Overview:  The Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB) manages the Tucannon River Programmatic Habitat Project (2010-077-00) through this parent contract for the operations support, management organization, implementation assistance, and reporting described in this summary.  The goal of the Tucannon River programmatic is to restore habitat function and channel processes in the spring Chinook priority restoration reaches of the Tucannon River, leading to improved population productivity and abundance.  

Current Emphases:  Project management activities in 2016 will encompass the following major task: the SRSRB will assist CCD, CTUIR, NPT and WDFW staff to implement the ecological restoration and habitat improvement projects in the following priority stream reaches, including PA-17 & 18 Phase I, PA-28 Phase I and the Little Tucannon PALs.  The SRSRB staff will also assist in the development and design of priority projects in the following areas; (USFS & CTUIR) PA-4 & 5, & PA-7, PA-17 & PA-18 Phase II, (CCD) PA-28 Phase II, and (WDFW) PA-6, PA-8, PA-9 and PA-13.  These projects have been prioritized and selected for their high-benefit to spring Chinook habitat.  The primary focus of the seven projects is to increase stream channel complexity through wood placement, and promote floodplain connectivity through increasing connection to side and off-channel habitats.  

Project Area 17 & 18 (Phase I) is located on both WDFW and private properties, with PA-28 (Phase I) being entirely on private property. The Little Tucannon is sponsored by the CCD and is funded through a SRFB  grant, but the Programmatic will provide technical support to the CCD in design and field-fitting project designs in 2016.  The SRSRB will assist CCD, WDFW and CTUIR in conducting field surveys, reviewing field drawings and developing design for PA-6, 8-9  and PA-13 (WDFW) and PA-17/18 Phase II & PA-5/6, & 7 (CTUIR),  for construction in 2017-2018, as well as helping in the identification, acquisition & coordination of materials, and coordination of field activities during implementation of the projects.  

Background on need to phase project areas:  Project areas 17 & 18 and 28 are being phased due to the size and complexities involved in both funding the projects (within a single fiscal-year) and permitting some of the actions proposed.  PA-17 &18 is planning on completing some of the LWD complexity work in 2016 with the more complex work to follow in 2017.  A design contractor was selected in 2015 who will work with CTUIR and the program to develop designs for levee removal and channel reconfiguration which will likely require RRT review outside the remaining time parameter for 2016 construction.  PA-28 is a long reach, with an upper LWD complexity reach (less costly and straight forward for permitting) and a lower reach which will incorporate channel meander adjustment work (requiring more review time).

The SRSRB will continue to work with sponsors to prioritize restoration actions and complete restoration designs for future implementation.  The SRSRB will provide and coordinate sub-contracting for the CCD to design and implement PA-28, a high priority restoration project located on private property; and provide coordination for the CCD for EC clearance in 2016. The SRSRB will support WDFW with the finalization of designs for PA-6, 8 & 9, located on WDFW property, for implementation in 2017, and work with WDFW engineer to develop preliminary design for PA-13 also located on WDFW property.  The SRSRB will support NPT in the identification of an additional high-priority project for design and implementation.

To track progress of implementation toward goals in the Tucannon the SRSRB conducts pre & post project surveys of conditions within the project reaches using a Rapid Habitat technique adapted from the CHaMP protocol.  The greatest value of the surveys to the program is their use as an as-built condition of each project quickly following construction.  The surveys will be made available to those conducting change detection research to better assist them in understanding the restoration activities and results.
___________________________________________________________

Background:  Habitat restoration projects developed though the programmatic approach are vetted in the SRSRB recovery process building local support in the communities where the restoration will take place.  Restoration projects recommended for funding under the programmatic have undergone multiple levels of review and technical comment before being recommended for implementation.  Only projects exhibiting high benefit to spring Chinook are currently recommended for funding, with selection criteria that prioritize projects that will address the limiting factors outlined for the Tucannon River in the 2008 Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion.

Purpose:  The projects are expected to increase pool and LWD frequency, improve off-channel habitat, promote floodplain connectivity by increasing stream channel roughness (LWD), and increase channel and side channel length.

Objectives:  The restoration objectives for the Tucannon spring Chinook are as follows (channel structure, LWD and floodplain connectivity being the highest priority):  
  1.  Increase riparian function to 75% of maximum
  2.  Increase large woody debris to 2 or more pieces per channel width
  3.  Increase pool frequency to 15% of stream area
  4.  Reduce channel confinement/increase floodplain connectivity to at least 25% of river length
  5.  Reduce maximum daily water temperature so that it does not exceed 72F at confluence of Pataha Creek (RM 11.8 of the Tucannon)
  6.  Decrease substrate embeddedness to 20% in all reaches above confluence of Pataha Creek (RM 11.8).

Status:  In 2015, the SRSRB RTT worked with project sponsors to identify the high priority projects which are in stage of design that could put them in position for construction in the 2016 & 2017 work windows. The RTT has selected projects based on their ability to achieve measurable progress towards one or more of the objectives listed above, that are outlined in a work plan through 2018.  Solicitation of projects will take place annually as the following two years’ work is outlined and recommended to BPA for funding. Project designs will be evaluated by the RTT and the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board as they are developed leading into implementation.

The Programmatic prefers to use it annual project implementation funding to leverage matching grants from outside funders, and typically averages cost-share amounts between 200-400 k/fiscal year. The Programmatic provides technical support and coordination to its project sponsors in the pursuit and acquisition of matching grants for both the design and construction of projects within the framework of the review and evaluation process for the Tucannon.

Management Considerations:  Implementation of projects is expected to be completed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Columbia Conservation District, Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (legislative program that supports non-profit groups of volunteers who cooperate with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve salmon resources throughout the state), the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Pomeroy Conservation District, Nez Pierce Tribe and/or other qualified groups, tribes, or agencies that submit proposals that are approved by the SRSRB.

This ongoing BPA contract support will facilitate the development of future projects and the refinement of the work plan as well as soliciting project sponsors for implementation.  The SRSRB will also facilitate the collection and reporting of data for implementation status, action and habitat effectiveness, and trend monitoring.  The SRSRB will update the Habitat Work Schedule restoration project data base with new project starts, and the completion status for active projects.  With long-term and sufficient funding levels, restoring channel processes and habitat function across large reaches will improve spring Chinook productivity in the Tucannon River.