Work proposed in this statement of work will allow completion of three projects that are ongoing from contract 70409. The Environmental Assessment development by the BLM must be complete in order to install pipeline and diversion structure on BLM land. The work window for terrestrial species near P-17 will not allow  work to start until after July 15, 2017 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 as a component of this project but under a separate contract with IDFG. The screen must be  installed early in September in order to be able to complete installation of the on-farm work. This project will require the irrigators to shut down due the two properties that depend on the water through the end of irrigation season.  The riparian fence on the Pahsimeroi river at on private property will be delayed to this contract to allow all on farm irrigation infrastructure  work to be completed prior to constructing the fence.

P-17 diversion is immediately upstream from the P-16/Furey Lane project. The previous statement of work and this statement of work will address  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 will require a new diversion and instream work as well as 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.