Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget

The project sponsor is confirming the desire to renew the project for Fiscal Year 2006. Also, the project sponsor is confirming that the Council staff Fiscal year 2006 budget identified for this project is consistent with our expectation. Moreover, the proposed FY2006 scope and approach are consistent with the NWPCC, ISRP, CBFWA, and BPA recommendations and approval for the Mountain Columbia Provincial Review.

Accomplishments since the last review

The project has accomplished the following since early 2003: •Assessed historical (pre-1900’s) and current condition, and literature of floodplain wetlands and compile related operational impact assessment techniques and extensive bibliography •Assisted in the development of natural resource technical committee (KVRI) for the collaborative approach in focusing on resource issues •Developed and assembled 17 member Research Design and Review Team (RDRT) which directed criteria development, ranking and selection of potential research projects appropriate for both the Kootenai River Watershed and regionally •Coordination, oversight and organization of the RDRT meetings and integration of the International Kootenay River Ecosystem Rehabilitation Team (IKERT) •RDRT development of a framework (Kootenai River Action Plan) and selection of methodologies for a regionally applicable ecologically based operational loss assessment for the Kootenai River Watershed Kootenai River Action plan Geomorphology and Hydrologic Assessments •Physical/hydrologic conceptual model development •Development of one-dimensional hydrodynamic model •Analyze hydrologic data before and after the construction of Libby Dam and set up reference scenarios •Evaluation of hydrologic alteration within the Kootenai Basin below Libby Dam Aquatic Nutrient and Trophic Level Assessments •Coordinate with Kootenai River Residential Fish A project (1994-049-00) to assess nutrient and trophic levels and related sampling, database management Biomonitoring Terrestrial Vegetation and Trophic Level Assessments •Established, performed and continued to monitor a habitat-based Point-Count for terrestrial bird surveys •Evaluated habitats and riparian life stages in bird point-count locations •Evaluated and selected reference habitats and implemented remote sensing analytical tools (NDVI) for terrestrial primary trophic level/vegetation analysis •Created bird/vegetation database network •Implemented terrestrial insect surveys (e.g. carabid beetles) for trophic level indicators

FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments

FY 2006 anticipated goals and accomplishments are: •Continue to assist in the coordination of natural resource technical committee (KVRI) on the comprehensive process for the collaborative approach in focusing on resource issues. •Coordination, oversight and organization of the RDRT meetings and integration of the International Kootenay River Ecosystem Rehabilitation Team (IKERT) •Refinement of the operation loss assessment framework (Kootenai River Action Plan) and evaluate methodologies for a regionally applicable operational loss assessment for the Kootenai River ecosystem •Correlate Geomorphological, hydrological, aquatic and terrestrial assessment factors in determining the final composition of the Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI) development and the operational loss assessment tool •Initiation of the mitigate methodologies and framework for restoration of the Kootenai River floodplain ecosystem in such a way that it will provide sustainable populations of flora and fauna for tribal sustenance Kootenai River Action Plan Geomorphology and Hydrologic Assessments •Combine pre- and post-dam reference hydrologic scenarios •Development of two-dimensional (2-D) hydrodynamic (HD) models •Use digital image and LiDAR technology to model physical processes in floodplain Aquatic Nutrient and Trophic Level Assessments •Coordinate with Kootenai River Residential Fish A project (1994-049-00) to assess nutrient and trophic levels and related Biomonitoring program Terrestrial Vegetation and Trophic Level Assessment •Perform and continue habitat-based Point-Count bird and terrestrial insect surveys •Categorize bird/insects into habitat-based response/breeding guilds, avifaunal community composition, habitat structure and related assessment tools. •Perform and evaluate habitats and riparian life stages in bird point-count locations. •Perform and evaluate reference habitats and remote sensing analytical tools (NDVI) for terrestrial primary trophic level and riparian/vegetation life stage analysis

Subbasin planning

How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?

This project addresses the following Urgent and High Priority Aquatic and Terrestrial biological objectives for White Sturgeon (WST), Burbot (BUR), Tributary (T), Wetlands (WB), Riparian (RP), Grassland/Shrubs (GS), Xeric Forests (XF), and Mesic Forests (MF). Page numbers for the objectives are listed in parentheses. Restore normative mainstem hydrograph: RP2 (78) Suppress and remove non-native species: WB3 (76), RP1 (77), RP5 (81), GS3 (83), XF3 (86), MF4 (88) Reduce and prevent non-native introductions: WB3 (76), RP1 (77), RP5 (81), GS3 (83), XF3 (86), MF4 (88) Restore productivity rates and nutrient concentrations to pre-dam levels: WST1 (61), BUR1 (65), WB1 (73), RP2 (78) Restore natural recruitment: WST2 (62), BUR3 (68) Restore habitat conditions required for recruitment: WB2 (75), RP1 (77), RP5 (81), GS4 (84), XF1 (85), XF2 (85) Restore tributary hydrographs: T7 (36) Restore riparian habitat to reference conditions: T2 (30), RP1 (77), RP4 (80), RP5 (81) Increase habitat diversity to reference levels: T6 (35), RP1 (77), RP4 (80), GS2 (83), MF1 (87), MF2 (87), XF1 (85), XF2 (85) Protect and revegetate riparian areas: RP1 (77), RP4 (80) Improve habitat connectivity: RP1 (77), RP3 (79), GS1 (82), XF2 (85) This project also addresses the following Administrative/Programmatic Objectives (AP2 – page 90, AP3 – page 91, and AP5-page 92): Develop and maintain adequate regional and international coordination, pursue independent peer-review and qualified scientific council, and improve distribution of information required to successfully implement the Subbasin Plan.

How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?

This project addresses the Urgent and High Priority objectives of the Kootenai Subbasin Management Plan (listed above and in Table 10.5 – page 123). The objectives address the restoration of habitats and focal species, in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, this project meets the prioritization strategies in all Tier I and is the consistent with all Tier II criteria (and fully meets 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) found in Section 10.5 (page 125-128) of the Kootenai Subbasin Plan. Additionally, it is stated in the Subbasin Plan that “after applying and meeting Tier I criteria, ongoing projects that address urgent objectives will be afforded the highest priority of funding” (Page 126). This project falls in the above mentioned categories.

Other comments

This project is coordinated through an independent peer-review and qualified scientific counsel, the Research Design and Review Team (RDRT), and is in organized with the International Kootenai River Ecosystem Recovery Team (IKERT). Implementation is guided by the Kootenai River Adaptive Management Framework Program that is outlined on Page 94 of the Kootenai Subbasin Management Plan. This project is tied strongly to the NWPPC Fish and Wildlife program scientific principles, where ecosystem function and ecological management are key to the directed project objectives. Moreover, this project framework works to assess, characterized and address the primary and secondary limiting factors listed in the Subbasin Plan, and associated scientific literature. Additionally, this project is consistent with the ESA recovery goals for the Kootenai White Surgeon outlined in the 1999 USFWS Recovery Plan and the 2000 Biological Opinion for White Sturgeon. The project is consistent with, and compliments the TMDL Implementation Plan that is under development for the Idaho portion of the Kootenai River basin.