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| | A | 119 | Manage and Administer Projects | Project implementation management and contract administration: Watershed habitat program | This work element includes the duties associated with watershed-based program management, the identification and implementation of priority riparian and floodplain restoration projects, the support of improved upland management practices, and the general administrative requirements of the contract.
These include: implementation of the current contract SOW, managing a budget, and satisfying BPA contracting requirements, including preparing and submitting invoices and next year's statement of work and budget, maintaining a property inventory, providing accrual estimates, accounting for cost-share, etc. It also includes: (a) directing the planning and implementation of prioritized habitat enhancement projects in the watershed area by working proactively with private landowners to identify priority habitat enhancement projects and develop cost-share applications (upland BMPs, riparian planting, riparian fencing, grazing BMPs, etc.); and (b) directing the planning and implementation of priority riparian restoration and floodplain habitat enhancement projects in the watershed, and (c) adaptively managing implementation actions.
It may include supervising and training staff, and providing professional development; addressing issues presented by various user groups and county, state and federal entities; maintaining licenses/training requirements, and responding to and/or addressing local concerns and unforeseen opportunities and issues as they arise. | | |
| | B | 165 | Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | Environmental Compliance Clearance: Upland / Riparian Habitat Restoration & Enhancement Projects | Provide environmental compliance assistance and documentation to BPA's Environmental Planning and Analysis group (KEC). Review work elements, review state and federal lists of species of concern, compare and determine potential impacts caused by planned management activities, and develop procedures to avoid impacts. Coordinate with the BPA Environmental Specialist (EC-Lead) to obtain NEPA, ESA, cultural resources, and other environmental compliance clearances required to implement project designs.
Identify, evaluate, and comply with NEPA, ESA and Cultural Resource requirements: submit information needed for cultural and ESA clearances as requested by the BPA EC lead. For example, provide needed information and support to KEC for ESA consultations (US Fish & Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries) and Cultural Resource reviews and concurrences (e.g., State [SHPO] & Tribal [THPO]) for (a) upland projects (direct seed, upland erosion and sediment control measures, cropland-to-grassland conversions), (b) water developments, (c) riparian restoration projects (fencing, planting, and grazing BMPs), and (d) in-channel construction activities that are planned for implementation in 2016 to 2018 -- including materials or equipment staging areas and construction access points -- and as design features and implementation logistics and schedules become more firmly documented through preliminary planning and design details, final design adjustments, and site planning.
On-the-ground work cannot begin until environmental compliance and cultural resource clearance has been received from the EC-Lead. | | |
| | C | 114 | Identify and Select Projects | Asotin County Watersheds: Riparian and Instream Habitat Complexity Assessment and Planning | The Asotin County Conservation District will work with federal, state and local partner agencies and local landowners to develop strategic project selection and implementation planning for all of the smaller watersheds in Asotin County. This process will not replicate previous planning efforts including the Asotin Subbasin plan, the sub-regional Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan, WRIA 35 Watershed Plan, and the Asotin Creek Model Watershed Plan; but will synthesize critical information from these plans to strategically identify prioritized locations and restoration activities required to recover and enhance aquatic habitats for ESA-listed fish species.
Strategic planning will prioritize the appropriate types of restoration activities in priority locations to address key limiting factors and provide the transition from the current model of opportunistic restoration and enhancement to focused restoration of key reaches containing critical ESA habitat and facilitate collaborative, focused, and value added restoration projects. The planning that will be done is modeled after the Atlas Process -- one that will centralize data and maps related to limiting factors, life history requirements, biologically significant reaches, habitat restoration opportunities and priorities, conceptual restoration templates consistent with local geomorphology, and a scoring and ranking matrix that will be collectively evaluated by local and regional experts and watershed residents and restoration practitioners. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | Chinook (O. tshawytscha) - Snake River Spring/Summer ESU (Threatened), Trout, Bull (S. confluentus) (Threatened) |
| | D | 175 | Produce Design | Habitat Project Development [Pintler Creek]: Channel Complexity, Floodplain Restoration | Evaluate selected projects identified in the Conceptual Restoration Strategy or "Tier Prioritization Framework" to be more implementation-ready: develop design concepts and engineering requirements; estimate costs; anticipate the cultural resource review, environmental compliance steps, and permits required for implementation in the next funding cycle.
Tasks include: development and management of engineering and design activities, cultural resource survey and clearance requirements, and pre-construction needs such as materials acquisition and staging in support of project implementation beginning during the Spring of 2017.
Purpose: Advance habitat restoration designs to a level sufficient to address engineering design review, coordinate permitting and the planning of construction schedules and details -- for implementation of any projects targeted for 2017 - 2018. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | E | 175 | Produce Design | Habitat Project Development [Buford Creek]: Passage Barrier Removal, Habitat Improvement | Evaluate selected Buford Creek culvert removal/replacement project, including related habitat recovery projects identified in the Conceptual Restoration Strategy or "Tier Prioritization Framework" to be more implementation-ready: develop design concepts and engineering requirements; estimate costs; anticipate the cultural resource review, environmental compliance steps, and permits required for implementation support in the next SRFB funding cycle.
Tasks include: development and management of engineering and design activities, in collaboration with other project partners. This project is taking place in cooperation with the Nez Perce Tribe
Purpose: Advance habitat restoration designs to a level sufficient to address engineering design review, coordinate permitting and the planning of construction schedules and details -- for implementation currently targeted for: Summer 2018. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | F | 175 | Produce Design | Lower Grande Ronde (Botts): Finalize Design Specification & Engineering | Note: A near-final assessment, design report, and project design (completed pursuant to BPA contract support in FY15), will be attached to the prior contract: #69521 (ending Jun 30, 2016).
Background: Project Area is a med-priority restoration project reach, located on private lands, adjacent to and contiguous with CREP set-aside completed in 2014 by ACCD. The project reach has been surveyed and conceptual recommendations are under development by the District Engineer; preliminary design products will be considered, and incorporated into a more developed list of restoration alternatives as design products mature.
Current: The purpose of this WE is to refine and conclude the preliminary restoration designs developed by ACCD (FY14) to the level needed to coordinate permitting, inform environmental compliance review, obtain environmental clearances and permits, and organize construction planning for the implementation of the project in the summer of 2016 and 2017. It is the intent to complete this project design and permitting in 2016 and implement in 2017.
This design stage is expected to develop a site plan, technical drawings or engineering specifications, access points, and a plan for materials management and equipment staging areas – based on the final or near-final Design Report produced in collaboration with District engineering staff. Depending on the anticipated construction schedule, additional final design review may be required prior to project implementation, to accurately reflect changes in river conditions that can be expected to occur between the time of this contract award and the work-window construction period.
This work element includes all work associated with the completion of engineering or technical drawings, specifications and/or budgets required for the construction of in-stream large wood placement and the installation of any additional structures or features. Refinement of the design plan may include ancillary work such as land surveying, photogrammetric surveys, field surveys, etc. Materials identification and the coordination of acquisition of construction material (i.e., trees with root wads) are also to be incorporated in design considerations and planning. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | G | 175 | Produce Design | Tenmile Creek (Luhn): Finalize Design Specification & Engineering | Note: A near-final assessment, design report, and project design (completed pursuant to BPA contract support in FY15), will be attached to the prior contract: #69521 (ending Jun 30, 2016).
Background: Project Area is a med-priority restoration project reach, located on private lands, adjacent to and contiguous with [the lower reach of Tenmile Creek]. The project reach was surveyed and conceptual design recommendations provided by the District Engineer (Nov 2014) - to be considered, and incorporated into a more developed list of restoration alternatives.
Current: The purpose of this WE is to advance and refine the preliminary restoration designs developed by ACCD (FY14) to the level needed to coordinate permitting, inform environmental compliance review, obtain environmental clearances and permits, and organize construction planning for the implementation of the project in the summer of 2016 and 2017. It is the intent to complete this project design and permitting in 2016 and implement in 2017.
This design stage is expected to develop a site plan, technical drawings or engineering specifications, access points, and a plan for materials management and equipment staging areas – based on the final or near-final Design Report produced in collaboration with District engineering staff. Depending on the anticipated construction schedule, additional final design review may be required prior to project implementation, to accurately reflect changes in river conditions that can be expected to occur between the time of this contract award and the work-window construction period.
This work element includes all work associated with the completion of engineering or technical drawings, specifications and/or budgets required for the construction of in-stream large wood placement and the installation of any additional structures or features. Refinement of the design plan may include ancillary work such as land surveying, photogrammetric surveys, field surveys, etc. Materials identification and the coordination of acquisition of construction material (i.e., trees with root wads) are also to be incorporated in design considerations and planning. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | H | 99 | Outreach and Education | Enhance participation in the Watershed Habitat Enhancement Program | A) Two to four newsletters are produced each year and are sent to about 950 recipients. Newsletters are distributed to provide landowners with information about activities taking place in the watershed, upcoming events, conservation practices, cost-share opportunities, and other important topics. See www.asotincd.net/programs/information and education for an overall newsletter description. ACCD will transition to a electronic newsletter format, and additional mailing lists, to better inform cooperators and the public of activities that are in progress or opportunities that are available. Paper copies of outreach materials will be available to those upon request. Project signs have been and will be posted at various sites to promote the conservation practices that landowners have voluntarily implemented.
B) Continued support for Salmon in the Classroom Programs within the elementary schools in Asotin County. The Salmon in the Classroom project provides salmon education to Asotin County students (see www.asotincd.net/programs/information and education for an overall project description). Current District efforts reach 20 - 50 students in each of four schools; the District provides rearing tanks and technical support to raise rainbow trout for release in approved ponds in late May or early June. Students learn about the salmon life-cycle, habitat requirements, and water quality standards - all in the context of how and why it is important to protect the environment. Goal is to reach all students in the District (six schools).
C) The District provides a workshop at the 4-H Youth Camp on water quality. Students learn about the importance of water quality for fish, wildlife, and humans and the impacts human activity can have on natural resources. Each student receives a Beta kit to take home. Students may also be involved in helping with tree plantings.
D) Tours of completed and on-going projects (approximately 50 people) are conducted to showcase conservation activities implemented in the watershed.
Overall accomplishments regarding each of these specific outreach and education activities are reported in the annual report. | | |
| | I | 48 | Practice No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems | CRP take-out [2011-2017 program]: Year-6 (no cost-share incentive) | Continuation (at no cost) of a program that provides an economic incentive to landowners to aid them in the conversion from traditional farming methods to direct seeding in an effort to reduce erosion and in-stream sediment levels in Asotin Creek and its tributaries. Note: See also the Contract Summary narrative [at "Additional Actions"] for a discussion of the adjustments considered and implemented in the FY14 contract period, for managing this program going forward, through completion of incentive payments in 2015.
Direct seeding is the practice of planting or drilling seeds into fields that have not been first plowed or tilled (or only partially tilled) and crops are grown with minimum soil disturbance. No-till direct seeding greatly reduces soil erosion, builds organic matter in the soil, minimizes soil disturbance, creates biomass above and below the ground, conserves water, recycles nutrients, creates water, air and nutrient channels, increases soil tilth and improves aggregate stability. No-till direct seeding can reduce soil erosion and transport by 95% over conventional tillage; in addition, water, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides no longer run off the fields into adjacent watersheds. Improved water quality and associated fish habitat conditions are the biggest beneficiaries of no-till direct seeding.
Landowners participating in this program receive a per-acre dollar incentive each year ($45 in year-1; $26 thereafter) for up to 5 continuous years that the field meets the Residue Management standard set by NRCS. As incentives phase-out, participants commit to additional years of on-farm residue management techniques (2 - 3 years) without District financial assistance, depending on the length of time enrolled in the program. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | J | 48 | Practice No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems | (Year-5) CRP take-out cost-share [2012-2018 program] | Final-year of cost-share for a 5-year program to provide an economic incentive to landowners to aid them in the conversion from traditional farming methods to direct seeding in an effort to reduce erosion and in-stream sediment levels in Asotin Creek and its tributaries. Note: See also the Contract Summary narrative [at "Additional Actions"] for a discussion of the adjustments considered and implemented in the FY14 contract period, for managing this program going forward in 2015, through completion in 2018.
Direct seeding is the practice of planting or drilling seeds into fields that have not been first plowed or tilled (or only partially tilled) and crops are grown with minimum soil disturbance. No-till direct seeding greatly reduces soil erosion, builds organic matter in the soil, minimizes soil disturbance, creates biomass above and below the ground, conserves water, recycles nutrients, creates water, air and nutrient channels, increases soil tilth and improves aggregate stability. No-till direct seeding can reduce soil erosion and transport by 95% over conventional tillage; in addition, water, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides no longer run off the fields into adjacent watersheds. Improved water quality and associated fish habitat conditions are the biggest beneficiaries of no-till direct seeding.
Landowners participating in this program receive a per-acre dollar incentive each year ($45 in year-1; $26 thereafter) for up to 5 continuous years that the field meets the Residue Management standard set by NRCS. As incentives phase-out, participants commit to additional years of on-farm residue management techniques (2 - 3 years) without District financial assistance, depending on the length of time enrolled in the program. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | K | 48 | Practice No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems | (Year-4) CRP take-out cost-share [2013-2019 program] | Continuation of a 5-year program of cost-share to provide an economic incentive to landowners to aid them in the conversion from traditional farming methods to direct seeding in an effort to reduce erosion and in-stream sediment levels in Asotin Creek and its tributaries. Note: See also the Contract Summary narrative [at "Additional Actions"] for a discussion of the adjustments considered and implemented in the FY14 contract period, for managing this program going forward in 2015, through completion in 2019.
Direct seeding is the practice of planting or drilling seeds into fields that have not been first plowed or tilled (or only partially tilled) and crops are grown with minimum soil disturbance. No-till direct seeding greatly reduces soil erosion, builds organic matter in the soil, minimizes soil disturbance, creates biomass above and below the ground, conserves water, recycles nutrients, creates water, air and nutrient channels, increases soil tilth and improves aggregate stability. No-till direct seeding can reduce soil erosion and transport by 95% over conventional tillage; in addition, water, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides no longer run off the fields into adjacent watersheds. Improved water quality and associated fish habitat conditions are the biggest beneficiaries of no-till direct seeding.
Landowners participating in this program receive a per-acre dollar incentive each year ($45 in year-1; $26 thereafter) for up to 5 continuous years that the field meets the Residue Management standard set by NRCS. As incentives phase-out, participants commit to additional years of on-farm residue management techniques (2 - 3 years) without District financial assistance, depending on the length of time enrolled in the program. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | L | 48 | Practice No-till and Conservation Tillage Systems | (Year 3) Residue Management Program (RMP) Incentive [2014-2018 program] | This is a long-term program to provide an economic incentive to landowners to aid them in the conversion from traditional farming methods to utilizing residue management techniques including direct seeding/no-till/minimum-till in an effort to reduce erosion and in-stream sediment levels in Asotin County watersheds. Landowners can use reduced tillage practices when seeding into fields that have not been first plowed or tilled (or only partially tilled) to produce crops grown with minimum soil disturbance. NRCS refers to this cropping management practice as Residue Management.
Note: See also the Contract Summary narrative [at "Additional Actions"] for a discussion of the adjustments considered and implemented in the FY14 contract period, for managing this program going forward in 2015, through completion in 2018.
Residue Management is a tool used by farmers to improve soil quality by limiting the amount of tillage performed during the crop rotation. Managing the residue greatly reduces soil erosion, builds organic matter in the soil, minimizes soil disturbance, creates biomass above and below the ground, conserves water, recycles nutrients, creates water, air and nutrient channels, increases soil tilth and improves aggregate stability. These farming techniques can reduce erosion by 95% over conventional tillage; in addition, water, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides no longer run off the fields into adjacent watersheds. Improved water quality and associated fish habitat conditions are the biggest beneficiaries of reduced tillage practices.
Initiated in the FY14 contract period, this is the final enrollment period for this Program: acres are those newly enrolled in 2014 (not previously in an incentive program), and incentives may be paid for a period of at least 3, and no more than 5, years. Landowners participating in this program will receive a per-acre dollar incentive (a maximum of $25) per year for up to 5 continuous years that the field meets the Residue Management standard set by NRCS. As incentives phase-out, participants commit to additional years of on-farm residue management techniques (2-3 years), without District financial assistance, depending on the length of time enrolled in the program.
Landowners will be eligible for the financial assistance even on years that the acres are in chemical fallow (no crop is grown but acres may be minimally tilled; herbicide and pesticide treatments can be applied). If any "invasive" tillage (from adjacent lands) occurs on the un-tilled acreage, the landowner will be disqualified from the program. | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | M | 40 | Install Fence | Riparian Exclusion and Upland Protection & Enhancement | [Specific landowner commitments under development, and pending Board approval. The emphases in any additional fencing opportunities should be in the riparian zone.]
Construct fencing on Asotin Creek and its tributaries, on lands that contribute to the protection and enhancement of water quality, and the improvement of habitat for ESA-listed species:
1) With the passage of the Farm Bill, CREP is an active program and now available to landowners. The planning and approval process for CREP is lengthy; the District is currently working with multiple landowners with property on Asotin and George Creek that will potentially sign CREP contracts within this contract period. Ideally, riparian fencing will be installed in tandem with the CREP program partnership funded by the USDA FSA and the ACCD.
Supplemental BPA cost-share may be used by the District to assist in the adjustment of fence locations and alignments within FSA rules and requirements, when CREP fencing incentives do not fit the circumstances on the ground; as long as the result is riparian buffers that: a) protect and enhance water quality and fish habitat, and b) are better-considered, more appropriately located, and bigger or more effective than they would be in the absence of BPA financial assistance.
2) To contribute to improvements in overall water quality throughout the drainage, other fencing may be considered in upland areas to encourage broader utilization of available forage, as a management strategy that disperses the impact of pastured livestock across the landscape, in order to reduce soil erosion and sediment transport.
Note: See additional requirements and specifications in the Contract Summary narrative [Management Considerations, Sec.5] | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | N | 47 | Plant Vegetation | Headgate: Establish Riparian and In-Channel or Floodplain Plant Community | Riparian or floodplain planting: trees and shrubs planted in the Spring (or Fall) to encourage or jumpstart new vegetation, or support the existing naturally-occurring vegetative community, in stream channel areas and the floodplain zone. Plantings are for shade, to encourage floodplain development and connection to riparian processes, and to support proper habitat function.
Note: See additional requirements and specifications in the Contract Summary narrative [Management Considerations, Sec.4] | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | O | 47 | Plant Vegetation | 2016-12 Tree Planting Project | Windbreak or shelter belt planting: single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs in linear configurations to reduce wind-induced soil erosion and transport, protect plants from wind-related damage, manage snow deposition, shelter infrastructure, animals and people, and contribute to wildlife habitat values.
Note: See additional requirements and specifications in the Contract Summary narrative [Management Considerations, Sec.4] | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | P | 47 | Plant Vegetation | Additional: Windbreak trees and shrubs | [Specific landowner commitment under development, and pending Board approval]
Riparian or floodplain planting: trees and shrubs planted in the Spring to encourage or jumpstart new vegetation, or support the existing naturally-occurring vegetative community, in stream channel areas and the floodplain zone. Plantings are for shade, to encourage floodplain development and connection to riparian processes, and to support proper habitat function.
Windbreak or shelter belt planting: single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs in linear configurations to reduce wind-induced soil erosion and transport, protect plants from wind-related damage, manage snow deposition, shelter infrastructure, animals and people, and contribute to wildlife habitat values.
Note: See additional requirements and specifications in the Contract Summary narrative [Management Considerations, Sec.4] | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
| | Q | 47 | Plant Vegetation | Additional: Riparian trees and shrubs | [Specific landowner commitment under development, and pending Board approval. The emphasis in these additional planting opportunities should be in the riparian zone.]
Riparian or floodplain planting: trees and shrubs planted in the Spring (or Fall) to encourage or jumpstart new vegetation, or support the existing naturally-occurring vegetative community, in stream channel areas and the floodplain zone. Plantings are for shade, to encourage floodplain development and connection to riparian processes, and to support proper habitat function.
Note: See additional requirements and specifications in the Contract Summary narrative [Management Considerations, Sec.4] | Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened) | |
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