CONTRACT DESCRIPTION

This is an 12-month contract, running from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010.  

Project #2003-017-00 (Project) seeks to develop two novel monitoring and evaluation programs: (i) subbasin-scale pilot status and trend monitoring efforts for anadromous salmonids and their habitat in the Wenatchee, John Day and South Fork Salmon River basins, and (ii) effectiveness monitoring for suites of habitat restoration projects in selected watersheds within the three target subbasins.  This work - critical for implementing the 2000 NMFS FCRPS Biological Opinion (RPA Actions 180, 181, and 183) (BiOp) - builds on current status and trend monitoring programs within each of these basins.  Several regional and local organizations are funding and implementing these programs.  This project will integrate existing and new monitoring and evaluation activities in three pilot subbasins to help ensure that provisions of the BiOp are satisfied.

This contract is one of several contracts that will implement this project.  The FINAL REPORT for this contract will contain data that will 1) be submitted to NOAA FISHERIES (also a contractor under this project) and 2) be submitted to BPA as a contract final report according to the terms of this contract. This Scope of Work (SOW) will enable the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to implement the Project in the Wenatchee Subbasin.  Specifically, within this SOW, United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service (USFS) will conduct day snorkel surveys at 50 status and trend sites in the Wenatchee subbasin in the summer of 2009 in coordination with the Yakama Nation.   In addition, the USFS Entiat Ranger District currently deploys and operates water temperature data loggers to record continuous water temperature data in the Entiat and Mad Rivers, and collects and processes spawning gravel samples from the Entiat and Mad Rivers to determine percent fines.

The work elements within this SOW expand upon previous and current monitoring work being conducted by USFS and are key components of the two monitoring and evaluation programs developed by the Project. Past and current USFS monitoring work includes steelhead spawning surveys in the Wenatchee, Methow, Entiat and Naches subbasins; fine sediment, stream temperature, fish distribution surveys, habitat surveys, and bull trout spawning surveys in the Methow, Entiat, Wenatchee, Upper Yakima and Naches subbasins.  All the monitoring programs are coordinated with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Yakama Nation, Chelan County and Douglas County Public Utility Districts, and other ISEMP contractors.  
These work elements are interrelated with other Project components including reconnaissance/coordination work performed by CCD (Cascadia Conservation District) and Terraqua, Inc.  While the completion of most work elements within this SOW is not dependent on the implementation of interrelated Project components, the completion of this SOW will provide the context for, and facilitate the interpretation of, data collected in other Project components.  

Unless changes are mutually agreed to by the Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team (RTT) and USFS, technical methodologies for all work conducted under this SOW will follow protocols specified in the following documents:

“A Field Manual of Scientific Protocols for Steelhead Redd Surveys within the Upper Columbia Monitoring Strategy” (Nelle and Moberg 2008).
“A Field Manual of Scientific Protocols for Underwater Observations within the Upper Columbia Monitoring Strategy” (Murdoch and Nelle 2008).
“A Field Manual of Scientific Protocols for Water Quality Surveys within the Upper Columbia Monitoring Strategy” (Moberg et al. 2008).
A Field Manual of Scientific Protocols for Fine Sediment Sampling within the Upper Columbia Monitoring Strategy." (Tussing 2008).
Hillman, T.W.  2006.  Monitoring strategy for the Upper Columbia Basin: 2006.  Prepared for Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team, Wenatchee, Washington.