The Methow Subbasin Plan, adopted in November of 2004, establishes biological objectives and restoration strategies for each river and tributary within the basin by sub reach assessment units (AU).

The following excerpts from the Sub Basin Plan outline and describe the objectives relevant to this project.

The working hypothesis statement for the Middle Methow, Chewuch and Twisp watersheds, states that increasing habitat diversity (riparian function, LWD, man-made confinement) will increase survival as follows:
-Summer Chinook survival will increase in the following life stages: a) spawning, b) pre-spawn holding, and c) fry colonization.
-Summer steelhead survival will increase in the following life stages: a) spawning; b) fry colonization, and c) age 0-2 juvenile rearing.
-Spring Chinook survival will increase in the following life stages: for: a) fry colonization; b) age-0 rearing; c) pre-spawn holding, and d) spawning.
-Bull trout survival will increase for holding, migration and overwintering.
Objective 1 for this element is to achieve properly functioning riparian conditions (at least 75% of normative for riparian vegetation and connectivity to the floodplain/off-channel habitat).

The Sub Basin Plan also sets forth restoration goals for each stream segment, and describes strategies to achieve those goals.

Restoration Strategy 2 - Replant degraded riparian zones by re-establishing native vegetation and natural wood recruitment processes.
Restoration Strategy 4 - Install and maintain fencing ...to prevent livestock access to riparian zones and streams.

The Plan statements relevant for the subject project sites proposed for treatment include Strategy 2 and Strategy 4.  Additionally, resource managers working in the area have identified the need for placement and maintenance of measures to reduce/prevent deer browse on proposed riparian enhancement projects as necessary during the first several years following implementation. These measures may include man-made enclosures around individual plantings or groups of plantings, inter-cropping (planting small new plants among established stands), and/or application of deer repellent.

The goal of the Methow Riparian program is to achieve properly functioning riparian conditions. Land use practices and past flood events and treatments have resulted in 1) degraded riparian conditions, 2) elevated stream temperatures, and 3) elevated fine sediment in the Methow mainstem and its tributaries.  Riparian enhancement projects are being proposed to recover watershed processes and functions associated with healthy native plant communities.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) need to fulfill FCRPS BiOp metric goals, including 12 miles for riparian enhancement.  To help BPA and Reclamation meet these goals, MSRF has identified actions to be undertaken. The projects will be implemented by the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) or a qualified contractor.  For purposes of calculating metric distance, each side of the stream contributes to the metric, such that one mile of riparian enhancement on both sides of the stream provides two miles of metric for riparian enhancement.  Acreage enhanced by the project should also be determined.  

Riparian enhancement projects include streambank stabilization and riparian treatments such as installing fencing or reconstructing existing fencing.   Projects will generally involve installing exclusion fencing and/or new planting to establish a riparian buffer.  Except in areas of active grazing, exclusion fencing areas shall be established based on observed need and will not prevent access to the stream by native wildlife.  All vegetation projects will use native species; include vegetation management strategies that are consistent with the local topography and climate; specify seed and plant sources; and use only certified noxious weed-free mulch.  Fence projects will be implemented in conjunction with a prescribed grazing plan (for properties with continued grazing and conservation easements) to minimize impacts to the riparian area and streambanks.  Riparian buffers will generally range from 35 to 100 feet wide.

This is a multi-year project. The information presented above repeated from the first contract remains valid.

Year 2 proposed contract elements:
The second year work will encompass two general types of activities: 1) maintenance and new treatments at sites initially treated under the Year 1 contract; and 2) first year treatment on new sites added under this Year 2 contract.

The Year 1 sites listed below will have additional plantings, and/or maintenance / management activities. MSRF will continue to work with contractors to complete prescribed work elements.  Tasks may include continued assessment of treatments completed, replacing / maintaining first year improvements, establishing additional new plantings with cage protection, and installing new exclosure pods.
Methow River: Pigott / Boesel site, continued
Twisp River: Daudon / Twisp River Properties LLC site, continued,
                                Twisp River MSRF site, continued,
Chewuch River: MacPherson / DeLange site, continued

Sites added in Year 2 will undergo initial treatment.  Tasks will mimic actions shown to be effective in successfully re-establishing riparian vegetation; i.e., protect new plantings with wire cages, use temporary irrigation systems to maximize survival rates, and establish "exclosure" pods to protect new plantings as well as naturally regenerating riparian vegetation. One new site (Satiqua Park) has had initial riparian plantings established as rehabilitation under Fulton Dam barrier removal project contract. Therefore, that site will be included in WE 22 Maintain Vegetation.
Methow River: Lehman conservation site, first year treatment
                                Heath Big Valley, first year treatment
Twisp River: Post conservation site, first year treatment
Chewuch River: Satiqua Park / PUD access site, new riparian enhancement, maintenance of previously established vegetation

Chosen contractors will work under MSRF guidance to develop planting plans, implement the plans, maintain plantings / fencing, and assess the effectiveness of treatment actions.