200755600 - Water Stargrass Demonstration and Management in the lower Yakima River for Spawning Habitat, Water Quality and Beneficial Uses (WiSDoM)

Sponsor: Benton Conservation District

Short description: Water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) threatens lower Yakima River salmon spawning habitat, water quality and beneficial uses. H. dubia will be harvested to restore these functions. H. dubia will be evaluated as a livestock feed to mitigate disposal cost.

Location: Columbia Plateau province, Yakima subbasin

Budgets: FY08: $314,570 | FY09: $57,880

Primary species:
Anadromous: Chinook: Mid-Columbia River Spring ESU

Objectives

ObjectiveDescriptionSubbasin planStrategies
1. Develop large-scale aquatic vegetation harvest Techniques for large-scale aquatic vegetation harvest in a wide, shallow river environment, such as the lower Yakima are not widely known or practiced. Various equipment and techniques will be evaluated for cost-effectiveness and suitability over lower Yakima spawning areas. A licensed aquatic plant contractor will be consulted and supervised in trial efforts for technique development. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."
2. Restore 2 river miles of mainstem fish habitat Restore 2 river miles of the lower Yakima River mainstem fall chinook historically successful spawning habitat below the abandoned railroad bridge below Benton City. This restoration process consists of cutting and removing water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) from the channel. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."
3. Improve summer daily minimum dissolved oxygen Raise summer daily minimum dissolved oxygen level by 1 mg/L in water stargrass reduction treatment areas, compared to water stargrass control areas in the same project area since 2001. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."
4. Evaluate vegetation as a livestock feed Evaluate harvested water stargrass as a livestock feed for local producers as a possible cost-effective mechanism for disposal. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."
5.Demonstrate techniques to professional community Disseminate findings to the scientific and professional community through a project website, conferences or symposia, and professional presentations, for wider application and future aquatic vegetation management in the Columbia Basin. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."
6. Demonstrate aquatic plant harvest to the public Educate lower Yakima River shoreline landowners and the public about water stargrass, its associated threats to the Yakima River, and project findings, through a project website, public meetings, project bulletins, and media coverage via newspaper, television and radio. Yakima "Massive in-channel aquatic vegetation growth alters habitat, water quality, and ecosystem characteristics; means to control this growth should be studied."

Narrative

Recommendations

  • ISRP: Unranked
  • Council: Not fundable
  • BPA: Not fundable