This contract primarily encompasses preacquisition activities for land and water acquisitions  in the Okanogan, Methow, Entiat and Wenatchee subbasins. Securing lands in the aforementioned subbasins will protect habitat for ESA-listed salmonids including upper Columbia River (UCR) spring Chinook, UCR summer steelhead and bull trout. This habitat will also benefit non-listed species including summer Chinook, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, and Pacific lamprey.

Based upon available information, candidate parcels and will be prioritized using the Upper Columbia Biological Strategy and the recently released Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team – Habitat Action Prioritization within the Upper Columbia River Basin.  In both Okanogan and Methow River subbasins, Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) information exists as well and will be used to prioritize areas for habitat protection. Other sources of information such as subbasin plans, limiting factors analysis, and empirical data (i.e. redd distribution, groundwater input, etc.) may also guide selection of properties to acquire. Priority will be given to parcels that currently contain high quality habitat but are in risk to be degraded due to development, as well as lands currently degraded but that were historically renowned as valuable for fish and have the opportunity to be restored. At this time the Colville Tribes do not propose to use funds from Project 2008-104-00 for post-acquisition restoration activities. Rather, appropriate restoration or habitat quality improvement projects shall use other sources of funding, potential sources of which are the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee Habitat Subcommittee, or Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Tributary Committee for both Douglas and Chelan County Public Utility Districts.

Some place holder-type work elements may seem redundant to contract 83391.  This is to ensure that, in the event that an unplanned-for or otherwise unforeseen water right which meets the prioritization schema for benefiting focal species of this contract becomes available for acquisition, funding is available to subcontract with QLEs and other parties as necessary to secure that right.

Funding in this CR is primarily intended for the purchasing of ‘paper’ water rights.  If funding would be considered in this CR for supportive infrastructure (e.g. contributions to construct pipelines, pump stations, efficient irrigation systems, etc.) to increase the biological benefit of a project, BPA and the CTCR shall arrive at a mutual consensus.  During this contract period the Habitat Categorical Review, ISRP science review and Council process will commence in November, and if the CTCR intends to make supported infrastructure to be a permanent part of project 2008-104-00, the review process will provide the appropriate opportunity for BPA, NPCC, and ISRP to evaluate the project proposal.

Lastly, work authorized under this CR will assemble the full proposal for the North West Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) and to the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) beginning in November 2020 and continuing into Feb/March 2021.  Presentation to NPCC and ISRP in 2021 may be possible.