Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Statement of Work Revision #3: Reduce USFWS budget; increase ADF&G budget

Transcription

1 Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund Statement of Work Revision #3: Reduce USFWS budget; increase ADF&G budget I. Project Title: Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Cost Share - Phase 3 II. Project Number: III. Principal Investigator Jessica Johnson, Habitat Biologist, PI Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Division of Sport Fish (SF) 333 Raspberry Road Anchorage, AK jessica.johnson@alaska.gov Dean Hughes, ADF&G SF, former PI Tracy Smith, ADF&G SF, former PI Co-Principal Investigator Mitch Osborne, Restoration Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Fairbanks Fish & Wildlife Field Office th Avenue, Room 110 Fairbanks, AK mitch_osborne@fws.gov IV. Project Period: 3/1/15 11/30/17 V. AKSSF Objective: 1B-2 PCSRF Objective: HP&R VI. Project Description 1. Synopsis This project provides funding, technical project design assistance, and on-the-ground project construction oversight to restore, sustain, and enhance valuable salmon habitat in the Fairbanks area through a financial incentive program directed towards private landowners and public land managers. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) will partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), nonprofit organizations, local governments, and landowners to conduct projects to rehabilitate and sustain instream and riparian salmon habitat over a three year period. Improved technical assistance of river bank stabilization projects and active rehabilitation of fish habitat and riparian areas will benefit the conservation of salmon habitat and help maintain and increase salmon populations. This project continues work begun in AKSSF projects 45879, 45887, and Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 1 of 11

2 2. Introduction The Fairbanks area encompasses several important rivers, including the Chena, Chatanika, Nenana, and Salcha rivers and the lower Tanana River. These rivers, other streams, and numerous sloughs throughout the region support chum, Chinook, and coho salmon spawning and rearing. There are also many species of native resident fish including Arctic grayling, whitefish, and northern pike. Much of the development in Alaska s interior is located within the Tanana River drainage along the Alaska, Richardson, and Parks highways and along the road system around Fairbanks. The Tanana River watershed is the most populated watershed in interior Alaska. In the 2000 census, the estimated population of the Fairbanks North Star Borough was 82,840 with an average annual growth rate for the last decade of 7 percent. It is the existing and projected rapid increase in population growth and development that threatens salmon populations and habitat in the Fairbanks area. As a result of growing population and increasing urbanization, these watersheds are vulnerable to degradation of fish habitat and riparian vegetation. ADF&G staff and others have become concerned that the cumulative impact of the growing number of human activities will decrease salmon populations in the water bodies of the Fairbanks area. The greatest risks to salmon in these watersheds comes from incremental development in the riparian area that cause changes to riparian functions, changes in surface and subsurface water flow, and alterations to the existing riparian vegetation and fish habitat. In 2013, the Tanana Valley Watershed Association s (TVWA s) draft report entitled Chena River Riparian Conditions reported that considerable lengths of the lower 40 miles of the Chena River have been highly modified. The three most upstream reaches assessed in the study (Chena Lake to Nordale Road) had optimal fish habitat parameters regarding morphological diversity and flow condition; bank vegetation diversity and condition; bank stability; and riparian management and had suboptimal parameters for channel alteration. The middle five reaches (Nordale Road to Fairbanks downtown) had marginal habitat parameters for morphological diversity and flow condition; marginal and suboptimum parameters for bank vegetation diversity and condition, bank stability, and riparian management; and mixed suboptimal and marginal parameters for channel alteration. The downstream two reaches (Fairbanks downtown to the confluence of the Tanana River) were marginal regarding those same parameters with the exception of marginal and poor parameters for channel alteration. Changes to fish habitat and riparian quality is primarily due to mechanical removal of stream side vegetation and trees, hardening of banks with riprap, and land use alterations primarily from human alteration of natural river banks to residential, commercial/industrial, and park/recreational riparian developments. In 2013, the TVWA drafted a report entitled Juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Chana River corridor through Fairbanks: Using citizen scientist to build community stewardship. In that study, juvenile Chinook salmon were sampled at fourteen sites from the Moose Creek Flood Control structure near Chena Lakes down to the confluence of the Chena and the Tanana Rivers. A total of 1,131 Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 2 of 11

3 Chinook salmon juveniles were collected during the study over the summer of The upstream two sites, both at the Moose Creek Dam, produced the most Chinook salmon with 922 juveniles, comprising 81.5 percent of all Chinook captured. At the next 10 downstream sites (downstream from Moose Creek to and including Fairbanks), only 61 juvenile Chinook salmon were captured, comprising 5.4 percent of the juveniles harvested. The most downstream five sites (from Pike s Landing to the confluence of the Tanana River) produced 148 juvenile Chinook salmon, or 13.1 percent. This Chinook juvenile salmon distribution closely mirrors the results from the Chena River Riparian Conditions report with most fish collected in the upstream, more natural reaches, few fish collected in the more developed urban middle reaches, and a modest number of fish collected in the lower reaches. This project will focus conservation and enhancement efforts to salmon rearing habitats in the impacted areas of the Fairbanks area and the Tanana River drainage. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to conserve, enhance, and protect Pacific salmon habitat along anadromous water bodies in the Fairbanks area. It builds upon projects managed and constructed by ADF&G for the past eighteen years and will address the rapid expansion in development along streams in the Fairbanks and outlying areas; the impacts to important salmon habitat related to sport fisheries and riparian development; and the need for technical information, financial support, and construction oversight for responsible shoreline conservation and rehabilitation projects. Scope: This project will conserve salmon habitat through education and on-theground conservation projects utilizing the cost share program and habitat rehabilitation workshops. Activities: The cost share method will focus on educating and building partnerships with landowners and land managers to conserve and rehabilitate fish and riparian habitat along water bodies. It will also provide project construction oversight and help build capacity with partners in the Fairbanks area. This method includes completion of on-the-ground rehabilitation and protection projects. Concurrent with the cost share program, one habitat rehabilitation workshop will be conducted each year. The workshops will provide information about fish habitat, conservation, and protection, and will enable participants to complete conservation, protection, and rehabilitation projects in their areas of concern. Additional outreach will be sought and accomplished by giving presentations to organizations such as local watershed groups, non-profit groups, the planning commission, and City of Fairbanks staff. 3. Location Site: Chena River, Fairbanks Latitude: N Longitude: W VII. Objectives Re-establish riparian function by removing at least 100 feet of structures per year that are detrimental to juvenile salmon Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 3 of 11

4 Conserve and sustain at least 750 feet per year of healthy nearshore fish habitat and riparian vegetation, (e.g., gratewalks, bank stabilization) Rehabilitate and enhance at least 750 feet per year of human impacted nearshore salmon habitat and riparian vegetation (e.g., revegetation) Provide salmon habitat conservation and rehabilitation education to at least 40 stakeholders per year VIII. Methods This project will build on methods established and refined through the successful completion of the Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Cost Share - Phase 2 project (AKSSF project 44530) and nineteen years of constructing rehabilitation projects (over 600) on the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, and Southeast Alaska through cost share and educational outreach programs. Fairbanks Cost Share Method Throughout the year, project staff will work to notify Fairbanks area waterfront landowners and land managers that funding is available to protect and rehabilitate fish habitat on private and public lands in the area. Project staff will be available for consultation, to conduct field inspections, and to discuss issues and potential issues at shoreline sites as well as possible solutions to specific bank erosion problems. After consultation, each interested applicant will sign a letter of interest and submit completed agency applications, drawings, and cost estimates for their project. ADF&G staff will review project plans for completeness and work with project partners to modify plans if necessary. Projects will be evaluated based on: the project s ability to sustain the existing natural vegetation and fish habitat, installation of natural vegetation and fish habitat on degraded banks, removal of structures harmful to fish, reasonableness of the solution, reasonableness of the cost, potential for success, and potential as an educational demonstration project to other waterfront owners in the area. Each selected project will be contracted and permitted, and project staff will be available for technical assistance and onsite project construction oversight as needed to ensure this process is completed successfully. For projects with private landowners, USFWS will complete hazardous waste surveys, historical and archaeological reviews, and federally required NEPA compliance. Projects will be monitored during construction and modified as needed to ensure project success. Each project with private land owners will receive a final inspection during which a final inspection report will be written and given to the landowners. Upon completion, the landowner will be reimbursed for up to 50% of project expenses. Project construction activities range widely between projects, from simple river bank and riparian vegetation protection using cabled spruce trees and elevated, light-penetrating Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 4 of 11

5 grate walks to extremely complex river bank stabilization and revegetation projects using root wad and vegetation restoration techniques. Non-vegetated or impacted river banks are vegetated by relocating native vegetated mats, rooted plantings of alder, live cut and trenched willow, and brush layers of willow planted between soils encased in biodegradable coconut fiber blankets. Workshop Method The habitat rehabilitation workshop (Workshop) is a critical component to the success of this project, as it provides educational outreach and additional opportunities for partnering. It provides Workshop participants information on fish habitat and teaches techniques for restoring riparian habitat including: construction materials, hydrology, plant materials, and construction techniques for stream bank restoration projects. Day one of the Workshop will teach step-by-step techniques to sustain and rehabilitate fish habitat and identify preconstruction site and technique selection considerations. Day two of the workshop will involve conducting a hands-on demonstration restoration project using workshop participants to rehabilitate approximately 50 feet of shoreline at a waterfront site. ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish, will provide design and project oversight and conduct the Workshop. ADF&G will partner with USFWS in the conduct of the restoration projects, using USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Funds and their administrative services to reach landowners and land managers. USFWS staff will also provide a classroom for the Workshop and assist with Workshop presentations and logistics, restoration site selection, and project consultations. IX. Benefits This project will result in the removal of at least 300 feet of detrimental structures from streams; conservation of at least 2,250 feet of riverbank; and rehabilitation of at least 2,250 feet of riverbank. These efforts will result in increased fish habitat quantity and quality, riparian vegetation, riparian function, and river bank stability. This project will also demonstrate to local residents, governmental agencies, and regulators bio-engineered alternatives to the traditional use of riprap, concrete slabs, sheet pile, and wooden bulkheads for bank stabilization in the Fairbanks area. X. Products, Milestones, and Timelines March September 2017: Work with project partners to identify shoreline sites in need of rehabilitation; identify local government agencies and non-profit entities with which to partner; engage in project recruitment; consult with landowners and land managers; review project plans for completeness; notify landowners and land managers whether their projects were selected January - August 2015 and 2016/January - September 2017: Contract and permit selected projects May- October 2015, 2016 and 2017: Install and monitor selected projects October 1 - November 30, 2015 and 2016/November and December 2017: Project reporting Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 5 of 11

6 XI. Budget Revision #3 transfers $21,500 from the USFWS budget to the ADF&G budget to complete a large project on public land. The original and Revision #1 project budget tables and budget narratives are retained in this document as Appendix A. Revision #3 Summary Budget 300 Contractual $191,009 Subtotal $279, Indirect $22,488 $301,743 Revision #1: This project funds the following entities: ADF&G SF: $178,243 USFWS: $123,500 ADF&G Budget (increased by $21,500 with Revision #3) Revision #3 ADF&G Sport Fish Budget 300 Contractual $74,500 Subtotal $162,746 Expenses subject to indirect $73, Indirect $15,497 $178,243 ADF&G Sport Fish Budget Narrative (updated with Revision #3): Line 100: Personnel ($73,796) All personnel costs were calculated using State of Alaska salary calculator incorporating contract and future merit pay increases. Dean Hughes, Habitat Biologist IV, will manage the program, design and implement projects, conduct project inspections, ensure project goals and permit stipulations are met, deliver lectures at restoration workshops, write reports, and supervise the HBII: 1 $11,863/month = $11,863 Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 6 of 11

7 2.5 $12,631/month = $31,578 1 $13,045/month = $13,045 Tracy Smith, Habitat Biologist II, will perform the same duties as above but under the supervision of the HBIV: 0.5 $8,344/month = $4,172 1 $8,628/month = $8, $9,020/month = $4,510 Line 200: Travel ($13,450) The HBII and HBIV will travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks by air or personal vehicle to work at project sites and conduct restoration workshops a total of 11 times during the project: Lodging: 30 $175/night = $5,250 Per diem: 41 $60/day = $2,460 Mileage: 3,600 $.55/mile = $1,980 Car rental: 10 $75/day = $750 Airfare: 7 $400/flight = $2,800 Airport parking: 21 $10/day = $210 Line 300: Contractual ($74,500) Revision #3 increases the ADF&G SF contractual budget by $21,500 to complete a large project on public land. Public land contracts for bank restoration: $66,500 Coir logs, fabric, willows, and duck-billed earth anchors for workshops: $5,000 Truckload of soil delivered for workshops: $1,000 Contractor consultation for workshops: $1,000 Skid steer rental for workshops: $1,000 Line 400: Supplies ($1,000) Binders, paper, and toner for workshop manual production: $1,000 Line 600: Indirect ($15,497) ADF&G s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2015, is 22.37% on total direct salaries and wages, including fringe benefits; however, indirect will be recovered at a reduced rate of 21% for this project. USFWS Budget (reduced by $21,500 with Revision #3) Revision #1 USFWS Budget 100 Personnel $0 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $116, Supplies $0 Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 7 of 11

8 Subtotal $116, % $6,991 $123,500 USFWS Budget Narrative (updated with Revision #3): Line 300: Contractual ($116,509) Revision #3 reduces USFWS contractual expenses from $118,853 to $116,509. USFWS will enter into Private Landowner Agreements: $116,509. Line 600: Indirect ($6,991) Revision #3 corrects USFWS s indirect rate to 6% and reduces it from $26,147 to $6,991. USFWS s indirect rate through September 30, 2016, is 6%. XII. Match Budget (unchanged with Revision #1 or #3) ADF&G Sport Fish Match Budget (35%) 100 Personnel $0 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $105, Supplies $0 $105,611 ADF&G Sport Fish Match Budget Narrative: Line 300: Contractual ($105,611) It is estimated that up to 50% of the cost of individual projects will be met by private landowners. This match (a minimum of $105,611) is guaranteed by ADF&G, Division of Sport Fish. Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 8 of 11

9 Appendix A: Original and Revision #1 Budget Tables and Original Budget Narratives Original Summary Budget 300 Contractual $167,344 Subtotal $255, Indirect $46,153 $301,743 Original: This project funds the following entities: ADF&G SF: $131,743 USFWS: $170,000 Original ADF&G Sport Fish Budget 300 Contractual $28,000 Subtotal $116,246 Expenses subject to indirect $73, Indirect $15,497 $131,743 Original ADF&G Sport Fish Budget Narrative: Line 100: Personnel ($73,796) All personnel costs were calculated using State of Alaska salary calculator incorporating contract and future merit pay increases. Dean Hughes, Habitat Biologist IV, will manage the program, design and implement projects, conduct project inspections, ensure project goals and permit stipulations are met, deliver lectures at restoration workshops, write reports, and supervise the HBII: 1 $11,863/month = $11, $12,631/month = $31,578 1 $13,045/month = $13,045 Tracy Smith, Habitat Biologist II, will perform the same duties as above but under the supervision of the HBIV: 0.5 $8,344/month = $4,172 1 $8,628/month = $8,628 Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 9 of 11

10 0.5 $9,020/month = $4,510 Line 200: Travel ($13,450) The HBII and HBIV will travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks by air or personal vehicle to work at project sites and conduct restoration workshops a total of 11 times during the project: Lodging: 30 $175/night = $5,250 Per diem: 41 $60/day = $2,460 Mileage: 3,600 $.55/mile = $1,980 Car rental: 10 $75/day = $750 Airfare: 7 $400/flight = $2,800 Airport parking: 21 $10/day = $210 Line 300: Contractual ($28,000) Public land contracts for bank restoration: $20,000 Coir logs, fabric, willows, and duck-billed earth anchors for workshops: $5,000 Truckload of soil delivered for workshops: $1,000 Contractor consultation for workshops: $1,000 Skid steer rental for workshops: $1,000 Line 400: Supplies ($1,000) Binders, paper, and toner for workshop manual production: $1,000 Line 600: Indirect ($15,497) ADF&G s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2015, is 22.37% on total direct salaries and wages, including fringe benefits; however, indirect will be recovered at a reduced rate of 21% for this project. Original USFWS Budget 100 Personnel $0 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $139, Supplies $0 Subtotal $139, % $30,656 $170,000 Original USFWS Budget Narrative: Line 300: Contractual ($139,344) USFWS will enter into Private Landowner Agreements: $139,344 Line 600: Indirect ($30,656) USFWS s indirect rate through September 30, 2016, is 22%. Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 10 of 11

11 Revision #1 Summary Budget 300 Contractual $171,853 Subtotal $260, Indirect $41,644 $301,743 Revision #1 ADF&G Sport Fish Budget 300 Contractual $53,000 Subtotal $141,246 Expenses subject to indirect $73, Indirect $15,497 $156,743 Revision #1 USFWS Budget 100 Personnel $0 200 Travel $0 300 Contractual $118, Supplies $0 Subtotal $118, % $26,147 $145,000 Stream Bank Restoration: Fairbanks Restoration Cost Share - Phase 3 Page 11 of 11