Lower Columbia River Ecosystem Monitoring Project
Statement of Work and Budget FY2007

BPA Project Number:  2003-007-00
Contract Request Number:  CR-88389
Performance/Budget Period: September 1, 2007 – August 31, 2008

Technical Contact:  Jill Leary
Monitoring Coordinator
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 120
Portland, Oregon  97204
Phone: 503.226.1565 Ext. 235
Fax:  503.226.1580
leary@lcrep.org

Contracting Contact: LeeAnn Bronson
Financial Officer
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 120
Portland, Oregon  97204
Phone: 503.226.1565 Ext. 223
Bronson@lcrep.org
Fax:  503.226.1580


BPA Project Manager:  Jan Brady
Bonneville Power Administration
905 NE 11th Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97208
Phone:  503.230.4514
Fax:  503.230.4564
jebrady@bpa.gov

Date of Submission:  May 31, 2007

BACKGROUND
Our ability to understand the relationship of sensitive organisms such as salmonids to the lower Columbia River and Columbia River estuary ecosystem is hindered by a lack of information and poor access to existing data.  The Estuary Partnership proposes to  implement elements of its Ecosystem Monitoring Project to provide information on salmonid interactions in the lower Columbia River and estuary and to address habitat monitoring needs as well as data management.  

This statement of work describes the work elements, deliverables, and costs for year five of the Ecosystem Monitoring Project. The first year (September 2003 to August 2004) of this contract was placed on hold for the majority of the contract year due to Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NPCC) request for further review of the proposal by their Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP).  After ISRP review, and review by NPCC, three months remained to complete the work in the first year of the contract.  As a result, a number of tasks were delayed and completed in the second year.

The second year (September 2004 to August 2005) of this contract involved the creation and refinement of an ecosystem classification system for the lower Columbia River and estuary (LCRE). This classification was derived from LANDSAT TM imagery and bathymetry data and was used to develop habitat monitoring metrics for the LCRE. These habitat monitoring metrics were utilized in the field during July 2005 in reaches D & F of the LCRE to collect biological and physical data on habitat conditions. Additionally during the second year of this contract, three models related to toxics in the lower Columbia River and estuary were developed that provide information on the sources, pathways and potential effects of contaminants on salmonids in the LCRE. Fish sampling occurred from March 2005 through August 2005 and the sampling results are being incorporated into the models as analysis is completed. Finally, fixed station water quality monitoring, seasonal variation sampling and the deployment of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) occurred to provide water chemistry data that will be incorporated into the models as well.

The third year (September 2005 to August 2006) of this contract involved updates to the ecosystem classification system; however, these were delayed by the prolonged completion of the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) information completed by USGS. Habitat monitoring was completed in reach G (July 2006) and involved the collection of wetland vegetation species information and elevation as well as water quality information. New versions of the conceptual model, the contaminant transport and uptake model and the ecological risk model were informed by information from the salmonid sampling analysis. Salmon were analyzed for contaminant exposure, such as estrogenic compounds, and genetics. Water chemistry data analysis was also completed on the fixed station, seasonal, and SPMD samples.

The fourth year (September 2006 to August 2007) of this contract focused on refinements to the ecosystem classification system using the completed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and bathymetric data.  The updated classification system was used to direct field sampling efforts in summer 2007 in Reach #. These field surveys involved the collection of wetland vegetation species information and elevation as well as water quality information. Moreover, the classification system is informing the development of a rotational panel sampling design that will be employed for monitoring efforts in Years 5, 6, and 7 of the Ecosystem Monitoring Project.  The University of Washington and United States Geologic Survey (USGS) are participating in the creation of this classification system while and Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) is involved in the on the ground field surveys. Also during Year 4, NOAA Fisheries and USGS completed analysis on the toxics monitoring information collected through the Ecosystem Monitoring Project’s past water chemistry and fish sampling data collection efforts.  NOAA Fisheries analyzed contaminant exposure, sediment samples, otoliths, plasma and stomach content taxonomy on prey from fish samples collected during Year 2 of this contract and produced a report detailing the results on this analysis. This information is being used to update the contaminant transport model and the ecological risk models.  USGS analyzed the fixed station and seasonal sampling water quality data and the SPMD data to produce a report detailing their water chemistry findings. This information is being integrated with NOAA’s fish sampling analyses in a report that will be available in August 2007.

The fifth year (September 2007 to August 2008) of this contract will involve updates to the ecosystem classification system; habitat characterization in an additional hydrogeomorphic reach and in forested and scrub-shrub wetlands; habitat characterization of the water column; fish monitoring at habitat monitoring locations and refinement of probabilistic sampling design for the habitat and fish monitoring efforts. The Estuary Partnership Science Work Group will review the data on a periodic basis and recommend possible research studies to address key questions as they arise.

In addition to the coordinating activities the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership is involved with, we will be coordinating with the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Program (PNAMP) as a means of informing other agencies of the work being conducted in this study and to learn ways to align monitoring and sampling protocols in the lower Columbia River and estuary.  We will also be involved in discussions with the Northwest Environmental Data Network (NED) to obtain guidance on how our data can be made more accessible and usable for interested parties

Ecosystem Monitoring Project objectives for this year include:
1. Revise the ecosystem classification system
2. Identify one additional reach for fish and habitat monitoring and develop probabilistic sampling panel design one additional reach
3. Conduct habitat, water column, and salmon sampling at tidally influenced wetlands within selected reach
4. Analyze vegetation, water quality (dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity and depth), and salmon data
5. Develop Year 5 Annual Report detailing the results of objectives 1-4.