Contract Changes for April-July--No Cost Time Extension

This contract was amended for a no cost time extension (NCTE) to extend the contract from 4/30/2014 to 7/31/2014.  The specific WEs that were changed include U,V Z, and AB.  The NCTE purpose is to allow for the completion of the identified items.  The NCTE is needed in order to complete field implementation of fence, water development and wetland due to not getting environmental compliance requirements completed, and a landowner seeding  fields where projects would be located. The project can commence once the fields are harvested so there is not a crop loss.

CONTRACT AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:

WE U AND V  
WE U and V are components of a project located at the same site along Mission Creek.  Project installation was delayed due to cultural resources clearance.  Cultural resources clearance was obtained on 4/2/2014, however, the landowner had seeded spring crops at the project site on March 27, 2014.  The landowner is reluctant to install the identified measures until after the crop is harvested (estimated at 6/30/2014) due to a loss of income from damaged crops.   The water development requires the excavation of a pipeline which is within the crop field.  The installation of the fence requires driving through the crop field and along the cropland border in order to auger the fence post holes and install the posts.  The landowner is completing the construction of these WEs with his own equipment.  This landowner has a long history of installing conservation measures for fish habitat restoration and also has planned future work.  In addition, this landowner controls approximately 3 miles of Mission Creek where steelhead spawning and rearing activities are documented.  Allowing the extension as requested by the landowner would promote and preserve the existing cooperative working relationship and encourage future project work.  The planned construction sequence for WE U and V is:
• June 23-26, 2014 deliver materials to project site.  Materials include fencing, pipeline and trough.
• July 7 -10, 2014 install water development.
• July 7-16 install fence.

WE Z
The work for WE AB needs to be completed before this work element can be completed.  The planting scheduled at this site is partially within the excavated area identified under WE AB.    The Idaho Department of Corrections work crew will install the plantings under supervision of NPSWCD staff.  The plant materials are available and located at the NPSWCD office.  The proposed construction schedule for the work:
• April 30 – May 3, 2014 install the vegetation that is outside of the WE AB area of influence.
• June 12-14, 2014 install the vegetation that is within the WE AB area.

WE AB
The work planned for this work element includes removal of a small berm, which requires a plan review by the BPA EC lead.  The results of the plan review will not be completed prior to 4/30/2014 which prohibits completion of the earthwork component of this project.  Planned construction schedule:
• April 22, 2014 submit plan to EC lead for review.
• April 22 – May 31, 2014 plan review (up to 30 days is needed if hydrology and engineering review is needed)
• June 2-5, 2014 organize equipment and ensure materials are on site.
• June 9-11, 2014 complete earthwork


ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION

The Restoring Anadromous Fish Habitat in the Lapwai Creek Watershed, project 2002-070-00, began in 2003.  This multi-year project focuses on restoring and improving fish habitat within the Lapwai Creek watershed.  The limiting factors addressed include low summer flows, wide fluctuation in annual stream flows, connectivity, loss of all or partial floodplain, sedimentation of spawning and rearing habitat, high summer stream temperatures, and lack of in-stream cover.  Past accomplishments have entailed the installation of land improvement projects to address these limiting factors, including 8.24 miles of riparian fencing, 6.21 miles of upland fencing, 499 acres of weed control, two livestock waste systems, 9,000 LF of riparian plantings, 4 stream crossings, 12.1 miles of road improvements, 2 miles of streambank bioengineering restoration, 4.5 acres of wetland enhancement, 15,209 acres of direct seeding, 15 alternative watering systems for livestock, 13 water and sediment control structures,22 LF grassed waterway, the development of 52 habitat conservation plans, 9.27 miles of access restored, 3.1 miles of floodplain reconnected, 82 acres of tree planting, and 200 acres of grass seeding.  

Prior to the initiation of this project, a massive data gap existed on fish, the condition of fish habitat, and limiting factors within the watershed.  Under the FY 2007 contract, we focused primarily on the analysis and compilation of the fish presence and abundance data, and stream habitat data collected annually since 2003.  The data was analyzed and converted into a GIS-compatible format and then combined with other available, watershed-wide data sets developed by the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District, the Nez Perce Tribe Watershed Division (NPT) and the NPT Water Resources Division.  The synergistic effect of these combined data sets came together in the development of the "Strategy for the Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed," a document intended to direct efforts and resources toward the highest priority restoration projects and areas of the Lapwai Creek Watershed.  This document provides an accurate assessment of the status and health of the aquatic resources within the watershed, and will allow us to spatially prioritize the implementation of future watershed protection and restoration projects for the Lapwai Creek Watershed. This plan was updated in FY08 to incorporate information identified by the ISRP review.
                                                                                                                                                                          
FY 13 Contract Summary:

The "Strategy for the Ecological Restoration of Lapwai Creek Watershed," which was completed under the FY 07 contract and revised in FY08, was the main reference for prioritizing implementation and developing the FY 13 SOW.  Work during this contract period includes more design and plan development than the previous 3 contract years.  The plan and design will allow for future implementation actions.  The NPSWCD anticipates the installation of projects planned and designed through this contract period in the years 2014-2016.

Under this contract, the NPSWCD plans to install 850 LF of fence, control  6 acres of noxious weeds, improve 700 LF or road, plant 6 acres with native trees and shrubs, install 2 water developments, install one erosion control structure, maintain vegetation at 20 sites (310 acres), develop 4 habitat restoration plans, remove two passage barriers, treat 73 acres of hybrid knotweed, treat 115 acres of orange hawkweed, release biocontrol adults at 5 sites, and install 2,225 acres of direct seeding.  Work completed under this contract assists in meeting the following objectives:

Objective 1 – Reduce stream temperatures
Reduce water temperatures to levels meeting applicable water quality standards for life stage specific needs of anadromous and native resident fish, with an established upward trend in the number of stream miles meeting standards. The benchmark for this objective is to reduce overall days exceeding daily average temperatures at less than 16 degrees Celsius for spawning and rearing for anadromous salmonids and less than 20 degrees Celsius under all circumstances (NPCC 1994). Additional benchmarks for specific project types are discussed under relevant deliverables. Desired out comes include restoring hydrologic functions related to temperature--identifying and rehabilitating wetland and floodplain areas, restoring riparian functions related to temperature--continuing efforts aimed at increasing streamside shading where streamside shading has been reduced by anthropogenic activities.  This objective is consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan, pg 35 (NPCC, 2005).

Objective 2 – Improve aquatic habitat diversity and complexity
Improve aquatic habitat diversity and complexity to levels consistent with objectives in the subbasin plan, with particular emphasis on recovery of anadromous stocks. Aquatic habitat condition (including diversity and/or complexity components) is limiting all focal species. Improvement in habitat productivity is considered critical to attainment of goals for both anadromous and resident species. Address priority problems with protection and restoration activities designed to promote development of more complex and diverse habitats through improved watershed condition and function. Desired outcomes include additions of large woody debris, stream channel reconstruction, increased side channels, increased pool quality/quantity, floodplain reconstruction, protecting and restoring wetland, and improved hydrologic functions.  Management criteria includes water temperature of 16°C, adequate sources of woody debris recruitment, width to depth ratios <10, streambank conditions are >90% stable, with on average, less than 10% of banks actively eroding, and overbank flows occur on a 1.5 – 2 year event. Link to Clearwater Subbasin Plan, pg 37 (NPCC, 2005).

Objective 3 – Reduce instream sedimentation
Reduce instream sedimentation to levels meeting applicable water quality standards, with an established upward trend in the number of stream miles meeting standards.  Benchmarks for this activity include streambanks are >90% stable, < 20% cobble embeddedness, and turbidity is low (NOAA, 1996).  Additional benchmarks for specific project types are discussed under relevant deliverables. Desired outcomes include restoring streambank condition, reducing sediment delivery to the stream from hydrologically connected roads and uplands, and reducing sediment inputs by implementing practices that address problems from logging, mining, agricultural and other historic and current sediment producing activities.   This objective is consistent with the Clearwater Subbasin Management Plan, pg 35 (NPCC, 2005).

Status and Trend and Implementation/Effectiveness monitoring under this contract is coordinated with the Nez Perce Tribe.  The Nez Perce Tribe conducts the monitoring and evaluation required to determine population status and trends, as well as the physical and biological response to the habitat/watershed restoration efforts.  The Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District (NPSWCD) utilizes the Nez Perce Tribe's monitoring data to prioritize habitat improvement and site specific project areas.