Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) and its partners, including BPA, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and UCSRB are preparing to implement a reach-scale salmon habitat enhancement project in the Middle Methow (M2) River in FY 2020 and 2021.  Project actions were developed under previous contracts for the M2 Barkley Bear Habitat Project funded through the BPA targeted solicitation process.  The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for implementation in the summer of 2020 under existing contract 83074.  This new contract, beginning in September 2020, will cover all activities needed to implement Phase 2 in summer 2021.

The project was previously scheduled for construction to be completed in 2019, but was contingent on completion of the Barkley Irrigation Project in 2018 by another project sponsor.  Delays in completion of the Barkley Irrigation Project continue to limit the scope of project implementation actions in 2020 to those actions which do not impact the Barkley Irrigation Company (BIC) infrastructure.  With this limitation, MSRF has built a construction plan to implement Phase 1 actions in 2020.  The remaining project elements are scheduled for implementation in Phase 2 in 2021, after BIC releases interests in the canal and headworks.

MSRF is preparing to implement Phase I project actions in 2020 under Contract 83074, but acknowledges continued uncertainty related to current workplace restrictions, potential permitting delays, and the potential for additional restrictions due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.  It is possible that circumstances will still result in an inability to complete some or all of the Phase 1 actions in 2020 as planned.

While much of the uncertainty is outside of our control, MSRF has prepared a line item budget for 2021 (Phase 2) under the assumption that Phase 1 will be fully implemented in 2020.  MSRF currently has awarded a contract to a qualified bidder to implement a portion of the project in 2020 (Phase 1).  In the event that work place restrictions related to COVID-19 delay or reduce MSRF’s ability to complete Phase 1 actions during the 2020 in-water work window, MSRF will continue to communicate closely with BPA to update the 2021 scope and budget as needed.

The goal of this Barkley Bear Phase 2 contract is to ensure that all work actions needed to complete materials acquisition, federal/state/local environmental permitting and reporting, construction, and site restoration can be completed prior to September 14, 2021.  MSRF is working diligently to implement all required permitting activities for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of this project during the performance period of contract 83074 to the extent possible.

The majority of environmental compliance for project activities, including Section 7 ESA consultation via the BPA HIP process, have been completed under previous contracts.  Section 106 is expected to be completed in June 2020 under Contract 83074.  Remaining environmental compliance items include HIP renewal for calendar year 2021 prior to Phase 2 actions.  SEPA review for the suite of M2 projects was completed previously through Okanogan County in preparation for work at Whitefish Island (2012) and WDFW Floodplain (2013).  The SEPA review directed MSRF to complete a supplemental checklist for the 2020 actions at Barkley Bear to update any new project specific actions.  Okanogan County has issued a DNS for the Barkley actions that will be finalized on June 19, 2020.  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 Department of Ecology water quality permits will also be finalized under contract 83074 prior to construction in 2020, but may need to be updated or renewed for construction in 2021.  

Lastly, under this contracting action, MSRF will solicit and award contracts for project construction and revegetation/site restoration to be completed under this contract.

In the event that the project or portions of the project scheduled for implementation in 2020 are delayed due to permitting, social distancing requirements, or completion of required implementation actions related to the Barkley Irrigation Project, MSRF understands that BPA may cancel specific work elements and de-obligate funding.  We understand that BPA will exercise this authority in order to not strand funding so it can be used elsewhere in the Upper Columbia or within the Habitat Program.  MSRF will coordinate with BPA staff to identify work elements for coordination and subsequent contract development that would be needed to implement the project under a future funding Agreement.

The contractor (MSRF), its designated agents, sub-consultants and project stakeholders will be available to BPA to work collaboratively to address any contract related issues during the term of the contract.  Contract issues include but are not limited to technical, policy, regulatory, project management and associated elements related to the project.  Successful execution of this contract is contingent on alignment of the preceding contract issues with the BIC and BPA contracting processes, project management plans, and integration of input and comments from BPA.

MSRF’s Contract Manager and consultants will all cooperate, coordinate, collaborate, and maintain effective communication with BPA PM/COR, EC Lead, HIP Review Lead, and Hydraulic Engineer during the entire length of this contract.  MSRF and its subcontractors will address BPA comments and concerns, and the two entities will arrive at a mutual beneficial consensus.  MSRF contract manager will upload all the subcontracts executed under this contract in cbfish.org.

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 to fulfill deliverable.  UCSRB will submit and upload report under project 2010-001-00, Upper Columbia Programmatic Habitat.