The Status and Trend Annual Report (STAR) is designed to complement the 2008 FCRPS BiOp in describing habitat improvements, using Primary Limiting Factors (Ecological Concerns) identified in the NPCC Subbasin Plans and by the RTT, in terms of improvements towards habitat functionality.  Guided by specific planning considerations, we will continue to identify and inventory data resources and data gaps, coordinate efforts to increase efficiency and reduce potential redundancy, and identify ways and means for long-term sharing of information.  The primary audience for this Status and Trend Annual Report is the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board and the Bonneville Power Administration, although similar interests from other local, state and federal agencies are recognized.

The goal of the Status and Trend Annual Report project is to support mitigation described in the 2008 FCRPS Biological Opinion, and the obligations and commitments encompassed by the NPCC Fish and Wildlife Program, by annually reporting implementation and monitoring progress associated with salmon recovery efforts relevant to the Columbia Cascade Province.  These efforts will be directed towards FCRPS Biological Opinion status reporting, with an emphasis on identifying and reporting progress towards habitat restoration.  Efforts will continue to measure restoration progress in terms of improving and increasing habitat functionality.  As described in the 2008 FCRPS BiOp, improvements in habitat functionality correlate directly to assumed improvements to juvenile salmonid productivity.  

In a general sense the Yakama Nation envisions the general progression of the development of these products starting as an annotated "Table of Contents".  This starting point provides relatively easy access for various agency representatives to understand the nature and framework of the intended final product and to gain general consensus on this framework without investing substantial amounts of time in the initial development.  The second step is development of a DRAFT 1.0 document based upon the Table of Contents.  The purpose of this first draft is to provoke additional and specific comments from key technical representatives.  The Draft 1.0 will focus primarily on defining the general logic of the assessment through concise narratives.   It is expected that upon agency input of this DRAFT 1.0 substantial revisions will be made, including final formatting, GIS graphics photographs, etc.  resulting in a  2.0 document.  This 2.0  will represent technical consensus on key information specific to 1) Primary Limiting Factors (Ecological Concerns) (PLF's, ECs, at the watershed scale), 2) restoration completed addressing these PLF's/ ECs, 3) benefits associated with these actions (in terms of habitat functionality per Fish Accords), and monitoring information associated with these actions (indicating degree of certainty of habitat functionality conclusions).  The 2.0 will also include a "roll-up" of watershed information in the form of Subbasin summaries and conclusions at the Population scale (DPS and ESUs for ESA listed steelhead and spring chinook salmon, respectively).  Critical information from the Draft 2.0 versions can be used to formulate the ESU Executive Summaries.  

These products, once completed are intended to be used on an annual basis by the Yakima and Upper Columbia Boards and the Yakama Nation primarily as a tool for adaptive management.  As such, additional information will need to be added to these products relative to non-listed ESA species.  This additional work is recognized to be outside of the scope of this BPA contract.  The manner of incorporating non-listed species into the Status and Trend Annual Report is still under consideration and is not expected to be available for a couple years.  These products are also expected to serve as base-line information available for the periodic check-in periods associated with the Fish Accords (2013, 2016, 2018).  

Work completed under previous contracts focused on the Wenatchee Subbasin.  Progress through 2011 was very slow due to internal issues with hiring a STAR Coordinator. Part of 2012 was spent in general orientation with the STAR work, Yakama Nation administration, policies and personnel and introductions/coordination with key individuals that will support future STAR work in both the Upper Columbia and in the Yakima River basins.  The remainder of FY 2012 was spent on putting together data and draft products for the Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow subbasins, as well as annotated table of contents and partial drafts for the Yakima Subbasin and Southern Tributaries.

Details of the drafts and annotated table of contents include: 1) how habitat restoration projects funded by BPA, and other entities, are consolidated at the watershed scale - per the Subbasin Plans;  2) how these projects either have or will address identified Primary Limiting Factors/ Ecological Concerns; and 3) the logic and manner in which estimates associated with changed habitat functionality are derived.  This work was coordinated with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority staffs but also received input from the staffs of the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board and Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board.  Although the majority of the work focused at the Watershed and assessment unit scale, contract efforts also advanced considerable development of the method by which local improvements would be “rolled up” to the population scale- to be further developed in the next contract period.  

This report, and its components, are expected to serve as templates as the Yakama Nation (YN) continues to expand the Status and Trend reports to eventually include all key subbasins within the Ceded Lands of the YN.  In addition, within the next 2-4 years the Yakama Nation intends to continue to expand this effort beyond habitat contributions, to include the integration and reporting of progress for the other "H's"- Hydro, Hatchery and Harvest.

During this next contract period the work will continue in three key areas:  1) a draft will be developed addressing status and trend for the FCRPS hydroelectric system, relative to the Fish Accords and 2008 BiOp;  2) Drafts of the Wenatchee, Entiat and Methow Subbasins will be updated and further developed with higher level summaries and refined assessments ; and 3) Drafts for the Yakima and Southern Tributaries will be developed. Additionally, reporting and summary efficiencies will be improved, and data made more easily digestible as higher level summaries are developed and made easily accessible via the web.

This work will continue to be designed and developed in coordination with Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, the Yakima River Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board, the State of Washington, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, BPA and the NPCC Fish and Wildlife Program, and is intended to support these and other local and regional efforts.  The Yakama Nation will continue to participate in ongoing regional and local efforts that directly relate to the development of STAR products addressed to these purposes.  The YN is committed to continued coordination with BPA, CBFWA, NOAA-Fisheries and the Fish Passage Center to ensure the STAR is consistent with and complementary with other regional efforts.