Lower Columbia River Ecosystem Monitoring Project
Statement of Work and Budget FY2008

BPA Project Number:  X2003-007-00
Contract Request Number:  CR-99488
Performance/Budget Period: September 1, 2008– August 31, 2009

Technical Contact:  Patti Howard
Technical Projects Coordinator
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 120
Portland, Oregon  97204
Phone: 503.226.1565 Ext. 235
Fax:  503.226.1580
howard@lcrep.org

Contracting Contact: Kenny Weiner
Financial Officer
Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
811 SW Naito Parkway, Suite 120
Portland, Oregon  97204
Phone: 503.226.1565 Ext. 223
weiner@lcrep.org
Fax:  503.226.1580


BPA Project Manager:  Tracey Yerxa
Bonneville Power Administration
905 NE 11th Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97208
Phone:  503.230.4738
Fax:  503.230.4564
tyerxa@bpa.gov

Date of Submission:  August 22, 2008

BACKGROUND

Understanding of the relationships between salmonids and their habitat in the lower Columbia River and estuary (LCRE) is hindered by substantial data gaps and poor access to existing data. The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (Estuary Partnership) will implement elements of its Ecosystem Monitoring Project to provide information on salmonids and their habitat in the LCRE and address data management needs.  

This statement of work describes the work elements, deliverables, and costs for Ecosystem Monitoring Project efforts that will be implemented from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009.

Review of Prior Work

During September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004, this contract was placed on hold for the majority of the contract year due to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's (NPCC) request for further review by their Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP). After the ISRP completed their review, three months remained in the contract year to complete the work. Thus, a number of tasks were delayed and completed during September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2005.

From September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2005, this contract facilitated the creation of a LCRE Ecosystem Classification System (Ecosystem Classification) by the University of Washington (UW) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). UW and USGS derived the Ecosystem Classification from LANDSAT TM imagery and bathymetry data. They then used the Ecosystem Classification to develop metrics for monitoring habitat in the LCRE. During July 2005, Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) collected biological and habitat data in reaches D and F of the LCRE using these metrics. NOAA Fisheries developed three contaminant models to assess the sources, pathways, and potential effects of contaminants on salmonids in the LCRE. NOAA Fisheries also monitored fish from March 2005 to August 2005 and incorporated these results into the models. Additionally, USGS conducted fixed station and seasonal variation water quality monitoring, and deployed semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) to provide water chemistry data for NOAA Fisheries’ models.

During September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006, efforts included updates to the Ecosystem Classification. These updates, however, were delayed by the completion of the Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) datasets by USGS. During July 2006, PNNL conducted habitat monitoring in reach G and collected data on wetland vegetation species, elevation, and water quality. NOAA Fisheries developed new versions of the three contaminant models and incorporated results from salmon sampling and analyses, which included salmon genetics and exposure to estrogenic compounds. USGS also completed chemical analyses of the water samples from the fixed station and seasonal water quality monitoring and from the SPMDs.

During September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007, UW refined the Ecosystem Classification with the completed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and updated bathymetric datasets. The updated Ecosystem Classification guided PNNL’s habitat monitoring efforts in reach E where they collected data on wetland vegetation species, elevation, and water quality. At this time, USGS was using the Ecosystem Classification to develop a rotational panel sampling design for monitoring efforts during the subsequent three years (September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2011) of the Ecosystem Monitoring Project. Additionally, NOAA Fisheries and USGS completed contaminant analyses of salmon and water samples from prior collection efforts. NOAA Fisheries analyzed salmon samples for contaminants, growth rates, and body condition and analyzed salmon stomach contents for prey taxonomy. They also analyzed sediment samples for contaminants. NOAA Fisheries produced a report detailing the salmon and prey results and used the information to update the three contaminant models. USGS produced a report detailing the water quality results. The Estuary Partnership, NOAA Fisheries, and USGS integrated the salmon, salmon prey, and water quality results into one report that is available on the Estuary Partnership’s website (http://www.lcrep.org/pdfs/WaterSalmonReport.pdf).

During September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008, UW finalized several GIS layers (diked areas, floodplain boundary, and dredge material/fill) relevant to the Ecosystem Classification. UW and the Estuary Partnership also began preplanning for bathymetry data acquisition. PNNL monitored vegetation and elevation at 6 sites (2 in reach G and 4 in reach H). NOAA Fisheries sampled salmon and salmon prey at 5 sites (1 in reach G and 4 in reach H). USGS deployed probes to monitor the water column for dissolved oxygen, temperature, water-surface elevation, and conductivity at 2 sites (1 in reach G and 1 in reach H) where PNNL and NOAA Fisheries collected vegetation and salmon data, respectively. In lieu of the probabilistic sampling design, USGS collected sediment samples at vegetation and salmon sampling sites, and are outlining a strategy for future sampling efforts that relates number of sites with available financial resources. UW began sampling vegetation, birds, insects, and benthic macroinvertebrates at case study areas to characterize the community profile of tidal freshwater riparian and floodplain forested/scrub-shrub wetlands in the LCRE.

Work Efforts for September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009

During 2008-2009, the Estuary Partnership will compile data essential for coordination of efforts from entities systematically monitoring the LCRE. The Estuary Partnership will work with PNNL to compile locations of sample sites, type of data collected, frequency of collection and methods used. A monitoring subcommittee of the Estuary Partnership’s Science Work Group, comprise of regional technical experts, will meet regularly to discuss on-going monitoring programs to ensure coordination of data collection efforts and data comparability.  The subcommittee will discuss data collection gaps, duplication of efforts, comparability of methods, data management and ways to improve existing monitoring. The information collected through these meetings and from Estuary Partnership and PNNL staff will be compiled into a central database and then mapped by the Estuary Partnership. Maps and descriptions of monitoring programs will be available to the public on the Estuary Partnership website. A presentation of on-going monitoring programs will be made to Action Agency staff, and the Estuary Partnership will work with BPA to arrange presentations from relevant monitoring entities to Action Agency staff as needed to ensure robust technical exchange on monitoring needs.

During this contract year, the Estuary Partnership will also coordinate efforts to map the bathymetry of the LCRE. The Estuary Partnership will implement the strategic plan for bathymetric data collection developed with UW and focus on priority data gaps identified at the 2007 Estuary Partnership-sponsored Bathymetry Workshop. UW will provide planning assistance and technical guidance for bathymetric data collection efforts and technical and field guidance to contractors hired by the Estuary Partnership to collect bathymetric data.

UW will further develop the Ecosystem Classification and apply it in analyses. They will incorporate tidal-freshwater wetland monitoring data and GIS layers (diked areas, floodplain boundary, and dredge material/fill), resulting from work in the prior year, into the Ecosystem Classification. UW will also incorporate new bathymetric datasets and work with USGS to develop criteria based on river geomorphology and hydrology for delineating habitats at smaller spatial scales. UW will use the Ecosystem Classification to assess habitat changes over time in the LCRE. Lastly, UW, USGS, and the Estuary Partnership will develop a draft (intended for a peer-reviewed scientific publication) that describes the Ecosystem Classification’s conceptual basis, methods used to develop datasets, preliminary results, and management applications.

UW, PNNL, NOAA Fisheries, and USGS will implement 2008-2009 monitoring work. UW will monitor vegetation, bird, terrestrial insect, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities at 3 representative freshwater-tidal forested/scrub-shrub wetlands in the LCRE. PNNL will collect data on wetland vegetation species, elevation, and water quality at 5-6 sites in one reach of the LCRE. NOAA Fisheries will monitor salmon and salmon prey at 5 sites within the LCRE reach to provide information on juvenile salmon use of the tidal freshwater portion of the Columbia River estuary. NOAA Fisheries will process salmon samples for stock, growth rates, stomach contents, and fish condition. USGS will deploy probes to monitor the water column for dissolved oxygen, temperature, water-surface elevation, and conductivity at 2 sites where vegetation and salmon data will be collected by PNNL and NOAA Fisheries, respectively. The Estuary Partnership Science Work Group will review the data on a periodic basis and recommend possible research studies to address key questions as they arise.

In addition to coordinating activities and on the ground work relevant to Estuary Partnership’s Ecosystem Monitoring Project, we will coordinate with the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Program (PNAMP) to inform other agencies of our work efforts and to increase the consistency of monitoring and sampling protocols used in the LCRE. We will also participate in the Northwest Environmental Data Network (NED) so that our data can be accessible and usable to interested parties

2009-2010 Objectives for the Ecosystem Monitoring Project include:
1. Coordinate on-going monitoring and compile information essential to monitoring coordination
2. Coordinate efforts to map the bathymetry of the LCRE and implement data collection
3. Develop hydrology and geomorphology criteria for habitat delineation and incorporate into the Ecosystem Classification
4. Develop a draft of the Ecosystem Classification intended for a peer-reviewed publication
5. Monitor the biological community at 3 freshwater-tidal forested/scrub-shrub wetlands in the LCRE
6. Monitor habitat, water column, and salmon at tidally influenced wetlands within a selected reach of the LCRE
7. Analyze biological community, vegetation, water column, and salmon data
8. Develop Annual Report detailing the results of Objectives 1-7