Habitat Enhancement Effectiveness – Biological Monitoring and Evaluation X

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Monitoring Research
Project ID21-Umat-03
Recovery DomainsMiddle Columbia River
Start Date06/01/2022
End Date06/30/2026
Year2021
StatusOngoing
Last Edited02/27/2024
 
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Description    


The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Biomonitoring Plan was created to evaluate the effectiveness of CTUIR habitat restoration projects on spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) populations across the five subbasins of the Columbia River- Umatilla, Walla Walla, Grande Ronde, John Day and Tucannon. The scope of this study is focused on three sites located in Meacham Creek a tributary of the Umatilla River. This biomonitoring project includes the direct measurement of topographic and auxiliary surveys of the physical habitat such as: substrate size, large wood counts, bank-full width, sinuosity, undercut banks, channel width to depth ratio, as detailed in the AEM and CHaMP programs protocols, and monitoring of fish (snorkel and spawning surveys, PIT tagging juveniles) and macroinvertebrate populations (please see Section E.1.e in attached proposal document for more information on metrics being measured). The results will provide accountability for restoration effectiveness and also serve to guide future management decisions.


Project objectives to guide CTUIR effectiveness monitoring efforts and help inform managers are as follows:

What are the biological effects of habitat restoration actions on biota abundance and distribution?

What are the physical effects of habitat restoration actions on key floodplain health indicators?

What specific habitat restoration actions have had a positive effect on species of concern?


The plan seeks to assess the biological outcomes of a wide range of restoration efforts in the ceded territory. The restoration activities to be evaluated for this proposal are levee removal, floodplain activation, and instream wood structures. CTUIR’s approach to habitat restoration is based in the framework of the Umatilla River Vision where Geomorphology, Hydrology, Connectivity, Riparian Vegetation, and Aquatic Biota are identified as the key touchstones vital to a healthy river ecosystem and essential to the re-naturalization of the tribal First Foods. CTUIR utilizes this framework to identify and design holistic restoration projects that seek to restore floodplain function as it is described in the River Vision and address the primary limiting habitat factors in association with each of the identified touchstones.

Worksite Proposed Work:

Proposed work for FY 2021 funds includes continued site level habitat monitoring of three sample locations within Meacham Creek will be evaluated using a Before-After-Control-Impact design (BACI) for two treatments and one control. Staff will include One permanent technician funded by BPA; training funded by PCSRF). The technician’s duties will include Juvenile salmonid abundance surveys at each sample site during summer and fall seasons (permanent technicians funded by BPA). The technician will collaborate on redd abundance surveys for spring Chinook and summer steelhead conducted throughout the Meacham Creek tributary March-September (permanent technicians funded by BPA). The technician will be involved with the continuation of a Meacham Creek macroinvertebrate study through an OSU subcontract (PCSRF funded). The technician will assist in the continuation of the CHaMP/PHaMS methodology review and metric comparison with collection and processing of data (PCSRF funded).

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., seasonally high-water temperature, flow, and habitat simplification) and floodplain connectivity. Biomonitoring sample sites have been selected for evaluating biological responses to levee removals, floodplain activation, and instream wood; 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

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Research and Monitoring
  Stream Miles Monitored 19.00

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$50,688
Other$33,781
Report Total:$84,469


Project Map



Worksites

Meacham Creek Treatment and Control    


  • Worksite Identifier: Meacham Creek Treatment and Control
  • Start Date: 06/01/0022
  • End Date: 03/31/0026
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: 45.638247
  • Longitude: -118.366089

ESU

  • Mid-Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU
  • Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
    •      . . E.0.a RM&E Funding .00
    •      . . E.0.b
      Complement habitat restoration project
    •      . . E.0.c
      Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
    •      . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations
    •      . . E.0.d.2
      Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
    •      . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared
    •      . . E.0.e.2
      Name Of Report
    •      . . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding
      •      . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored
      •      . . . . E.1.b.2 Acres of Watershed Area Monitored
      •      . . . . E.1.b.3 Square miles of water monitored (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
      •      . . . . 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)
      •      . . . . E.1.c.4 Redd countsY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.4.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for redds
      •      . . . . E.1.c.5 Carcass countsY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.5.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Carcasses
      •      . . . . 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
      •      . . . . 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
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.13.c # acres (to nearest 0.1 acre) monitored
      •      . . . . E.1.c.14 Restoration validation monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.14.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) stream or streambank monitored
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.14.c # acres (to nearest 0.1 acre) monitored
        •      . . . . E.1.d
          Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program
        •      . . . . E.1.e
          Description of monitoring
      •      . . E.2 ResearchY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . E.2.a Research Funding
        •      . . . . E.2.b.1 Modeling and data analysisY (Y/N)
          •      . . . . . . E.2.b.1.a
            Key issues addressed by modeling and data analysis research