Background:

This contract is to fund follow-on revegetation at the MVID East Diversion Screening site.  The activities to be undertaken were developed to comply with Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion with the Marine Fisheries Service Habitat Improvement Program (HIP BO) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA).  

Due to the low survival rate after post construction plantings at the MVID East screen location in 2004/2005 season the Okanogan Conservation District contacted the WDFW to discuss the 2006 restoration activities.  The outcome of those discussions were that the WDFW gave guidance to Okanogan Conservation District to concentrate their efforts on the riparian strip along the east bank of the Methow River.  This area had the highest survival from earlier plantings.

Conditions specific to the MVID East screen site include a very narrow (<5' wide) riparian strip along the east bank of the Methow River and the intake canal bank charaterized by black cottonwood (populus tricocarpa) up to 10" diameter.  Much of the site is steep natural bank created by a combination of bank erosion of the Methow River and canal and screen construction in the past.  Natural vegetative components found in the area include:  bitterbrush, service berry, wild rose, and some native forbs.  Native grasses are almost entirely absent.  Soils are Conconully sandy loams with a greater than 50% cobble component larger than 1".  These soils are highly erosive with poor water retention characteristics and a low organic component.  This results in an estimated 25-40 bare ground component in this ecotone.  

2006 Contract Activities:

The Okanogan Conservation District will conduct the following activities under this contract:

Plantings:
All woody species will be hand planted in the spring as soon as the ground is thawed.  Container stock local cuttings, and bare root stock will be employed depending upon availability.  Species will include the following:  
Sage Brush, Red Osier Dogwood, Serviceberry, Snowberry, Wood Rose and Bitter Brush.

Water Supply Source:  Sprinklers operated by pump for 3 hours of watering serveral times a week as needed depending on weather.


Exotic invasive species control:  
Exotic invasive species control will be by a combination of monitoring, hand pulling and cutting prior to seed maturity  Because of the proximity of the site to water, no herbicides will be used.