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A | 9013 | 156 | Develop RM&E Methods and Designs | Development of methods for monitoring low order drainages | Develop and test methods for monitoring subcatchment and stream condition of low-order drainages.
Headwater stream sampling
We will continue to sample our 60 stream sites located within the Wenatchee subbasin starting in October 2006. Half (30) of these streams are located in Ecological Sub-Region (ESR) 4 (wet ecoregion) with the other 30 in ESR 11 (dry ecoregion). In both ecoregions, 15 low (little past logging and presence of roads) and high impact (recent logging and roads) sites have been chosen. Of the ESR 11 sites, 10 occur in the Mission Creek and 20 occur in the Peshastin Creek drainages. In ESR4, six occur in the Icicle, nine in Nason Creek, 10 in Little Wenatchee, and five in the White River drainages.
Invertebrates (aquatic and terrestrial) and organic detritus (i.e., particulate organic matter =250-µm) will be collected with a 250-µm net attached to one end of a 75-cm long, 10-cm diameter plastic pipe frame, which will rest on the stream bottom. One frame per stream with attached net will be secured with sandbags in the middle of each stream. Because the sampler will be placed on the stream bottom, seston will be captured (suspended particulate organic matter) as well as bedload particulate organic matter, which will be collectively labeled detritus, and macroinvertebrates in the drift as well as those moving downstream along the streambed. Facilitated by high stream gradient, the downstream end of each horizontal pipe will rest above the stream surface; discharge through the sampler will be determined by recording the time taken to fill a container of known volume. Discharge will be measured during each sampling period, a mean calculated, and this value used to determine the density of invertebrates (individuals m-3) and detritus (= 250-µm diameter, g m-3). Most of the streams are expected to be sufficiently small to allow for the entire stream flow to pass through the pipes. If not, the percentage relative to the total stream flow will be estimated. This fraction will be used to extrapolate the transport measured through the net for the whole stream. Replicates will be streams within each land-use and ecoregion (n = 15). Streams will be sampled continuously for invertebrates and detritus over a 24-h period once every two months, October through August, for all sites.
Invertebrates will be sorted from detritus after being placed in 70% EtOH in the field. They will be identified to the lowest reliable taxon, their body lengths measured, and dry mass determined using taxon-specific length-mass regression equations (Rogers et al. 1977; Smock 1980; Meyer 1989; Sample et al. 1993; Burgherr and Meyer 1997). Invertebrates will be categorized as either aquatic or terrestrial if they were a product of aquatic or terrestrial secondary production, respectively (Wipfli 1997). The remainder of the sample (detritus component) will be oven-dried, weighed, ashed (at 500º C for 5 h), and reweighed to determine ash-free dry mass (AFDM).
Additionally, we will measure several other physical and biological variables in the streams to link the productivity measures with causal factors in the subcatchments, including periphyton development on rock surfaces, and stream temperature, pH, and conductivity at all sites. | $80,000 | 63.24% | 10/01/2005 | 10/06/2006 |
B | 9014 | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Sampling in fish-bearing habitat | Sampling in Fish-Bearing Habitat
Fish sampling will start in May 2006 corresponding to increased water temperatures and fish activity, and continue thoughout the summer (water levels permitting).
Fish will be captured with baited Gee minnow traps, electrofishing when necessary, and by seining in pools within 50-m downstream of the zone of contact between the fishless and fish-bearing habitats (headwater ‘treatment'), and in pools within 50-m upstream of this zone (control), for determining fish responses (including diet) resulting from prey delivery from the headwater tributaries. Because we will likely encounter ESA-listed anadromous salmonids, we will use the most passive methods possible to estimate fish population size after obtaining the necessary permissions. Removal methods using minnow traps are much less harmful than electrofishing and impart less mechanical stress to fish than seining. With a careful sampling protocol, removal sampling with minnow traps can estimate fish density in a short (~ 1 d) time period (Bryant 2000). All captured fish will be placed in buckets of fresh stream water and monitored constantly until being returned alive to the stream.
In order to link the relative contribution of invertebrate-based food webs found in the headwater streams and that of the fish-bearing streams to the condition of relevant fish populations, we must use some direct measures of fish responses to differences in food availability. Analysis of fish diet, condition and behavior will enable us to establish how strongly connected the energetic inputs of headwater streams are to the persistence of resident and anadromous species. During regular sampling of fish at our study sites we will anesthetize individuals of all species with MS-222® and use gastric lavage techniques (Meehan and Miller 1978) to obtain a sample of consumed prey. Although somewhat invasive, Meehan and Miller (1978) obtained high survival rates and pilot studies on hatchery-derived juvenile coho salmon (O. kisutch) in our study system resulted in full recovery with no immediate mortality (Polivka unpubl. data). Following sample collection and preservation, gut contents will be analyzed in the laboratory to determine whether the assemblage of taxa consumed by fish can be linked to either headwater or mainstem production. Finally, we will sacrifice a maximum of 5-10 individuals of each species not listed under the ESA as permitting stipulations and local densities allow at each site for whole-body lipid and isotope analysis, a reliable indicator of fish condition (Simpkins et al. 2003). | $40,000 | 31.62% | 10/01/2005 | 09/30/2006 |
C | 9015 | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Statistical analysis of all data collected | Data analysis will begin in FY 06 after the first year (Sep 2004 - to Sep 2005) of sampling. Final analysis and interpretation will occur after the Aug 2006 sampling.
Statistical Procedures
A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (SAS 1990) will be used to test for significant effects of land-use and ecoregion, and for land-use × ecoregion interaction (a = 0.05). Fifteen replicates of both land-use types and ecoregions will be selected for study (2 land-use × 2 ecoregions × 15 reps = 60 total study sites). This number of replicates appears to be adequate for measuring land-use and veg. cover effects on headwater subcatchments (Piccolo and Wipfli 2002). Multiple regression will also be used and compared to test effects of riparian and upslope vegetation type and PAR on dependent responses to see if there are additional factors responsible for variance among means.
Response variables (dependent variables) will be nutrient concentrations, total invertebrate count density (number of macroinvertebrates/m-3 water), total biomass density (mg dry mass of macroinvertebrates /m-3 water), macroinvertebrate species richness and diversity, functional feeding group composition, detritus density (mg AFDM/m-3 water), PAR and periphyton AFDM, and fish lipid levels. All response variables will be logarithmic transformed (ln (x + 0.1)) to meet ANOVA assumptions of normally distributed residuals and equal variances among groups if needed. We will further compare invertebrate community similarity among headwater streams, among ecoregion and land-use category, and between headwater streams and fish-bearing regions using multivariate ordination methods. | $4,000 | 3.16% | 01/01/2006 | 09/30/2006 |
D | 9016 | 141 | Produce Other Reports | Submit quarterly reports to NOAA | Prepare and submit status report to NOAA covering the previous 3 months efforts, that identifies proposed actions, accomplishments, and lessons learned. | $500 | 0.40% | 01/01/2006 | 09/30/2006 |
E | 9018 | 119 | Manage and Administer Projects | Overall Project Management | Manage on-the-ground efforts. Also covers administrative work in support of on-the-ground efforts and in support of BPA's programmatic requirements such as metric reporting, financial reporting (e.g., accruals), and development of an SOW package (includes draft SOW, budget, spending plan, and property inventory). | $1,500 | 1.19% | 12/31/2005 | 09/30/2006 |
F | 9017 | 132 | Produce Progress (Annual) Report | Submit annual report to NOAA | Produce a report covering the previous 12 months efforts. Identifying proposed actions, accomplishments, and lessons learned. Additionally, for the previous 3 months, a similar format will be expected. The fourth 3-month report will be replaced by the Annual Report. | $500 | 0.40% | 10/01/2005 | 12/01/2005 |
G | 9019 | 165 | Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Prepare documentation for the FY07 contract | Because of the nature of this work, permits are required. In the event additional / supplemental permitting is required beyond those already received, prepare necessary documentation for BPA's preparation of a compliance document. Environmental compliance shall be in the possession of UAF/USFS prior to the commencement of any work that may involve ESA-listed species. | $0 | 0.00% | 07/01/2006 | 09/30/2006 |
H | 9012 | 185 | Produce CBFish Status Report | Quarterly milestone status reports online via Pisces (G/Y/R) | | $0 | 0.00% | 01/01/2006 | 09/30/2006 |