This contract will fund the Yakama Nation Fisheries Upper Columbia Habitat Restoration Project to seek, design and implement fish habitat restoration projects throughout the Methow, Entiat, and Wenatchee subbasins for the Calendar Year 2024 performance period.  Administrative tasks related to this SOW, such as reporting and inventory management, are provided under BPA Contract 56662 REL 289 (through 5/31/24, then tasks will transfer to the subsequent FY24 release).

This contract details salmon habitat restoration work being designed or implemented in the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead recovery area under the guidance of the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan and the 2021 Habitat Restoration Prioritization.  Yakama Nation Fisheries uses project and ecological concern prioritizations contained within the 2021 Habitat Restoration Prioritization and within Habitat and Geomorphic Reach Assessments reviewed by the Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team to determine which project action types and locations to pursue.  At the project level, Yakama Nation Fisheries subcontracts with technical consultants to develop salmon habitat restoration actions that best address prioritized ecological concerns limiting salmon and steelhead productivity and abundance.  

Work Element actions in 2024 include:

REACH ASSESSMENT PROJECTS (2024 HABITAT ASSESSMENTS)

Methow Subbasin:
Methow River-Thompson Creek and Methow River-Fawn Creek Assessment Units - Methow River Reach Assessment Update (Weeman Bridge to Twisp)

Wenatchee Subbasin:
Middle and Lower Icicle Assessment Units - Icicle River Reach Assessment
Lower Nason Creek Assessment Unit - Nason Creek Reach Assessment Update
Chiwaukum Creek Assessment Unit - Chiwaukum Creek Reach Assessment
Lower White River Assessment Unit - Lower White River Reach Assessment

Entiat Subbasin:
Entiat River-Preston Creek and Entiat River-Potato Creek Assessment Units - Middle Entiat Reach Assessment Update

DESIGN PROJECTS (2024 ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PROJECTS)

Methow Subbasin:
Chewuch River-Doe Creek Assessment Unit - Chewuch USFS
Wolf Creek Assessment Unit - Wolf Creek USFS
Methow River-Fawn Creek Assessment Unit - Methow Basin EWD Instream Flow Project
Early Winters Creek Assessment Unit - Early Winters Creek USFS
Methow River-Rattlesnake Creek Assessment Unit - Upper Methow USFS
Methow River-Thompson Creek Assessment Unit - W2 Foghorn Reach, 1890s Outlet, and Two Channels Project

Wenatchee Subbasin:
Lower Nason Creek Assessment Unit - Nason Creek N1 DOT Project and Upper Nason Phase 3
Lower Chiwawa River Assessment Unit - Lower Chiwawa Big Meadow
Wenatchee River-Nahahum Canyon Assessment Unit - Lower Wenatchee River Reach 3 Restoration

Entiat Subbasin:
Entiat River-Lake Creek Assessment Unit - Entiat Stillwaters USFS
Mad River Assessment Unit - Mad River (USFS) Projects, Mad River Outlet, MRO Instream Flow Project

RESTORATION ACTIONS (2024 CONSTRUCTION ACTIONS)

Methow Subbasin:
Lower Twisp Assessment Unit - Newby Narrows Phase 2

Entiat Subbasin:
Mad River Assessment Unit - Mad River USFS

Wenatchee Subbasin:
Lower Nason Creek Assessment Unit - Upper Nason Creek Restoration Phase 2
Lower Chiwawa River Assessment Unit - Lower Chiwawa USFS and Chiwawa Outlet

For all three subbasins, this contract also details a scope of work for continuing to partner with the United States Forest Service to implement salmon recovery actions on USFS managed lands.  Through a cooperative agreement with the USFS, the Yakama Nation provides some cost reimbursement coverage to the USFS for federal staff costs on conducting NEPA and environmental compliance review on Yakama Nation sponsored projects.