Through this Lower Methow Well Relocation contract, MSRF will complete preliminary actions in the floodplain at Lower Methow Site 1 to allow for future implementation of the habitat project designed under previous contracts (88463, 90824).  The Lower Methow Project was selected based on landowner willingness and habitat uplift potential from the prioritized list in the Lower Methow Reach Assessment (LMRA) funded by BPA. The project area includes two adjacent action areas (Site 1 and Site 2) where MSRF has engaged landowners to allow access for design and implementation of a single restoration action intended to restore natural processes interrupted by past levee placement and historic development. The objective of this contract is to relocate multiple irrigation/domestic wells out of the floodplain to allow for future construction of the designed floodplain connection project at Site 1 under a future BPA contract.

The Lower Methow habitat improvement project includes Site 1 and Site 2, and is located in the lowest segment of the Methow River evaluated in the LMRA between RM 1.4 and 2.5.  This area provides steelhead spawning habitat and is the migratory corridor for every adult spring Chinook and steelhead returning to the sub-basin. The Lower Methow is also the last area in the Methow used by rearing Chinook and steelhead juveniles prior to out-migration into the Columbia River. The project is located in Reach 2 of the Methow-Alta Assessment Unit. The Upper Columbia RTT/UCSRB Assessment Unit Prioritization Framework gives a combined restoration rank of #9/51 to the Methow-Alta Assessment Unit.  The Methow EDT model indicates that restoration in the lower reaches of the Methow River has the potential to provide some of the highest biological benefit of any reaches in the Methow, with all three reaches in the AU ranked in the top 5 in the subbasin. Both the UCSRB/RTT prioritization framework and the Methow EDT identify water temperature, riparian and floodplain function, and perennial side channels as the highest priority actions. Moving the wells in this contract allows for implementation of the Site 1 design, which maximizes the benefit by addressing all of these priority actions.

Project designs were completed under the previous contract 90824, and seven irrigation/domestic wells were identified in the floodplain at Site 1 that need to be relocated to upland areas in order for the habitat restoration actions to proceed. Up to 3 of the wells are scheduled to be relocated in the previous contract (93045); addressing the remaining wells will ensure timely implementation (currently scheduled for summer 2026) of the completed design in a future contract. The project area creates a unique need for active and ongoing stakeholder coordination given tribal, tribal allotment, state, and private ownership in the project area. Successful collaboration among these stakeholders for this project will be essential to ensuring access to other prioritized restoration sites within the LMRA to address instream conditions and improve the growth and survival of ESA listed fish species.

MSRF staff will 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 advancement of the project design. MSRF and its subcontractors will address BPA comments and concerns, and the two entities will arrive at a mutual beneficial consensus to ensure that actions developed will meet BPA needs for recovery credit.