Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program
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Project Summary

Project 2007-148-00 - Monitoring and Models for Restoration and Adaptive Management of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin
Project Number:
2007-148-00
Title:
Monitoring and Models for Restoration and Adaptive Management of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin
Summary:
A metapopulation model for white sturgeon will help managers to evaluate restoration strategies (e.g., harvest regulation, translocation, stocking) for this species, and indicate how monitoring data might best be used to provide feedback.
Proposer:
None
Proponent Orgs:
US Geological Survey (USGS) (Govt - Federal)
Starting FY:
2007
Ending FY:
2011
BPA PM:
None
Stage:
Area:
Province Subbasin %
Basinwide - 100.00%
Purpose:
Programmatic
Emphasis:
RM and E
Focal Species:
Species Benefit:
Anadromous: 0.0%   Resident: 100.0%   Wildlife: 0.0%
Tags:
None
Special:
None
BiOp Association:
None

No photos have been uploaded yet for this Project.

The table content is updated frequently and thus contains more recent information than what was in the original proposal reviewed by ISRP and Council.

Review: FY07-09 Solicitation Review

Council Recommendation

Assessment Number: 2007-148-00-NPCC-20090924
Project: 2007-148-00 - Monitoring and Models for Restoration and Adaptive Management of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin
Review: FY07-09 Solicitation Review
Approved Date: 10/23/2006
Recommendation: Do Not Fund
Comments:

Independent Scientific Review Panel Assessment

Assessment Number: 2007-148-00-ISRP-20060831
Project: 2007-148-00 - Monitoring and Models for Restoration and Adaptive Management of White Sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin
Review: FY07-09 Solicitation Review
Completed Date: 8/31/2006
Final Round ISRP Date: None
Final Round ISRP Rating: Meets Scientific Review Criteria (Qualified)
Final Round ISRP Comment:
This proposal to assemble the basin's monitoring information on sturgeon, their habitat, and the efforts underway to manage sturgeon appears worthwhile. The ISRP has been asking for coordinated efforts among the sturgeon researchers, and the proposal intends to collect relevant data from all of them. One thing they likely will find is that the habitats differ among subpopulations, and likewise the management strategies.

The metapopulation model is a reasonable framework for assembling the information, although strictly speaking it is hard to see the currently isolated populations as a functioning metapopulation. The model would build on a similar model developed for white sturgeon in the Snake River above the Hells Canyon Project, where remnant populations still exist, primarily above Brownlee Reservoir. A strong point, again from the perspective of the ISRP's desire to see the sturgeon researchers cooperate, is the planned workshop for planning the model. The existing Snake model considers spawning rates, rates of export of larvae from one reservoir to the next downstream, upstream movement of adults (negligible), water quality (mainly temperature and DO), the bioenergetics of sturgeon growth (using a bioenergetics submodel), etc. It does not include specific habitat factors such as the hypothesized riparian connection for egg and larval survival, although these could be included in an updated version for the whole basin. There seems to be room in such a model for the conservation hatchery outputs on the Kootenai, as well as egg mortality in the silty substrate there. Translocation such as is done in the lower Columbia can be included. A key to model success will be the discussions about what to include in it (models will only manipulate the factors put in them, not instigate new ones). The model can serve as a valuable conceptual framework rather than an exercise in precise mathematical formulation and prediction.

The model has another advantage for the Fish and Wildlife Program. It is one case where Idaho Power has done the initial work and would contribute funding to the BPA effort. This cooperation would be almost unique and something to foster.

The ISRP finds this proposal Fundable (Qualified). The qualification is how the model would be used as a tool for assembling the data and making management recommendations, and whether it is intended to be a computational predictor or a guide.

The sponsors also need to establish that the project has the support of the various researchers in the basin from whom the monitoring and research data will have to come. The results of data assembly, model assembly, model runs, and assessments need to be discussed in follow-up workshops with fish managers, and not just lead to a publication for the authors.
Documentation Links:

Legal Assessment (In-Lieu)

Assessment Number: 2007-148-00-INLIEU-20090521
Project Number: 2007-148-00
Review: FY07-09 Solicitation Review
Completed Date: 10/6/2006
In Lieu Rating: Problems May Exist
Cost Share Rating: 3 - Does not appear reasonable
Comment: White sturgeon monitoring, fishery managers, others authorized/required.

Capital Assessment

Assessment Number: 2007-148-00-CAPITAL-20090618
Project Number: 2007-148-00
Review: FY07-09 Solicitation Review
Completed Date: 2/27/2007
Capital Rating: Does Not Qualify for Capital Funding
Capital Asset Category: None
Comment: None

Project Relationships: None