Work proposed in this statement of work will allow completion of three projects that are ongoing from contract #66527. The Environmental Assessment development was much slower than anticipated for the P-16 project. The work window for terrestrial species near P-16/Furey Lane did not allow work to start until after July 15, 2015 which shortens the window of construction for both the on-farm work and the diversion. IDFG is also in the process of installing a fish screen. If the screen is not installed early in September we will not be able to complete installation of the on-farm work due to the loss of water to the two properties that depend on the water through the end of irrigation season.  All diversion work will be complete from last year's contract with exception of the fence and 90% of the on-farm work will be complete. The riparian fence on the Pahsimeroi river at Furey Lane will be delayed to this contract to allow all the diversion and screening work to be completed prior to constructing the fence.

This SOW also includes two culvert removals that are serving as passage barriers. Bridges were ordered from last FY contract but could not be completed due to cultural survey requests being delayed via the BOR. Reports from a BOR hired contractor should be provided before the close of the #66527 contract. EC has been completed but will be re-vised for this year's contract and a new HIP III completed for the new contract. A feed-lot area near one of the bridges will also be treated to remove the cattle from the stream bank, fence installed and off stream stock water installed. The stock-water system was planned for the last FY contract but was not completed due to cultural. The delay will provide for a better project by providing a separation between the livestock and the stream with fence and a berm to prevent sediment from the livestock operation.

P-17 diversion is immediately upstream from the P-16/Furey Lane project. This statement of work addresses planning and consultation for this project with implementation scheduled in 2017. The BLM and Custer SWCD have a good working template from the P-16 EA that will make consultation more streamlined but will still take at least a full year to complete. This project was one of the top priorities for the Upper Pahsimeroi work group. In addition the Custer SWCD would request support from OSC and BPA to complete the consultation through the Programmatic process in the same manner as the P-16 project was completed. This project would likely not require a new diversion and instream work but would address a water conservation pipeline to provide water savings and a fish screen installed by IDFG screen shop. This would be a combined partnership effort to complete this project much in the same way the P-16 project was implemented. NRCS would provide design and assist in implementation for the Irrigation infrastructure and IDFG would design and implement the fish screen. BLM would assist in a cultural survey with the remaining cultural on the private property completed through a contract for cultural.

There are also multiple opportunities for riparian fencing in the Pahsimeroi and Patterson/Big Springs Creek as the Custer SWCD continue to work with landowners. Custer SWCD will continue to work with the Pahsimeroi group to identify and prioritize these projects. Additional focus needs to be paid to those projects reaching their project life of 15 years and should be addressed for either future maintenance or re-construction. With a staff assistance the Custer SWCD will be able to better identify the projects that are in need of improvement.