Final Council recommendation (Nov 2006)

Funding category: Expense

Recommended budgets: FY07: $0 | FY08: $0 | FY09: $0

Comment:

ISRP final recommendation: Fundable

Comment:

Overall, this is an excellent "on-the-ground" project to improve habitat and fish. This proposal deserves a high priority. More scientific and technical information (with references) on the proposed installation (permanent wing dam diversion structure) and alternative methods, e.g., complete removal of the instream diversions and fish screens/replacement with wells and pressurized pipes, would have been useful. Examples of other areas where this type of irrigation water diversion installation has increased salmon abundance would have been useful. Pre- and post-replacement monitoring and evaluation and plans for information transfer are the weakest parts of this proposal. Redd surveys might not the best measure of success, because adult salmon returns could be affected by many other external factors. While the project is likely to have immediate benefits to focal species, only long-term monitoring can show whether these benefits will persist. There is no discussion in the narrative about other activities (upstream or downstream) in the basin that might compromise benefits to focal species. It is not clear from the narrative whether the new upstream location for the diversion dam is important habitat for focal species and how this habitat will be affected. There will be some attempts (biologists with nets) to rescue fish stranded by construction of the new dam. A discussion of potential adverse affects of dam replacement on habitat/populations of native biota would have been useful. The project will produce progress and annual reports. Plans for publication and or release and long-term storage of data, photographs, and meta-data resulting from pre- and post-Monitoring and evaluation were not described.

State/province recommendation:

Review group:

Recommended budgets: FY07: (n/a) | FY08: (n/a) | FY09: (n/a)

Comment: