The SRFB Funding Process

• The Salmon Recovery Funding Board makes funding available for salmon recovery projects throughout Washington
• The funding comes from a mix of state funds (40%) and federal funds (60%)
• Projects are recommended to the SRFB for funding by local Lead Entities
• We are the Yakima Basin Lead Entity

As the Lead Entity for our area, we:

• Advertise for and accept applications for SRFB funding
• Work with applicants to ensure strong proposals are submitted
• Convene a Technical Advisory Group of local technical experts to review the biological & technical merits of proposed projects
• Convene a Citizen’s Committee to review the projects’ merits (including economic, social and cultural aspects) and develop a ranked list of proposed projects
• Submit the final ranked list to the SRFB
• Represent the Yakima Basin and its project list in the state-wide review process

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06-214 Upper Yakima Protection-Hundley $ 300,000 Kittitas Conservation Trust 32% Match

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06-2141  Cle Elum River Instream Habitat $243,820 Kittitas Conservation Trust 36% Match

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06-2156 Cherry Ck Barrier Removal & Screening $316,900 Kittitas Conservation District 31% Match

06-220 Schneider Habitat Project/Cowiche Creek $147,050 North Yakima Conservation District 15% Match

Community Salmon Fund 2006

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The Yakima Subbasin Plan

• Approved by the Northwest Power & Conservation Council in 2004
• Covers a wide range of fish & wildlife species
• Provides an inventory of existing projects
• Assesses limiting factors for focal species
• Identifies general restoration strategies, but not specific projects

Yakima Subbasin Salmon Recovery Plan

• Part of Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon
• Focuses just on listed salmonids
• (Steelhead & Bull Trout)
• Sets quantifiable targets for fish populations
• Identifies 157 specific actions
• Draft accepted by the Governor last November
• Currently undergoing final edits

Development of the Initial Draft

• Begun in 2004
• Work overseen by the Yakima Subbasin Planning Board
• Administered by Yakima County
• Seamless continuation of the Subbasin Planning Process
• Draft released in October 2005

Reviews of the Draft

• Informal consultation with stakeholders in plan development
• Plan and NOAA Supplement published in the Federal Register in May 2006
• Comments received until July 2006
• Comments filed by:
  • American Rivers
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Yakima Basin Joint Board

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Viable Salmonid Population (VSP)

• Four Parameters to review in assessing the viability of a population:
• Abundance
• Productivity
• Spatial Structure
• Diversity

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MSA Scenario Maps

Tributary Actions

• Restoration of Passage
• Protecting and Restoring Riparian Habitat
• Securing Adequate Flows
• Reconnecting with floodplains
  • And possibly,
  • Targeted tributary specific supplementation?

Mainstem Actions

• Protecting and restoring floodplains
• Ensuring adequate temperatures and flows for up and downstream migrations
• Addressing downstream passage at Roza and predation issues at lower river dams
• Addressing issues associated with high flows associated with irrigation water deliveries

Key Uncertainties

• Nature of interactions between resident and anadromous O. mykiss in Naches & Upper Yakima populations
• Relationship between flow, temperature & migratory survival rates in lower Yakima
• Current/historic/potential roll of mainstem Yakima & Naches as spawning habitat

The Next Steps

• Developing estimates of reduction in gaps due to plan implementation
• Developing an RM & E plan that:
  • Provides reliable estimates of steelhead VSP parameters
  • Addresses key uncertainties
  • Evaluates the effectiveness of key actions

Future Directions for the Board

• Building Political & Financial Support for Restoration Activities
• Focusing Restoration Activities on Key Priorities and Tracking Our Progress Towards Effectively Addressing Them

Building Political & Financial Support

• Participate in regional processes on behalf of the Yakima Basin to build support for fish & wildlife restoration programs
• Build local support and engagement for restoration activities through outreach and education efforts
• Work with project proponents to develop & seek funding for restoration projects identified as priorities

Focus on Priorities & Tracking Progress Towards Them

• Update plans as needed and ensure that they are linked to on-the-ground implementation of priority actions
• Track restoration efforts and provide regular overviews of the status of Fish & Wildlife restoration activities in the basin
• Coordinate development of a basin wide monitoring strategy that integrates work already underway in the basin with state & regional RM&E efforts