Subcontractor costs to administer other subcontractors. | |
| Produce Annual Report | 2006: Produce Annual Report. | |
| Produce Status Report | 2006: Produce quarterly status reports. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2006: Plant vegetation on up to 10 acres of wetland edge, adjacent shrub-scrub. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 2006: Plant vegetation on up to 30 acres of riparian forest (new planting area). | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2006: Maintain wetland vegetation by pumping water from well. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2006: Maintain vegetation on up to 10 wetland edge acres by spot spraying treatments. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | 2006: Maintain vegetation on up to 65 acres of previously planted riparian forest. |
Goals: Continue wetland and riparian forest restoration, including continued establishment of previously treated areas. Conduct NEPA for dike removal. The actual 2006 program of work will vary based on the success of the 2005 program. Cost assumptions were based on 2005 costs, and actual accomplishments will vary with actual 2006 costs. Actual accomplishments may vary based on support from other partners.
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
Both the Sandy River Subbasin Summary (draft, May 17, 2002) and the Lower Columbia Mainstem and Estuary Subbasin Plan (December 15, 2004) are referenced, since the project is located in the floodplain of both the Sandy and Columbia Rivers. The Sandy River Subbasin Summary does not provide an explicit strategy, however, the project is consistent with and implements the following items of the “Statement of Fish and Wildlife Needs” (page 136): • More and better-connected habitat, especially riparian habitat • Improved riparian structure and function • Improved floodplain function and hydrologic integrity, including reconnection of side channel areas and wetlands. Lower Columbia Mainstem and Estuary Subbasin Plan Riparian forest and wetland protection and restoration will protect and improve habitat for bald eagle (focal species), yellow warbler and red-eyed vireo (species of ecological significance) per Objectives BE.PO.2 page A-230; YW.PO.1 page A-240; and ReV.PO.1 page A-241). Dike removal could improve habitat for Fall Chinook and chum, two focal species (page A-221), and improve habitat for juvenile rearing (as well as migrants). (Objectives Sa.PO.2 and Sa.PO.3, page A-223).
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
Both the Sandy River Subbasin Summary (draft, May 17, 2002) and the Lower Columbia Mainstem and Estuary Subbasin Plan (December 15, 2004) are referenced, since the project is located in the floodplain of both the Sandy and Columbia Rivers. The Sandy River Subbasin Summary does not provide an explicit priority framework. The only Sandy Subbasin recommendation is for the subject project (1999-025-00); page 139. The Lower Columbia Mainstem and Estuary Subbasin Plan prioritizes the following actions: The riparian forest and wetland protection and restoration actions implement “Priority A” measure EH.M2: “Protect and restore riparian condition and function” (page A-246). The dike removal implements “Priority C” measure EH.M1: “Restore tidal freshwater portion of the lower Columbia River” (page A-246), and “Priority C” measure EH.M8: “Restore connectedness between river and floodplain” (page A-247).