84041 REL 16: Rev 1: WE G: Work Element Summary

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Basics

Contract Number:

84041 REL 16

Contract Title:

1984-025-00 EXP GRANDE RONDE UMATILLA FISH HABITAT IMPROVEMENT 23

Contract Start Date:

3/1/2023

Contract End Date:

2/29/2024

WE ID:

186. Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage/Structure

Work Element Usage Report

Title:

G: 186 - Maintain Fences and Exclude Livestock on Projects with ODFW Agreements

Description:

Staff will inspect and contract maintenance of projects with an ODFW easement or agreement to ensure that projects are performing as intended and meet the standards set forth in landowner agreements. This includes maintaining and replacing fencing, water developments, and off-site water developments.

Contractors shall maintain and manage current riparian exclosures with ODFW easements or agreements so that native plants are disease free with growth and vigor typical for the project site, infestation of weeds is kept low (<10%) and survival of plantings high (>50%).

Maintenance is required to ensure fence integrity and to protect riparian areas from unintended grazing. Depending on maintenance needs, additional funding may need to be secured. Fence maintenance is included in our written agreements with landowners. Inspections of all project areas are made in spring and fall. Following these inspections, major fence repairs are completed. Stream cross fences and/or water gap cross fences may be installed or removed during these inspections, or at any time during the year to meet landowner needs and to ensure maximum riparian recovery within the projects.

Routine maintenance and inspection of 13 miles of project fences will occur in 2023, including approximately: 5.59 miles in the upper Grande Ronde River basin; 5.35 miles in the Joseph Creek and Wallowa River basin; and 2.06 miles in the Umatilla Basin.

Routine maintenance includes removing fallen trees, repairing and tightening wires, and repairing or replacing structures. These projects protect 683.34 acres of riparian habitat. Fifteen stream cross fences and 12 water gap gates will be inspected and maintained in the spring and fall. Maintenance of stream cross fences includes removal of these structures in the fall to prevent damage from icing and high flows, and installation and repair in the spring after flows subside.

Maintenance of water gaps consists of installation and removal and ensuring that all entry gates, escape gates, and fence structures are functioning properly. Water gap structures, gates, and cross fences will be rebuilt if damaged beyond repair.

Inspections for trespass cattle will be conducted every 10-14 days in the summer. All trespassing livestock will be removed.

Seven off-site water developments will be routinely inspected and maintained. Each water development will be activated every spring and winterized every fall.

All equipment necessary for project maintenance will be maintained and repaired by staff. Some items may require that major repairs be performed by a local expert.

Travel will occur daily to maintain program fences. Program activities will occur to minimize travel cost and time.

WE Agreement Type:

Contracted

Deliverable Specification:

Staff will oversee contractors inspect projects with current ODFW easements or agreements for trespass livestock and take corrective actions to remove livestock when necessary. Staff will maintain and manage current riparian exclosures with ODFW easements so that native plants are disease free with growth and vigor typical for the project site, infestation of weeds is kept low (<10%), and survival of plantings high (>50%).

This includes: 1) investigating livestock trespass and removing trespass livestock when necessary; 2) maintaining, repairing, and replacing fences that exclude cattle from protected riparian area such as repairing damage, replacing degraded fence structures that are no longer functioning, and removing downed trees; 3) installing and removing water gaps that provide livestock safe access to water at designated areas between pastures; and 4) activating, maintaining and winterizing off-site water developments that provide alternative watering for livestock to reduce pressure on riparian areas.

Maintenance and repair of equipment needed to maintain projects.

Specific projects include:
* Wallowa River-McDaniel project
* Wallowa River-Baker project
* Upper Grande Ronde-Bowman project
* Fly Creek-Smith project
* Crow Creek-Krebs project
* West Fork Pine Creek-Krebs project
* East Birch Luke project

WSE Effective Budget:

$19,837

% of Total WSE Effective Budget:

5.02%

WSE Start:

03/01/2023

WSE End:

02/29/2024

WSE Completion:

02/28/2024

WSE Progress:

Concluded

WSE ID Continued From:

n/a

WSE ID Continued To:

n/a

Finite or Recurring:

Recurring

Budget History

SOWRevision	Planned	Updated	Contractor Comments (optional)	BPA Comments (optional)
Work Element Budget (Current Performance Period)	$59,568	$19,837	Maintenance during this contract was minimal.

Milestones

6 Milestones

Sort	Type	Title	Start	End	Status	Modified By	Modified Date
A	EC	Environmental compliance requirements complete	3/1/2023	2/29/2024	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: On-the-ground work associated with this work element cannot proceed until this milestone is complete. Milestone is complete when final documentation is received from BPA environmental compliance staff.
B		Activate Off-Site Water Systems	4/1/2023	11/1/2023	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: Contractors will inspect and activate off-channel water troughs/spring developments. Staff will also check for leaks in the tanks and ensure plumbing is functioning correctly and not damaged. Projects with water developments include: Luke, Weinke, Upper Grande Ronde-Bowman, Crow Creek-Krebs, and West Fork Pine Creek-Krebs. Regular inspection is required to ensure livestock are not left without water.
C		Investigate livestock trespass	4/1/2023	11/30/2023	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: Staff and contractors will inspect projects with current ODFW easements or agreements for trespass livestock and take corrective action to remove livestock as necessary. Inspections will occur every 10-14 days April-November or as staffing allows. More frequent inspections may occur in areas with a history of livestock trespass.
D		Produce project documentation for fencing projects	4/1/2023	2/28/2024	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: Google earth map with annotation of the following 4 actions: 1) investigating livestock trespass and removing trespass livestock when necessary; 2) maintaining, repairing, and replacing fences that exclude cattle from protected riparian area such as repairing damage, replacing degraded fence structures that are no longer functioning, and removing downed trees; 3) installing and removing water gaps that provide livestock safe access to water at designated areas between pastures; and 4) activating, maintaining and winterizing off-site water developments that provide alternative watering for livestock to reduce pressure on riparian areas. Upload KMZ files to PISCES and include summary in annual report. The project sponsor has recognized the need for a more efficient way to collect this type of information as well as a more relevant and user friendly "project database" that includes metrics from implementation, maintenance, and monitoring. The project sponsor has reached out to the Grande Ronde Model Watershed with hopes of developing such a database. They have also expressed a desire to revamp their "project database". The project sponsor will work with GRMW during this contract period on the development of such a database.
E		Inspect and Maintain Projects with ODFW Easements or Agreements	4/1/2023	11/30/2023	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: Staff will oversee contractors inspect and maintain projects with an ODFW easement or agreement to ensure that projects are performing as intended and meeting project objectives. This includes maintaining and replacing fencing, water developments, and off-site water developments. Contractors will conduct spring/fall inspection/maintenance/repairs of fences. Visual inspection of fence perimeter, water gaps, and condition of offsite water developments will occur. Any maintenance needs will be addressed in a timely manner, and before livestock will be turned in for the season. Maintenance can include replacing staples and nails, tightening loose wires, repairing broken wires, replacing line posts, replacing fence structures, repairing and replacing water gaps, and removing downed trees from fences. Summer thunderstorms can down trees on fences and also bring high water which have the potential to damage water gaps. Heavy cattle pressure and elk pressure can cause serious maintenance issues throughout the grazing season. Regular inspections and maintenance will ensure fence integrity and project effectiveness.
F	DELIV	Maintain Riparian Habitat Projects With ODFW Easements		2/29/2024	Concluded	Tracy Hauser	10/31/2022 7:59:53 AM
		Description: Staff will oversee contractors inspect projects with current ODFW easements or agreements for trespass livestock and take corrective actions to remove livestock when necessary. Staff will maintain and manage current riparian exclosures with ODFW easements so that native plants are disease free with growth and vigor typical for the project site, infestation of weeds is kept low (<10%), and survival of plantings high (>50%). This includes: 1) investigating livestock trespass and removing trespass livestock when necessary; 2) maintaining, repairing, and replacing fences that exclude cattle from protected riparian area such as repairing damage, replacing degraded fence structures that are no longer functioning, and removing downed trees; 3) installing and removing water gaps that provide livestock safe access to water at designated areas between pastures; and 4) activating, maintaining and winterizing off-site water developments that provide alternative watering for livestock to reduce pressure on riparian areas. Maintenance and repair of equipment needed to maintain projects. Specific projects include: * Wallowa River-McDaniel project * Wallowa River-Baker project * Upper Grande Ronde-Bowman project * Fly Creek-Smith project * Crow Creek-Krebs project * West Fork Pine Creek-Krebs project * East Birch Luke project

Metrics

Implementation Metrics

Metric	Planned	Actual	Contractor Comments	Measures	HLIs
1731. # of miles of streambank protected by fence maintenance	34.34	34.34
1733. # of acres protected by fence maintenance	683.34	683.34

Location

Work Site ID	Latitude	Longitude	State	County	Province	Subbasin
34350	45.57759	-117.124318	Oregon	Wallowa	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
34351	45.614189	-117.0156287	Oregon	Wallowa	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
34354	45.132809	-117.712015	Oregon	Union	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
48016	45.13644809	-118.5577718	Oregon	Umatilla	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
48217	45.23684949	-118.3958437	Oregon	Union	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
49096	45.45508567	-118.0470721	Oregon	Union	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
49304	45.48772692	-117.4033077	Oregon	Wallowa	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
49917	45.7046704	-117.9071274	Oregon	Union	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
73762	45.593942	-117.577261	Oregon	Wallowa	Blue Mountain	Grande Ronde
92038	45.40012	-118.75084	Oregon	Umatilla	Columbia Plateau	Umatilla

Focal Species

Primary Focal Species:

Chinook (O. tshawytscha) - Snake River Spring/Summer ESU (Threatened); Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Middle Columbia River DPS (Threatened)

Secondary Focal Species:

Steelhead (O. mykiss) - Snake River DPS (Threatened); Lamprey, Pacific (Entosphenus tridentata); Trout, Bull (S. confluentus) (Threatened); Trout, Interior Redband (O. mykiss gairdnerii); Whitefish, Mountain (Prosopium williamsoni)

Environmental Compliance

None

RM&E Metadata

This work element does not require RM&E metadata

Please correct the errors noted below.

Implementation Metrics