The Desert Wildlife Mitigation Project operates and maintains a total of 6 (TD-1,2,3,4,5,6) wetland enhancement projects on the Desert Wildlife Area that have been funded, in part, by the BPA. This contract will provide funding to operate and maintain the enhanced wetlands for one year to ensure they remain functional.

TD-1: Located adjacent to the Frenchman Hills Wasteway. When operated in the fall, 9 wetland basins are filled by diverting surface water from the wasteway into managed wetland basins/cells. The TD-1 project is considered a flow-through system that diverts irrigation water return flow from the wasteway into the project, with return flows back to the wasteway downstream of the inlet structure.
Current enhancements at the TD-1 Project include:  installation of 9 water control structures, construction of ditches and dikes for water management, sculpting wetland
basins to optimal depth for wetland obligate birds, island development, armoring 400 ft of dikes to protect against beaver and burrowing mammals, and seeding of disturbed soil resulting from construction activities.

TD-1: Annual regular and recurring operation and maintenance activities and costs include:  coordination with BOR and Quincy Irrigation District, inspecting and repairing enhancements, establishing desirable vegetation through varied methods, controlling undesirable vegetation and noxious weeds, operating water control structures to inundate and dewater the project to benefit seasonal migrants, inspecting and maintaining dike and water control structure integrity and function, monitor waterfowl use of the project, producing required BPA reports, and administering the contract.

TD-2: Located adjacent to the Winchester Wasteway.  Due to the relatively high water table which is influenced by seasonal wasteway flows, this passive project created shallow wetlands by excavating organic material from 19 late-succession stage wetlands. Enhancements include construction of 1,200 feet of isolation dikes to minimize potential infestation of unwanted fish populations, strategic armoring of the dikes to protect against beaver damage and burrowing mammals, and seeding disturbed soils resulting from construction activities.

TD-2: Annual regular and recurring operation and maintenance activities and costs include:  inspecting and repairing enhancements, monitoring and control of undesirable vegetation and noxious weeds, producing required BPA reports, and administering the contract. Management of all project ponds attempts to provide desirable habitat for waterfowl, shore birds, and other wetland species.

TD-3, TD-4, TD-5, and TD-6 were identified and included in the original project proposal as areas that would provide improved benefits for migratory and residential wetland associate species through strategic management techniques. TD-3 and TD-5 are influenced by the Frenchman Hills Wasteway, while TD-4 and TD-6 by the Winchester Wasteway. Annual activities on these sites have been limited to monitoring and treating invasive and non-desirable vegetation. These projects continue to provide wildlife benefits despite there being no formal enhancements to date.