Habitat Enhancement Effectiveness - Biological Monitoring & Evaluation VI
Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)
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| 17-Umat-03 | | Middle Columbia River | | 06/01/2018 | | 10/01/2022 | | 2017 | | Completed | | 01/25/2024 | | |
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Description
Under the sixth year of this project, increased monitoring and research efforts for Meacham Creek included extensive surveying of juvenile salmonid abundance during the summer and fall, increased PIT tagging of juveniles throughout the system to monitor outmigration and survival, and continuation of a longterm macroinvertebrate study along with continued habitat monitoring. The ability to detect biological changes in response to habitat restoration is critical for determining habitat quantity and quality, and to understand what particular restoration action or suite of actions yield the greatest fish response.
This funding also purchased an RTK GPS rover unit along with a corresponding field data collector to increase field habitat data collection efficiency at larger scales. large extent of the Umatilla Tribes habitat restoration projects past and future on Meacham Creek in the Umatilla Basin, OR watershed requires a larger scale monitoring approach than is currently funded under BPA in order to measure a biological response.
Three sample sites were selected for monitoring to represent two large restoration efforts in Meacham Creek; a control site, a post-treatment site representative of the 2012 Phase II River Mile 6.0-8.5 Floodplain project, and a pre-treatment site for the proposed 2016-2017 Bonifer Reach Floodplain project. The Umatilla Tribes strategy uses regionally standardized habitat protocols (Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program (CHaMP) and BPA’s Action Effectiveness Monitoring (AEM) ) combined into a comprehensive protocol to monitor CTUIR fish habitat action effectiveness (https://www.monitoringresources.org/Document/Protocol/Details/1955). Habitat surveys consist of a simultaneous topographical and auxiliary data survey. CHaMP methods provide standardized metrics that can be used to measure response variables in salmonid habitat.
Specific work under Part I included:
• Review the PHaMS and CHaMP methods and protocols
• Gain insight from other experts on our approach
• Develop a crosswalk between PHaMS and CHaMP methods and protocols
• Identify methodological and data gaps
• Select field sites where a comparison between PHaMS and CHaMP methods and protocols can be carried out to provide insight into their generalizability (WC)
• Continued habitat monitoring of three sample locations within Meacham Creek (permanent technician time funded by BPA, survey equipment rental funded by PCSRF).
• Juvenile salmonid abundance surveys at each sample site during summer and fall seasons (permanent technicians funded by BPA, temporary technicians funded by PCSRF).
• Redd abundance surveys and carcass counts for spring Chinook and summer steelhead conducted throughout the tributary March-September.
• Continuation of Meacham macroinvertebrate study through OSU subcontract (PCSRF funded). Completion of Phase 1 of the CHaMP/PHaMS methodology review (PCSRF funded).
Specific activities that occurred at Meacham Creek were as follows:
Monitored 12 miles of stream, included macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality monitoring, juvenile salmonid monitoring, and restoration effectiveness and validation monitoring on 1.11 stream miles, and adult salmonid redd counts and carcass counts on 10.65 stream miles. Also performed modeling and data analysis (compared CHaMP field and PHaMS remote methodologies) and a habitat attribute study of limiting factors and ecological conditions.
Project Benefit
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is implementing a habitat restoration program with emphasis on reducing the effects of primary limiting factors (i.e. water temperature and habitat complexity) and restoring natural ecological processes. Biomonitoring sample sites have been selected for evaluating a biological response to habitat restoration; and the expected benefit is to improve habitat quality for adult holding and spawning, and juvenile rearing of fish species of interest. Monitoring habitat in parallel with fish surveys can provide valuable information regarding fish/habitat relationships . Specifically, we’ll study the response of juvenile fish density, growth, migration timing, and survival to habitat restoration at three sites located in Meacham Creek. Accomplishments
| Research and Monitoring |
| Stream Miles Monitored |
12.00 |
19.00 |
Funding Details |
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| PCSRF | $50,000 |
| Other | $55,461 |
| Report Total: | $105,461 |
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Worksites
Meacham Creek
- Worksite Identifier: Meacham Creek
- Start Date: 06/01/2018
- End Date: 10/01/0022
Area Description
No Area Description data was found for this worksite.
Location Information
- Basin: Middle Columbia (170701)
- Subbasin: Umatilla (17070103)
- Watershed: Meacham Creek (1707010302)
- Subwatershed: Boston Canyon-Meacham Creek (170701030206)
- State: Oregon
- Recovery Domain: Middle Columbia River
- Latitude: 45.64654
- Longitude: -118.3606
ESU
- Mid-Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU
- Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS
- Un-Named ESU Bull Trout
Map
Photos
Metrics
Metrics
- E.0
Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
- . . E.0.a
RM&E Funding 105,461.00
- . . E.0.b
| Complement habitat restoration project | |
| This monitoring plan will complement the habitat implementation by CTUIR’s Umatilla Anadromous Fish Habitat project (1987-100-01). |
- . . E.0.c
| Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment. | |
| Biological Effectiveness Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for Fisheries Habitat Enhancement in CTUIR Subbasins (Stillwater Sciences 2011b) |
- . . E.0.d.1
Number of Cooperating Organizations 3
- . . E.0.d.2
| Name Of Cooperating Organizations. | |
| Bonneville Power Administration’s Action Effectiveness Work plan (BPA AEM)
Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) |
- . . E.0.e.1
Number of reports prepared 3
- . . E.0.e.2
| Name Of Report | |
| Contor, C. R. Editor. 2015. Umatilla Basin Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation, 2014 Annual Progress Report. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 46411 Ti’Mine Way, Pendleton, OR. Report submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Project No. 1990-005-01, Contract 00065117
Costi, K., Contor. C., Shippentower. G. 2016. Fish Habitat Enhancement Biological Effectiveness Monitoring, 2015 Annual Progress Report. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 46411 Ti’Mine Way, Pendleton, OR. Report submitted to Bonneville Power Administration, Project No. 2009-014-00, Contract 68461
Costi, K., Wildbill, A., Shippentower. G. 2017. Fish Habitat Enhancement Biological Effectiveness Monitoring, 2016 Annual Progress Report. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, |
- . . E.1
MonitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.1.a
Monitoring funding 95,461.00
- . . . . E.1.b.1
Stream Miles Monitored 12.00
- . . . . E.1.b.2
Acres of Watershed Area Monitored 53.9
- . . . . E.1.b.3
Square miles of water monitored.5 (Square miles)
- . . . . E.1.c.2
Salmonid smolt or fry monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.2.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Salmonid smolt or fry 1.11
- . . . . E.1.c.3
Biological instream monitoring (other than salmon)Y (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.3.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Biological indicies (other than salmon) 1.11
- . . . . E.1.c.4
Redd countsY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.4.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for redds 10.65
- . . . . E.1.c.5
Carcass countsY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.5.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Carcasses 10.65
- . . . . E.1.c.8
Water quality monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.8.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream monitored for water quality 1.11
- . . . . E.1.c.13
Restoration effectiveness monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.13.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream or streambank monitored 1.11
- . . . . . . E.1.c.13.c
# acres (to nearest 0.1 acre) monitored 53.9
- . . . . E.1.c.14
Restoration validation monitoringY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.1.c.14.a
# miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) stream or streambank monitored 1.11
- . . . . . . E.1.c.14.c
# acres (to nearest 0.1 acre) monitored 53.9
- . . . . E.1.d
| Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program | |
| Bonneville Power Administration, Action Effectiveness Monitoring Program
CTUIR and ODFW. 1990. Umatilla Hatchery Master Plan. CTUIR
CTUIR and ODFW. 2004. Umatilla Subbasin Plan, Northwest Power Planning Council
(+2 others, listed in proposal) |
- . . . . E.1.e
| Description of monitoring | |
| The scope of the CTUIR biomonitoring plan includes the direct measurement of habitat improvements which will provide an understanding of the benefits of systematically collecting habitat data in conjunction with biological data in order to gain the greatest understanding of relationships between fish abundance, growth, migration timing, and survival as they relate to stream habitat restoration actions. Our strategy uses regionally standardized habitat protocols (Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program, CHaMP) to sample project reaches pre and post habitat restoration in contrast to unmodified control reaches. CHaMP methods provide standardized metrics that can be used to measure response variables in salmonid habitat. Habitat surveys consist of a simultaneous topographical and auxiliary data survey. CTUIR is congruently monitoring juvenile fish abundance and species composition at each site using a combination of snorkel methods at most sites and mark-recapture electrofishing where time and water conditions allow. Drift and benthic macroinvertebrate samples are collected yearly at each location as well as adult redd enumerations and carcass counts for focal species.
A detailed table of collection and analysis methods associated with this protocol can be accessed at: https://www.monitoringresources.org/Document/Protocol/Details/1955
Habitat Attribute Monitoring
CTUIR employees participate in the yearly 10 day training course for the CHaMP habitat monitoring protocol and become competent prior to field work with equipment, field protocols, data post processing, and QA/QC procedures . CTUIR implements habitat surveys using a combination of CHaMP and AEM data collection methodology. CHaMP methods provide standardized metrics that can be used to measure response variables in salmonid habitat changes. Metrics generated from habitat surveys as they relate to limiting factors are as follows: Primary Channel Length, Secondary Channel Length, Bankfull Width, Bankfull Depth, Bankfull Cross-Sectional Area, Width/Depth Ration (Wbkf/Dbkf), Gradient, Sinuosity (Lc/Lv), Braided-Channel Ratio, River Complexity Index, Pool Frequency or Spacing, Pool-to-Turbulent Area Ratio, Residual Pool (Depth, Volume, Area), Relative Habitat Type Abundance/Volume/Area/%, LWD Counts Bankfull and Wetted (#, Frequency, and Volume), Fish Cover Composition, Area and Volume of New Habitats Created, and Gradient.
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling
A composite sample of benthic macroinvertebrates is accrued for each treatment and control site using a method derived from the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) targeted riffle sampling protocol .
Standard lab analysis and index values will be derived for each benthic sample including:
1. Biomass
2. Taxa richness
3. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI)
4. Oregon PREDictive (PREDATOR) model results .
Adult Abundance and Distribution
Adult abundance and distribution is estimated based on redd and carcass counts conducted in the treatment and control reaches. Sampling occurs annually commencing at the onset of the spawning season and continuing approximately every 10–14 days until spawning is complete .
Data derived from redd count surveys include:
1. Index temporal abundance of spawners
2. Estimate total abundance of spawning females
3. Determine spatial spawning distribution
4. Determine temporal spawning distribution
Juvenile Fish Abundance Snorkeling
Juvenile snorkel surveys are conducted for the entirety of each treatment and control site. Species, size class (10mm accuracy), habitat unit, and instream structure usage are recorded for each fish throughout the reach .
Juvenile Salmonid Electrofishing and PIT Tagging
Juvenile electrofishing events consist of a three-pass depletion method with low-voltage to herd fish into a seine or dip net. |
- . . E.2
ResearchY (Y/N)
- . . . . E.2.a
Research Funding 10,000.00
- . . . . E.2.b.1
Modeling and data analysisY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.2.b.1.a
| Key issues addressed by modeling and data analysis research | |
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- . . . . E.2.b.5
Habitat attribute studyY (Y/N)
- . . . . . . E.2.b.5.a
| Key issues addressed by habitat attribute research | |
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