Yakama Nation Fisheries Program
Rock Creek Fish and Habitat Assessment for the Prioritization of Restoration and Protection
Statement of Work and Budget 2008

BPA Project Number:  2007-156-00
BPA Project Title: Rock Creek Monitoring & Evaluation  

Contract Number:  

Contract Title: Rock Creek Monitoring & Evaluation
Performance/Budget Period:  December 1, 2007 - November 30, 2008


Technical Contact: Elaine Espirito
Fisheries Biologist
Yakama Nation Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 215
Klickitat, WA 98628
Phone: 509-369-3570 / Fax: 509-369-3194
elaine@ykfp.org

Contracting Contact: Paul Ward
Program Manager
Yakama Nation Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 151
Toppenish, WA 98948
Phone: 509-865-6262 / Fax: 509-865-6293
ward@yakama.com

Financial Contact: Debbie Azure
Yakama Nation Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 151
Toppenish, WA 98948
Phone: 509-865-6262 / Fax: 509-865-6293
debbie@yakama.com


The project's goals include characterizing baseline conditions of the Rock Creek watershed and anadromous fish habitat to prioritize sites for restoration.  Environmental and biological attribute data will be collected throughout the watershed.  Data will be compiled, analyzed, and put into the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) model.  Historic watershed conditions (e.g. Government Land Office survey maps and notes, air photos, flow data) will also be researched and incorporated into the EDT model.  EDT modeling will assess watershed and field investigations to refine  the impact and magnitude of past activities, as well as restoration opportunities and benefits.  Possible restoration projects could be developed using EDT model projections.  The Lower Mid-Columbia including Rock Creek Subbasin plan did not conduct EDT model runs for the Rock Creek watershed and its anadromous salmonid populations.  One of the key strategies and objectives listed in the subbasin plan for Rock Creek include an evaluation of the genetics of Rock Creek steelhead.  A genetics assessment will be conducted on steelhead to determine if Rock Creek has its own unique strain and sub-populations.  Population surveys will be conducted to define the full extent of anadromous use and potential habitat.  Habitat and spawning gravel field surveys will be conducted in the mainstem and its tributaries to attain the current baseline conditions.  Spawning surveys and scale analysis will be done on steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), fall Chinook (O. tshawytscha), and coho (O. kisutch).  Fish species composition and distribution surveys will be conducted to determine distribution, relative abundance, and movement within or out of the watershed.  Stream temperature and water quality monitoring will be conducted throughout the watershed.  

This project addresses the Rock Creek and Eastern Tributary Subbasins Recovery Plan objectives for Middle Columbia River steelhead.  Some of the key research needs indicated in the recovery plan include genetic studies to identify genotypic variation; population structure assessment; exotic species effects on the recovery of steelhead; predation risk from native and non-native fish and birds; and identification of the natural water temperature in the lower river and whether fish could survive with higher average mainstem temperatures if in-stream diversity and side channel/floodplain habitats are present and diverse enough to provide thermal refugia.