Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) and its partners, including BPA, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and UCSRB plan to implement a reach-scale salmon habitat enhancement project in the Middle Methow (M2) River in FY 2019. The Barkley Bear Pre-Implementation Project will conduct project development and environmental compliance activities in advance of the implementation contract for the M2 Barkley Bear Habitat Project funded through the BPA targeted solicitation process.

The goal of this Barkley Bear pre-implementation contract would be to work with BPA, UCSRB, the Bureau of Reclamation, and USGS to develop and design a preferred alternative (selected in the previous contract) for implementation at the site and to complete state, local, and BPA's federal EC requirements as early in the process as feasible in order to ensure completion of these requirements within the respective timelines, to allow construction to proceed in summer 2019.

Project development activities for this project include on-site vegetation surveys, topographic surveys, hydrologic monitoring and data collection, wetland delineation, fish surveys (presence/absence/use), photo points, alternative development, landowner/stakeholder outreach and coordination, and related project coordination activities.  MSRF will also coordinate with BPA to implement the HIP III design/review process for the larger implementation project.

Environmental compliance for this pre-implementation effort includes Section 106 cultural consultation, limited federal Section 7 ESA consultation with BPA via the HIP3 process & other pertinent regulatory agencies (USFWS and NOAA) as needed for pre-implementation activities such as surveying, geotechnical investigations, or installation of test wells.  The state-required SEPA process was completed previously for the reach-based M2 project prior to work at Whitefish Island (2012) and WDFW Floodplain (2013).  Other permitting processes completed through APPS for  the WDFW Hydraulic Project Authorization and the JARPA process for Corps of Engineers Nationwide permits, county shorelines and floodplain development, and water quality permits may also be initiated and/or completed in this contract if sufficient design information is completed during the contract period.  

Lastly, under this contracting action, MSRF will establish contracts for purchase and delivery of large woody debris (LWD) for use instream in the Middle Methow River (M2) for habitat enhancement actions. The Barkley Bear Habitat project is planning for LWD needs for implementation over the next year (2019).  Logs procured will be stored at the Barkley Bear site.    

MSRF will not submit an annual report under this contract.  MSRF will provide the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) sufficient information so they, UCSRB, can assemble a comprehensive annual report for all contracts under project #2010-001-00 including this contract. Report will then be submitted by the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) to BPA under contract 77842 and/or the follow-on to that contract in this project 2010-001-00 to fulfill deliverable. UCSRB will submit and upload report under project 2010-001-00, Upper Columbia Programmatic Habitat in FFY18.