This contract supports and is part of the Wind River Watershed Project, initiated in 1998.  The project's focus is on restoration of Wind River steelhead.  In 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed the steelhead of the lower Columbia river as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.  In 1997, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rated the status of the Wind River summer run steelhead as critical.  Due to the status of this stock, the Wind River summer steelhead have the highest priority for recovery/restoration in the state of Washington's Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative.  Project participants are the Underwood Conservation District, US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  

This contract continues UCD support and participation in the project.  Underwood Conservation District will provide habitat restoration work in 2008-10.  Included in this contract will be removal of noxious weeds (primarily scotch broom), planting of native vegetation along riparian areas, monitoring vegetation to identify further planting or weed removal needs, and providing the appropriate environmental compliance documentation for this work.  Additionally, UCD will start the engineering and design work to be able to plan and implement a cutbank stabilization project in the middle Wind River reach in 2008-09 (Jursik and Betton properties).  Other work will include producing periodic (quarterly) status reports and an annual report, as well as managing and administering the project.