Final Review of Fiscal Year 2003 Proposals for the Upper and Middle Snake,
Columbia Cascade, and Lower Columbia and Estuary Provinces
document ISRP 2002-11
read full report > (600k
Acrobat PDF file)
Update on June 25, 2002: CBFWA changed its review comments
on project 32021.
Summary
This report provides final comments and recommendations on 168
proposals submitted for funding in the Upper and Middle Snake, Columbia
Cascade, Lower Columbia and Estuary provinces.
The ISRP recommended 108 proposals as fundable, 17 fundable in part,
and 35 not fundable. Eight proposals were considered not amenable to
scientific review, withdrawn, or combined with other proposals. In
addition to comments on each proposal, a programmatic section with
identification of general issues that cut across subbasins and provinces
is provided.
Based on the advice provided by the ISRP and CBFWA, the Council will make a final selection of
projects to recommend to the Bonneville Power Administration for funding.
Those decisions are scheduled to be made by early Fall 2002.
(Public comment period ended July 31, 2002.)
read full report > (600k
Acrobat PDF file)
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CBFWA's revised comments for project 32021
(Lower Boise River Wetlands Restoration Project)
This project will provide for the removal of phosphorous and sediment
from the lower portion of the Boise River. The IDEQ has identified
phosphorous and sediment as having negative effects on the white sturgeon
population in the Hells Canyon reach of the Snake River.
Although the sponsors suggested the project would
provide for sensitive species, the reviewers question the benefits to
sensitive species. Reviewers indicated that there are nine target species
in this area and that the proposed work would provide habitat only for
mink and waterfowl. CBFWA found that this proposal does not provide enough
detail to determine if the construction phase should be funded and suggest
that the proposal be reviewed after the design phase is completed.
Wildlife would likely benefit from the wetland creation, but dredging and
removal of vegetation to remove accumulated silts and nutrients would
cause disturbances approximately every five years. It is unclear if
fisheries benefits would result. In fact, CBFWA suggests that thermal
heating in the settling cells and wetlands could lead to elevated water
temperatures downstream.
CBFWA suggests that the proposed project is
primarily a water quality project, with potential side benefits to
wildlife. The project would benefit from cost-share arrangements for
funding from other sources. All listed cooperators are shown to contribute
?in-kind? services or funds. Although the benefit of this project,
combined with others throughout the basin, could have lasting benefits,
impacts addressed are not entirely attributable to the Federal Columbia
River Power System (FCRPS). CBFWA was unclear as to how this project
qualifies as offsite mitigation for impacts caused by the FCRPS. Due to
the relatively minor impacts associated with power operations, it seems
the Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, State of Idaho and the
counties would have greater responsibilities to provide funding to
mitigate for these impacts, rather than BPA. The proposed conservation
easements or land acquisitions appear to be very high cost at $5000/acre
and $10,000/acre, respectively. The proposal does not describe how
wildlife benefits will be calculated and credited. CBFWA found that
coordination with BPA and the fish and wildlife managers appears to have
been inadequate.
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