Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
Statement of Work
Revision #1: Add SFY12 to SOW budget table & budget narrative
I.
Project Title: Westward Region Limnology
II.
Project Number: 45884
III.
Principal Investigator:
Heather Finkle, Fisheries Biologist II, PI
ADF&G, Commercial Fisheries Division
351 Research Court
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-1872
Email: heather.finkle@alaska.gov
NOAA Category: RM&E
Steve Schrof, Fisheries Biologist III, Co-PI
ADF&G, Commercial Fisheries Division
351 Research Court
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-1852
Email: steve.schrof@alaska.gov
IV.
Project Period: 5/1/09 – 3/31/12
V.
Project Description
1. Introduction
This project addresses the need to collect spatial and temporal data on abiotic and
biotic water quality components of freshwater habitats that affect the rearing,
migration, and survival of wild juvenile sockeye salmon in the Westward Region
(Kodiak Archipelago and Alaska Peninsula). Specifically, this project will establish
baseline limnology data and continue baseline data collection for numerous sockeye
salmon systems within the Westward Region using standard limnology sampling
procedures and an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).
Limnology data include physical data (temperature, light penetration, dissolved
oxygen content, pH), nutrient data (concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, and
chlorophyll a), and zooplankton abundance and biomass estimates. Each of these
components can offer a snapshot of how trophic levels interact, which in turn can
point to a limitation in a rearing environment or to a sustainable level of production.
Physical data can indicate when freshwater conditions change relative to climatic or
seasonal changes, geological events, or other stochastic events. For example,
seasonal increases in water temperature may affect growth rates of rearing sockeye
salmon and also zooplankton reproduction rates. Nutrient data can indicate if
phosphorous and nitrogen are adequately available for photosynthesis and therefore
phytoplankton production, and thus the ability of a lake to sustain a sockeye salmon
forage base of zooplankton. Zooplankton data can indicate forage limitations for
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rearing juvenile sockeye salmon caused by overgrazing, which is revealed by small
zooplankton size and low biomass or limitations in phytoplankton (the food of
zooplankton) production. Each of the factors warrant monitoring, as substantial
changes to any one of these factors can affect the rearing and migratory behavior of
rearing juvenile sockeye salmon, and thus their survival.
Currently within the Westward Region, 30 sockeye salmon stocks along the Alaska
Peninsula and Kodiak Archipelago have established escapement goals and are
actively managed for sustainability. Since the early 1980s, limnology data has been
intermittently collected to serve as components of management recommendations,
restoration projects, and habitat assessments within the Westward Region. Presently,
17 lakes (14 in the Kodiak Archipelago; 3 in the Alaska Peninsula) are sampled for
limnology data. Many other systems within the Westward Region lack a current
baseline of water quality data. Of the 17 lakes currently sampled, this project
continues baseline sampling of Bear Lake on the Alaska Peninsula and Karluk Lake
on Kodiak Island. Similarly, this program initiates baseline sampling in three
additional lakes including Red (Ayakulik), Akalura, and Uganik lakes on Kodiak
Island.
At present, a paucity of sufficient, descriptive biological data exists to adequately
identify critical migration or rearing habitats and assess stock productivity in most
Westward Region lake systems, let alone provide baseline data in those systems.
Specifically, catch and escapement data for sockeye salmon are often the only
available data for assessing escapement goals and estimating adult returns. These
data are often confounded by a lack of contrast in the data or an inability of the data
to fit well with standard spawner-recruit models for escapement goal reviews or
sibling relationship regression models for forecasting; therefore, ancillary data have
become increasingly valuable in those assessments as new relationships must be
found to assess escapement. In systems that are presently sampled for limnology
data, the baselines are often nascent and lack the depth to provide robust analyses.
Additionally, adult return data alone often fail to describe why sockeye salmon stocks
wax and wane. The collection of water quality data, therefore, has become
increasingly valuable on multiple levels for providing information to describe salmon
survival and production.
This project will make use of an AUV, a free-swimming robot with multiple onboard
sensors that collect geo-referenced (latitude, longitude, and depth) data on water
temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, chlorophyll-a, and blue-green algae
fluorescence. In addition, the AUV is capable of simultaneously collecting
bathymetry information as well as perform habitat mapping and fish detection duties
with side scan sonar, which will be evaluated for its potential as a cost- and timesaving method to estimate relative abundance of juvenile sockeye salmon in lakes.
This technology also allows autonomous and rapid mapping of whole-lake
conditions, not just the extrapolation of conditions from a few dispersed data points.
This project will demonstrate this technology and water quality mapping capability in
lake systems that support extensive sport and commercial salmon fisheries in the
Westward Region. Realistically, logistic constraints alone will prevent the AUV
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from being deployed to all the specified sampling locations within a single sampling
season. However, by prioritizing the deployment of the AUV to systems with no or
infrequent limnology databases, valuable high-resolution suites of data for those
systems providing a greater understanding of the factors that drive salmon survival
and production will be gained. The AUV data may also be compared to water quality
data collected by standard collection methods to indicate data accuracy and possibly
to model lake-wide trends over space and time for systems limited to less than three
sampling stations.
2. Project Summary
This project will collect spatial and temporal baseline water quality data and conduct
the analysis and reporting of these baseline data from eight sockeye salmon nursery
lakes of the Alaska Peninsula (two lakes) and Kodiak Archipelago (six lakes). It will
monitor and describe rearing site characteristics and ecological factors that may limit
or enhance sockeye salmon production and fisheries management, and improve the
assessment of current escapement goals and forecasts via the incorporation and
development of limnology models or data relative to current climatic conditions.
This project will maintain the continuity of six previously established baseline data
sets throughout the Westward Region and help establish baseline data for three
systems that have not been examined. See related AKSSF projects 45854, 445xx.
3. AKSSF Objective
Westward: 1A-3
VI.
Objectives
1. Project Objectives
The objectives of this project apply to six Kodiak area (Akalura, Frazer, Karluk, Red,
Uganik, and Upper Station) and two Alaska Peninsula area (Bear and Orzinski) lakes.
The objectives are as follows for each lake:
a. describe the physical characteristics including substrate, pH, temperature,
dissolved oxygen, and light penetration profiles;
b. describe the nutrient availability;
c. describe the available zooplankton forage base;
d. describe the distribution of juvenile salmon within the lakes as imaged with the
hi-resolution sonar; and
e. create updated bathymetric maps for Westward Region lakes from bathymetric
data collected by the AUV.
2. Justification
Each of the objectives represents a trophic level of a lake’s food web. Sockeye
salmon are most susceptible to mortality in their freshwater juvenile stages. By
examining the morphology and each trophic level of a lake’s food web during the
most vulnerable stages of a sockeye salmon’s life, it can be determined if adult
production will be affected by poor freshwater rearing conditions or if conditions are
favorable for growth and survival, and how these conditions affect the life history
strategy of the fish.
Specifically, the following will be assessed:
a. Physical characteristics:
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Temperature greatly affects growth in fish, which may affect survival, and
temperature data can be incorporated into forecasting adult returns. Additionally,
temperature can serve as cues for salmonid migration, indicating changes in life
history patterns. The dissolved oxygen content of water can cause stress and even
mortality in juvenile fish when at low levels. Changes in pH can also stress fish
and change the composition of available phytoplankton and zooplankton species
with changes in acidity. Light penetration defines the volume of water available
for photosynthesis, and therefore the availability of food (phytoplankton) for
zooplankton. Light penetration data can also be modeled to estimate the carrying
capacity of a system and its optimal escapement level. Substrate type and
availability can affect the abundance of benthic forage and the survival of salmon
eggs and fry.
b. Nutrient availability and primary production:
Nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) are necessary for
photosynthesis in phytoplankton. Ratios of N and P may indicate if amounts of
these elements are adequately available for primary production of phytoplankton.
Chlorophyll a is a pigment required for photosynthesis; by measuring the
concentration of chlorophyll a, limitations to photosynthesis, and therefore
limitations in zooplankton forage for rearing salmon, may also be examined.
c. Zooplankton forage base:
Zooplankton are the primary forage of rearing juvenile sockeye salmon. The
abundance, species composition, and biomass of zooplankton may serve as an
indicator of overgrazing by juvenile salmon or limitations in primary production.
Zooplankton biomass data may also be used to estimate escapement levels by
indicating a level of juvenile production that a plankton population can maintain
as a forage base.
d. Juvenile salmon distribution:
This project will determine the feasibility of estimating juvenile salmon
abundance with the AUV. A hydroacoustic population survey requires two
people, gear, and a boat, and it takes about ten days to complete the data analysis
for one lake. This project will test if comparable results can be obtained with the
AUV.
e. Bathymetric maps:
ADF&G currently uses bathymetric maps that were produced over 35 years ago.
Sediment influx from rivers, changes in water level, or flow rate (due to
differences in annual precipitation) can cause the bathymetry to change areas
suitable for salmon spawning and juvenile salmon rearing. In calculating lake
productivity, it is preferred and more useful to know the exact surface and volume
of the lake.
3. Project Outcomes
Data from this project will establish or maintain baseline water quality datasets for
numerous Westward Region salmon nursery lakes enabling the assessment of salmon
life history strategies and limnological production models. Seasonally, these data
may affect the management of fisheries in these systems by how the escapement
goals are targeted based on the available zooplankton forage base in each nursery
lake. This project will also produce updated bathymetric maps for lakes which have
not been mapped in the last 35 years.
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4. Methods/Modeling
Travel to each sampling location will occur by boat or float plane. In May 2010,
sampling stations will be established on each lake. Each station’s location will be
logged with a global positioning system (GPS) and marked with a buoy. Water and
zooplankton sampling will occur once every four weeks from May through
September from 2010 to 2011.
1. Dissolved oxygen, light, and temperature:
Water temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen (mg/L) levels will be measured
with a YSI dissolved oxygen/temperature meter. Readings will be recorded at
specified intervals. A mercury thermometer will be used to ensure the meter’s
calibration. Measurements of photosynthetically active wavelengths (kLux) will
be taken with a photometer. Readings will occur at specified intervals until the
lake bottom or 0 kLux light penetration is reached. The mean euphotic zone
depth (EZD) will be determined for each lake and incorporated into a model for
estimating sockeye salmon fry production. One-meter temperature and dissolved
oxygen measurements will be compared to assess the physical conditions in the
euphotic zones of each lake. Secchi disc readings will be collected from each
station to measure water transparency.
2. Water sampling:
Four to eight liters of water will be collected from each station with a Van Dorn
bottle from a depth of 1 m and from a depth of 29 m in lakes deeper than 28 m.
Water samples will be stored in polyethylene (poly) carboys and refrigerated until
initial processing.
One-liter samples will be passed through 4.25-cm diameter 0.7-m Whatman
GF/F filters for particulate N and P analyses. For chlorophyll-a analysis, one liter
of lake water from each depth sampled will be filtered through a 4.25-cm
diameter 0.7-m Whatman GF/F filter, adding approximately 5 ml of MgCO3
solution to the last 50 ml of the sample water during the filtration process. Upon
completion of filtration, all filters will be placed in individual petri dishes, labeled
and stored frozen for further processing at the Near Island Laboratory in Kodiak.
The water chemistry parameters of pH and alkalinity will also be assessed with an
Oakton pH meter.
Water analyses will be performed at the ADF&G Near Island laboratory for total
phosphorous (TP), total ammonia (TA), nitrate + nitrite, chlorophyll a, and
phaeophytin a. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) will be processed by the Olsen
Biochemistry Lab at South Dakota State University. Nutrient data will be
analyzed via linear regression and compared to published ratio values.
3. Zooplankton:
One vertical zooplankton tow will be made at each limnology station with a 0.2-m
diameter, 153-micron net from one meter above the lake bottom to the surface.
Each sample will be preserved with a 10% buffered formalin solution.
Subsamples of zooplankton will be keyed to family or genus and counted on a
Sedgewick-Rafter counting slide. This process will be replicated three times per
sample, then counts will be averaged and extrapolated over the entire sample. For
each plankton tow, mean length (0.01 mm) will be measured for each family or
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genus with a sample size derived from a student’s t-test to achieve a confidence
level of 95%. Biomass will be calculated via species-specific linear regression
equations between weight and unweighted and weighted length measurements.
Zooplankton data will be compared to physical and nutrient data via linear
regression and published values of length and biomass.
4. AUV sampling:
Pending the success of the AUV’s initial 2009 deployment to Frazer and Karluk
lakes as outlined in AKSSF project 45854 Autonomous Salmon Lake Mapping,
this project will deploy the AUV to several lakes. Two sampling events would
occur between May and September in two lakes on the Kodiak Archipelago
(Ayakulik and Karluk lakes) in 2010 and in another two lakes (Akalura and
Uganik lakes) in 2011. Upon each deployment, physical parameters will be
measured along a sampling grid throughout each lake. Deployments of the unit
will be coordinated with ADF&G lake survey and fish pass projects to minimize
flight cost and ensure data comparability.
VII.
Results/Deliverable Products
Season summaries and bathymetric maps will be drafted upon completion of processing
all water and zooplankton samples (~two to four months following the conclusion of the
field season). Results and findings will be presented as requested by the public and
interested parties following the completion of the season summary.
PI will submit semiannual, PCSRF performance metrics, and project completion reports
according to the AKSSF schedule, as well as copies of any other
report/product/deliverable produced with this funding.
Any report or product distributed as a result of this funding will include the following
language: This [report/video/website] was prepared by [recipient/author name] under award
#NA07NMF4380288 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The
statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S.
Department of Commerce, or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
VIII. Benefits to Salmon/Salmon Fisheries/Salmon Fishermen/Communities
This project will establish water quality baselines that will help ADF&G better
understand the interdependencies of different trophic levels in the freshwater salmon
rearing environment, which is a prerequisite for ecosystem based fisheries management.
The water quality data will indicate if systems are overtaxed or underutilized by sockeye
salmon, allowing ADF&G to assess and recommend escapement goals and management
strategies to maximize the sustainable yield based on biological data. Benefits of
improved management will be realized by commercial, subsistence, and sport fishing
user groups that rely upon this resource for income, food, or recreation. Presentation of
the results to the public and interested parties will also hopefully foster another level of
stewardship for the salmon resources by their user groups.
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IX.
Project Milestones and Timelines
The field seasons will run from May through September 2010 and 2011 for standard
limnology sampling. Funds allocated in FY 09 are for pre-sampling season purchases of
project supplies. The lag of the initial sampling season until FY10 is to allow ample time
for establishing the ADF&G project budget codes and to become proficient in using the
AUV. Samples will be processed upon receipt at the ADF&G Near Island Limnology
Lab in Kodiak. A season summary will be published following analysis of the data after
each field season. Data will be incorporated into escapement goal reviews in accordance
with Board of Fisheries cycles and for annual forecasting for each respective area.
Results will be presented to the public and interested parties upon request.
Prior to commencement of project activity, PI will obtain ADF&G employee collection,
Fish Resource, Fish Transport, and/or other required permits, as appropriate.
All invoices must be submitted for payment in approvable form within 30 days of project
end date.
X.
Partners: Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association
XI.
Budget
Original Budget
Summary Table
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Total Direct Costs
ADF&G 3%
Project Total
FY09
FY10
$0
$0
$0
$6,160
$0
$6,160
$94,000
$2,000
$33,800
$3,150
$0
$132,950
FY11
$98,730
$2,000
$33,800
$2,500
$0
$137,030
Total
$192,730
$4,000
$67,600
$11,810
$0
$276,140
$8,284
$284,424
Original Budget Narrative:
Line 100 (personnel)
Fisheries Biologist II (Steve Thomsen; PCN 11-1434). A total of five months per fiscal
year (FY 10 $7,860/month; FY 11 $8,086/month) of time is calculated for this position
based on a 37.5 hour work week. This position will collect limnology samples from
stations in the Kodiak Archipelago. This position will also process samples and maintain
limnology databases for Westward Region samples and will supervise one Fish and
Wildlife Technician (FWT) III assisting in the collection and processing of lab samples.
Fisheries Biologist I (PCN TBD). A total of five months per fiscal year (FY 10
$7,000/month; FY 11 $7,400/month) of time is calculated for this position based on a
37.5 hour work week. This position will collect limnology samples from the Alaska
Peninsula and prepare and ship samples to the Near Island Limnology Lab for processing
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by PCN 11-1434, and may also assist in the processing of water samples and data
analysis upon return to Kodiak at the end of the field season.
Fish and Wildlife Technician III (PCN TBD). A total of four months per fiscal year (FY
10 $4,925/month; FY 11 $5,325/month) of time is calculated for this position based on a
37.5 hour work week. This position will assist the FB I (PCN 11-1434) in the collection
of limnology samples from the Kodiak Archipelago sites and with the processing of all
Westward Region limnology samples.
Line 200 (travel)
Airfare for project leader (Heather Finkle; PCN 11-1332) to travel to the Alaska
Peninsula to train personnel in the collection of samples and to collect samples (2/year *
$1,000/trip = $2,000/year * 2 years = $4,000).
Line 300 (contracts)
Freight for shipping samples to Kodiak from the Alaska Peninsula ($600 each for FY10
and FY11).
Processing of samples for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) by the Olsen Biochemistry Lab
at South Dakota State University ($3,200 for each FY10 and FY11).
Air charter costs to collect samples from Kodiak Archipelago lakes ($30,000 each for
FY10 and FY11 at $600/hr for 50 hours of projected flight time).
Line 400 (project supplies)
Plankton tow nets
Light Meter
DO Meter
Buoys
Anchor line
Nalgene Bottles
Whatman Filters
Reagents
Rite-N-Rain Paper
Rain Gear/Boots
Fuel
Batteries AA
Labels
FY 09
170.00
1,800.00
900.00
350.00
500.00
720.00
1,000.00
400.00
100.00
150.00
20.00
50.00
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
FY 10
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
400.00
100.00
150.00
2,500.00
-
FY 11
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2,500.00
-
Totals: FY 09: $6,160; FY 10: $3,150; FY 11: $2,500
Line 500 (equipment): None
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Revision #1 Budget
Summary
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Total Direct Costs
ADF&G 3%
Project Total
FY09
FY10
$0
$0
$0
$2,989
$0
$2,989
$44,700
$2,000
$15,000
$3,668
$0
$65,368
FY11
$98,730
$2,000
$33,800
$3,903
$0
$138,433
FY12
$49,300
$0
$18,800
$1,250
$0
$69,350
Total
$192,730
$4,000
$67,600
$11,810
$0
$276,140
$8,284
$284,424
Revision #1 Budget Narrative:
Revision #1 adds FY12 budget and narrative inadvertently omitted during original
processing.
Line 100 (Personnel)
Fisheries Biologist II (Darin Ruhl; PCN 11-1447). A total of 10 man months for all
budgeted fiscal years, composed of 2.5 months for each FY10 and FY12 and five months
for FY11
(FY10 $7,160/month; FY11 $8,086/month; FY12 $8,560/month) of time is calculated for
this position based on a 37.5 hour work week. This position will collect limnology
samples from stations in the Kodiak Archipelago. This position will also process samples
and maintain limnology databases for Westward Region samples and will supervise one
Fish and Wildlife Technician (FWT) III assisting in the collection and processing of lab
samples.
Fisheries Biologist I (PCN TBD). A total of 10 man months for all budgeted fiscal years,
composed of 2.5 months for each FY10 and FY12 and five months for FY11 (FY10
$6,800/month; FY11 $7,400/month; FY12 $7,200/month) of time is calculated for this
position based on a 37.5 hour work week. This position will collect limnology samples
from the Alaska Peninsula and prepare and ship samples to the Near Island Limnology
Lab for processing by PCN 11-1434, and may also assist in the processing of water
samples and data analysis upon return to Kodiak at the end of the field season.
Fish and Wildlife Technician III (PCN TBD). A total of 8 man months for all budgeted
fiscal years, composed of 2 months for each FY10 and FY12 and four months for FY11
(FY10 $4,900/month; FY11 $5,325/month; FY12 $4,950/month) of time is calculated for
this position based on a 37.5 hour work week. This position will assist the FB I (PCN 111434) in the collection of limnology samples from the Kodiak Archipelago sites and with
the processing of all Westward Region limnology samples.
Line 200 (Travel)
Airfare for project leader (Heather Finkle; PCN 11-1332) to travel to the Alaska
Peninsula to train personnel in the collection of samples and to collect samples in FY10
and FY11 (2 trips/year * $1,000/trip = $2,000/year * 2 years = $4,000). Lodging and
food will be provided by state field camps.
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Line 300 (Contracts)
Freight for shipping samples to Kodiak from the Alaska Peninsula ($600 each for FY11
and FY12).
Processing of samples for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) by the Olsen Biochemistry Lab
at South Dakota State University ($3,200 for each FY11 and FY12).
Air charter costs to collect samples from Kodiak Archipelago lakes ($15,000 each for
FY10 and FY 12 and $30,000 for FY11 @ $600/hr for 50 hours of projected flight time).
Line 400 (Supplies)
FY09
Plankton tow nets
Light Meter
DO Meter
Buoys
Anchor line
FY10
$170
FY11
FY12
$1,903
$841
Nalgene Bottles
Whatman Filters
Reagents
Rite-N-Rain Paper
Rain Gear/Boots
Fuel
Batteries AA
Labels
Total
$245
$2,989
$153
$250
$720
$500
$300
$100
$155
$1,250
$20
$50
$3,668
$153
$250
$500
$300
$100
$100
$2,500
$1,250
$3,903
$1,250
Line 500 (Equipment)
None
Budget adjustments between line items are allowed for amounts equal to or less than
10% of the total award without prior AKSSF approval; any amount above 10% requires
prior AKSSF approval. All costs in lines 100-500 must represent actual cash
expenditures.
All requests for reimbursement shall be adequately documented with both documentation
of expense and proof of payment. Examples of expense documentation include copies of
invoices, pay stubs, receipts, etc. Documentation of proof of payment includes copies of
checks, check numbers, credit card receipts, etc.
All invoices must be submitted for payment in approvable form within 30 days of project
end date. Invoices submitted after that deadline will not be reimbursed. Invoices for
expenses incurred after the project end date will not be reimbursed.
Approved by AKSSF: ____________________ Date: __________
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