| 777 |  Click magnifying glass to show details below the grid | 2008-307-00-NPCC-20120427 | 2008-307-00 | Deschutes River Sockeye Development | Joshua Ashline | UNSUBACCORD-2008-307-00 | Draft | 04/30/2012 | Implement | August 19, 2010
In 2008-2009, the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Action Agencies) signed agreements with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWSRO), the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN), and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). These agreements with these Tribes and CRITFC are referred to as the Three Treaty Tribes MOA. The Action Agencies also signed agreements with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CCT), the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes (SBT), and the states of Idaho, Montana, and Washington. These agreements are known as the Columbia Basin Fish Accords (Accords).
As set forth in the guidance document outlining the review process for the Accords, the Council recognizes Bonneville’s commitment to Accord projects. The Accords do not, however, alter the Council’s responsibilities with respect to independent scientific review of project proposals or the Council’s role following such reviews. As with all projects in the Fish and Wildlife Program, Accord projects are subject to review by the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP), and the Council provides implementation recommendations based on full consideration of the ISRP's report and the Council’s Program.
On November 4, 2008, the Council received from Bonneville an Accord proposal from the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWSRO), #2008-307-00, Deschutes Basin Sockeye.
On December 12, 2008 the ISRP provided its preliminary review (ISRP document 2008-15). The ISRP found that the proposal needed additional detail and provided a recommendation of “Response Requested - Does Not Meet Criteria.”
On May 12, 2010 the Council received from Bonneville a response to the issues raised by the ISRP, and on June 14, 2010 the Council received the final review from the ISRP (ISRP document 2010-19). The ISRP found that the proposal “Meets Science Review (In-Part, Qualified).” No public comment was been received on the ISRP reviews.
The goal of this collaborative program is to develop and re-establish a self-sustaining harvestable anadromous sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) run above the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project (PRB Project). [1] The objectives of this project are designed to address critical uncertainties in the Deschutes River basin associated with the Lake Billy Chinook and Suttle Lake O. nerka ecology and life-history as follows.
Objective 1. Determine the genetic structure of O. nerka in the Deschutes and Metolius river basins.
Objective 2. Determine outmigration timing and abundance of O. nerka from Suttle Lake.
Objective 3. Determine movement of O. nerka from Suttle Lake to SWW
Objective 4. Compare SAR rates between Suttle Lake and Lake Billy Chinook
Objective 5. Determine O. nerka population size and distribution in LBC
Objective 6. Determine spawner escapement of O. nerka in the Metolius River for the LBC group.
Objective 7. Develop quarterly and annual reports. [2]
Objective 8. Facilitate the development of a sockeye reintroduction plan [3]
The ISRP found the proposal much improved over the original version reviewed in late 2008. The panel found that two of the objectives meet review criteria (Objectives 1 and 5) and additional detail is needed for Objectives 2, 3, 4 and 6. The ISRP qualified its recommendation regarding Objective 8, develop a sockeye reintroduction plan, with the condition that if the reintroduction involves artificial production funded through the Fish and Wildlife Program a proposal to develop a Master Plan under the Council’s Three-Step process would be needed.
The additional detail requested for Objectives 2, 3, 4 and 6 addresses the adequacy of the sample size required to satisfy the precision of the estimates outlined in the specific objectives. The ISRP suggested that a statistician would be able to provide this analysis. The Council staff agrees with the ISRP and suggests that this analysis could be conducted through Project #1991-051-00, M&E Statistical Support For Life-Cycle Studies and work with Dr. John Skalski of the University of Washington to complete the analysis for ISRP review.
Notes
[1] The PRB Project is owned and operated by Portland General Electric Company (PGE) and the CTWSRO. In 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted PGE and CTWSRO a new 50-year operating license. In 2004, a Settlement Agreement concerning the relicensing included provisions for a Fish Passage Plan to: 1) establish self-sustaining harvestable anadromous fish runs of Chinook, steelhead and sockeye above the PRB Project; and 2) provide for safe, timely and effective upstream and downstream fish passage of adult and juvenile life stages of several fish species including sockeye. The achievement of the goal is a shared responsibility among the CTWSRO, PGE and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) because CTWSRO and PGE are co-licensees and CTWSRO has co-management authority with ODFW regarding fish and wildlife in the Deschutes River Basin. Within the Deschutes Subbasin, CTWSRO, PGE and ODFW conduct O. nerka investigations both cooperatively with and independently of one another in the basin and this project like others has been developed to accommodate and support information and data sharing.
[2] The Council agrees with the ISRP that this objective should be treated as an administrative task and addressed in contracting.
[3] The development of a sockeye reintroduction plan is being paid for by PGE and facilitated by CTWSRO and ODFW. | 2 | | |
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