This contract will cover activities during the second year of on-going project aimed at restoring chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) populations that utilize Washington State tributaries and mainstem Columbia River spawning areas below Bonneville Dam to viable/self-sustaining abundance levels using an integrated program of habitat restoration and enhancement/reintroduction programs.  The project is a result of actions called for in the 2008 FCRPS BiOp; specifically RPA 42: Implement Conservation Programs to Build Genetic Resources and Assist in Promoting Recovery (sub-action 42.9 - CR Chum-Fund program to re-introduce in Duncan Creek and sub-action 42.10 - CR Chum-Fund projects in tributaries below BON) and RPA: 63 Monitor Hatchery Effectiveness (sub-action 63.1 - Measure effect of safety-net & conservation hatchery programs).

WDFW identified a phased approach for the implementation of this proposal (attached at project level - Revised Proposal 6/5/09):
Phase 1: Development of an integrated program for chum salmon habitat restoration and enhancement/reintroduction programs (FFY2009-10).
Phase 2: Implementation of the integrated program (FFY 2011).  


Phase 1 - Program development in FFY 2009-10
1)  An assessment of priority habitat restoration and/or chum channel sites.
2)  An updated stock status review of LCR chum salmon population structure and abundance necessary to prioritize restoration and guide future implementation of enhancement/reintroduction programs.
3)  Adaptive management of existing supplementation programs.
4)  Development of a stepwise enhancement program that utilizes supplementation/reintroduction to rebuild LCR chum populations.
5)  Development of a comprehensive program to monitor LCR chum salmon populations and evaluate the effectiveness of habitat restoration and supplementation/reintroduction actions.


With the activities completed from Phase 1, the project is moving into Phase 2 (implementation) during FFY 2011 and 12.
1) Generation of designs and feasibility studies will be initiated for habitat restoration projects and spawning channel sites that ranked out high in the priority assessment.
2) Implement the comprehensive adult and juvenile chum salmon monitoring program developed in FFY 2010.  To accomplish this, new tasks and tasks associated with two pre-existing BPA projects that focused on chum salmon monitoring (BPA Project #'s 1999-003 and # 2001-053) will now be accomplished under this project.  Monitoring will focus on generating values for VSP parameters (abundance, diversity, spatial and temporal distribution) as well as data needed to measure effects of existing and future enhancement/reintroduction programs.
3) Continue the two existing chum salmon artificial production programs; a safety-net program on the Grays River for an "at-risk" population and the reintroduction of chum salmon into Duncan Creek.  A three-pronged approach has been used to produce a self-sustaining chum salmon population in Duncan Creek. This approach included modifying the dam at the mouth of Duncan Creek (completed) , enhancing spawning habitat (completed), and using local brood stock to reintroduce chum salmon back into the basin (ongoing). Methods employed and associated results can be used as a template for future reintroduction efforts for Columbia River chum salmon.
4) Continue to maintain infrastructure to implement a "salvage" if deemed necessary.  BPA requested that WDFW generate a chum salmon "salvage" plan outlining potential options for emergency intervention in 2001.  The plan was developed (Chum Salmon Salvage Plan:  Fall 2001) with the goal of preserving genetic diversity within the population by ensuring adequate numbers of chum salmon survived to spawn successfully, either naturally or artificially.  The plan outlines options for expanding the Duncan Creek reintroduction brood stock collection protocol to encompass other areas determined to be at risk (Table 1).  The plan was submitted as an addendum to the Duncan Creek reintroduction project (BPA # 2001-053) and was incorporated into the Hatchery Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for Washougal Hatchery chum salmon.  Will only be done if additional funding is added to the project.  Left as a placeholder only.

Table 1.  Summary of strategies for Columbia River Chum Salmon salvage plan.

Case   ColumbiaRiver   Tributaries     SpawningArea                              Strategy
  1             low         low                   low        Juvenile supplementation in the mainstem Columbia River and  tributaries
  2             low         low            adequate        Adult supplementation in tributaries and juvenile supplementation in the mainstem Columbia River
  3         adequate        low                 low        Juvenile supplementation in tributaries, and no action in the mainstem Columbia River
  4             low adequate          adequate        Juvenile supplementation in the mainstem Columbia River, and no action in tributaries
  5         adequate adequate          adequate        No intervention, rely on natural production, and monitor


Notes for Aug 2011 revision:
This revision will increase the overall budget from $965,858 to $1,948,326, an addition of $980,067.

The major points of this revision are:
1)      The contract has been changed to a two-year time period.
2)      Actual numbers of otolith samples needing decoding (both thermal and for strontium mark presence) were used.  The 2010 chum return was larger than recent years resulting in more otolith samples being collected than expected.
3)      Increased the number of HOBO U20 data loggers to be ordered.  
4)      Funds to modify new boat to function for project (rails, front deck, etc).
5)      Added several “capitol” purchases.
          a.  A new Waterman gate actuary, we broke one this past winter.
          b.  A Conex storage box for outside storage at the office (weather and waterproof lockable storage for project nets, totes, sampling gear, etc)
          c.  Four 1,000 gallon fiberglass rearing raceways.  We’ll need these beginning in 2011-12 for rearing chum fry for release into the Lewis Basin.
          d.  A new survey/work boat for broodstock collection activities in the mainstem Columbia River.  The boat will be 19-20' long, have a fully welded aluminum hull, center consol steering and be powered by a 200hp outboard motor w/pump.  
6)      The addition of groundwater monitoring around Crazy Johnson Creek (piezometers installed fall 2011) and a potential spawning channel site off the WF Grays (piezometers installed summer 2012)  in the Grays Basin.  This work will be done through a sub-            contract that WDFW will generate with the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group (LCFEG).

No supplementation  release of fish will occur in new tributaries such as the Lewis, Elochoman, Kalama and others until the supplementation requirements by the NPCC/ISRP have been met.

Notes for CCR 26414  3-26-2012 Submittal

I put this together to make it easier for you to find the changes/additions in this contract change request.  In summary, this request will add several habitat investigations and projects with the goal of enhancing chum salmon spawning in several lower Columbia River tributaries (Grays, Skamokawa, Elochoman and Lewis rivers plus Hardy Creek).  Also, building on habitat assessments done in the basin during FFY11 under this contract, a preliminary design for a spawning channel off the Lewis River will be completed.  There’s a more detailed explanation of major changes in the line-item budget following the Work Element changes detailed below.


Modified Work Element AZ:  Removed the cross section layout portion of the deliverable.  Since one site stood out as the clear first choice without needing this element, the $$ saved will be used for preliminary design at the Eagle Island site instead.

Work Elements CY through DP added in this CCR (see below)

Work Element CY: Setup and field work for chum habitat inventory of Elochoman River and Skamokawa Creek, including tributaries.

Work Element CZ: Report on chum salmon habitat inventory for the Elochoman River and Skamokawa Creek and its tributaries

Work Element DA: Additional site investigation at potential chum spawning channel on Lewis R. near Eagle Island

Work Element DB: Analysis of additional data from potential chum spawning channel on Lewis River at Eagle Island

Work Element DC: Develop preliminary designs for a chum spawning channel on the Lewis River near Eagle Island

Work Element DD: Generation of treatment alternatives for Crazy Johnson Creek

Work Element DE: Draft Project design for preferred treatment in Crazy Johnson Creek

Work Element DF: Identify additional potential chum spawning channel sites in Grays River Basin

Work Element DG: Pump test & monitoring wells at potential chum spawning channel locations identified in Work Element DF

Work Element DH: Analysis of pump test conducted under Work Element DG

Work Element DI: Memo detailing preliminary results of potential for chum spawning channels at sites from Work Element DF

Work Element DJ: Field reconnaissance & site selection for potential Hardy Creek chum spawning channel

Work Element DK: Conduct test pit excavations, pump test and installation of monitoring wells at potential chum spawning channel locations off Hardy Creek

Work Element DL: Analysis of pump test conducted in Hardy Creek Basin

Work Element DM: Memo on results of groundwater monitoring (test pits) at sites in Hardy Creek Basin

Work Element DN: Second test pit excavation, pump test and monitoring well at the Happa site, Lewis River

Work Element DO: Analysis of pump test data from second test pit at Happa site, Lewis River

Work Element DP: Technical memorandum summarizing the second Happa site's potential for a chum spawning channel


Major changes in budget:
1) Added of 4.55 months for a WDFW Environmental Specialist 4 to conduct the chum habitat inventory of Elochoman River and Skamokawa Creek.
2) Large increase in otolith decoding cost (~$40K) from projected cost for Fall 2011 adults as a result of a significant increase in the number of returning adults.
3) Increase in the sub-contract for Inter-Fluve to do additional habitat assessment at the Eagle Island and Happa sites on the Lewis River.  Inter-Fluve will also be producing preliminary designs for a chum salmon spawning channel at the Eagle Island location.
4) Increase in the sub-contract for the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group as a result of additional habitat work/exploration proposed in Grays River and Hardy Creek basins.
5) Added $25,000 to purchase parts and construct a second custom 5’ rotary screw trap.  This trap will replace the fence-panel weir and live box trap currently in use in Crazy Johnson Creek.  Once it’s no longer needed in Crazy Johnson Creek (after three to four years of use) it will be available to monitor production at other reintroduction and supplementation sites.  The expected life span of the trap is at least 12 years.
6) Added ~$13,000 to upgrade smolt trapping activities (deck winches, Amsteel rope to replace wire rope, blocks, build/rebuild fence-weir panels and live boxes, trailers for smolt traps, etc).
7) An increase in WDFW’s indirect rate to 31.38%, the increase doesn’t take effect until July 1, 2012.  I estimated what would be spent before (23.51% overhead) and after (31.38% overhead) to determine a total indirect cost for the contract period.  Then divided that amount by the proposed contracts direct cost total to generate a weighted average indirect rate for the whole contract period.  Due to differences between federal fiscal years, state fiscal years and state biennium’s, this will in fact be the third indirect rate change to effect this contract.