Through this M2 Sugar Design Coordination contract, MSRF and BPA will expand upon past work efforts by BPA and others to evaluate the feasibility and biological benefit that could be achieved by implementing discreet habitat improvement actions at multiple high priority project sites where landowner willingness has been secured.

Under this contract, BPA, BOR, and MSRF will refine the information developed by Inter-Fluve, Inc. under a previous conceptual design process intended to identify conceptual action types in the Sugar Reach.  The IFI appraisal-level report identified a suite of potential project actions for the project area. The objective of this contract is to review the  feasibility, constructability, and cost effectiveness of these actions and develop preferred actions in advance of MSRF selecting a licensed professional engineer through the RCO-SRFB process to develop permit-ready designs. MSRF and BPA will be following the model established by collaborative efforts at Twisp Ponds and the Lower Methow.  To ensure that the preferred alternative meets metric objectives, MSRF anticipates the need for continued BPA and BOR technical assistance and review throughout the RCO design contract period.

Conceptual project actions would directly benefit floodplain connectivity, enhance limited in-stream habitat complexity and/or reconnect and enhance side-channels and wetland areas. Completed habitat assessments for this segment of the Methow identified opportunities to enhance floodplain connectivity on nearly 90 acres of currently isolated or partially isolated floodplain, wetland and side channel habitat areas where protections have previously been secured through land acquisitions using a combination of HCP Tributary Committees, PRCC, state, and federal funds. These actions would result in increased connectivity specifically during the periods beneficial to steelhead and Spring Chinook.

The Sugar project is along the Methow River north of Twisp.  This is in the Methow-River-Thompson Creek Assessment Unit (AU) which is included within the Middle Methow Reach Assessment.  This area is considered to be a major spawning area for steelhead, and critical rearing habitat for both steelhead and spring Chinook. This reach is considered to be a priority for restoration (ranked #6/14) by the Revised Upper Columbia Biological Strategy (2017), and highly ranked in the EDT (combined priority rank of #4/48 for steelhead and #26/36 for spring Chinook) and current prioritization framework. Current flood and infrastructure protection measures have resulted in loss of side channel habitats, lateral habitat connectivity, in-stream habitat conditions, and riparian conditions. BPA support will allow MSRF to expedite identification and implementation of priority actions to increase habitat capacity, particularly for juvenile rearing for the target species.

MSRF Contract Manager and staff  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 with regards to project design.  MSRF and its subcontractors will address BPA comments and concerns, and the two entities will arrive at a mutual beneficial consensus.