Upper Columbia Habitat Improvements – Methow, Wenatchee, Entiat Subbasins

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This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is committed to providing assistance to entities that can attend to issues involving fish screening, fish passage, water flow, and channel complexity in specific tributary subbasins of the Columbia River in order to benefit anadromous fish habitat. The Upper Salmon Subbasin is one such subbasin. Reclamation expects to provide assistance to meet specific metric goals that include: (1) fish screens that meet current criteria; (2) spawning and rearing access restored by removal of fish passage barriers; (3) meeting instream flow targets; and (4) increased miles of channel complexity in the Upper Columbia Subbasin. The kind of habitat improvement activity anticipated includes: reconnecting flood plains, side channel improvements, backwater channel improvements, woody structure and large rock cluster development, deeper pool development, and reconstruction of spawning gravel. Reclamation seeks the assistance of Trout Unlimited, Inc. (Western Washington Project) (TU-WWP) in bringing about fish habitat improvement projects in the western Washington. The project sponsor will assist Reclamation by identifying potential habitat improvement projects in the subbasin; coordinating fish habitat projects with local constituents; defining the projects for further consideration by Reclamation and other interested parties; participating during project design and construction in an advisory role; and examining the influence of the project on fish habitat after completion of construction. There are up to 7 identified projects anticipated in Fiscal Years 2010-2011 for the Methow, Wenatchee and Entiat subbasins. Separate agreements are contemplated for the Methow Subbasin and the Wenatchee-Entiat subbasins. TU-WWP will develop projects to a point where they can become objectives under this agreement. This will include but not be limited to looking for opportunities to increase stream flows, improve fish screens, remove fish passage barriers, increase irrigation efficiency, and opportunities to improve water and channel complexity conditions. Other projects will be recommended and coordinated with Reclamation during the period of the agreement. On specific projects, TU-WWP is to manage the scope of work, develop contracts, negotiate, and track project-specific objectives. Contract closure, new project development, and on-going adaptive management activities are also included. Initiate preliminary meetings and coordination with various funders preparatory to specific grants. Manage, administer and review work of subcontractors. Projects currently identified include: • Chewuch Canal Piping • Methow Small Tributaries Enhancement - Improvements to diversions and ditch enhancements, with possible alternative water source development • Methow Fulton Ditch Improvements - piping or a hybrid pipe/lined ditch options • Methow MVID West Improvements - barrier removals or replacements and piping/lining. • Lower Wenatchee Instream Flow Enhancement – moving location of diversion • Beaver Creek Point Elimination of Diversion The anticipated length of the agreement is 5 years. Subsequent renewal or continuation modifications related to additional funds for any awards as of a result of this Notice of Intent may be entered into without future competition; however, are conditioned upon successful project performance and availability of appropriated funds.

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