This umbrella contract describes the work to be conducted by WDFW to plan and develop the estuary habitat restoration projects listed in the Estuary MOA.  WDFW and its subcontractor, the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (LCFRB), Action Agency staff and contractors, have identified and prioritized a number of provisional projects that could be implemented during the course of the Estuary MOA. This Inter-Governmental Contract between BPA and the State of Washington, will be to fund WDFW and their subcontractors to perform the work and services in the SOW to coordinate and implement projects in the Washington MOA.   BPA funding in this contract will be utilized by WDFW as cost share in the Section 536  Feasibility Study process under the authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this includes: develop proposed projects, identify willing project sponsors, coordinate and develop the basic elements of the proposals, initiate and respond to the NWPCC's Independent Science Review Panel and otherwise plan for project implementation.

The following is a list of prioritized WA Estuary MOA projects:

PROJECT #1 ABERNATHY TIDAL HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Treatment Plan identifies two projects in the tidal reaches of Abernathy Creek (1A and 2A) Figure 4.  These projects would enhance a minimum of 500' of off-channel habitat and 2200' of mainstem channel through engineered log jam construction, large woody material placement, riparian enhancement, and flood plain reconnection.  Conceptual designs have been completed for these projects.

The Abernathy Creek Project is one project with implementation in two sites within Abernathy Creek.  Following are the two sites where implementation will occur.

Abernathy Creek (Abernathy 1-A).  This project will occur at the top of reach 1 and would improve an existing off channel (large alcove) habitat through the use of LWD inputs to activate the side channel.  In general, this area lacks cover to shield juveniles from predation and warm water temperatures.  This project uses engineered log jams (ELJ) structures to help divert the water, to raise the channel bed and to help with inundation the adjacent floodplain.  It is projected that ELJ structures will provide juvenile rearing habitat at all water levels.  

Abernathy Creek (Abernathy 2-A). Abernathy 2 could benefit from approximately eight (8) ELJs throughout the mainstem and side-channels to increase cover, scour, channel complexity and rearing habitat for downstream migrants and for Columbia River migrants (primarily juveniles but some adults as well) who use Abernathy as a stop over.  The ELJs would need to be engineered to withstand the water elevation changes resulting from tidal influence (consider using pilings to anchor the jams).  This is a tidally influenced area and is an important transitional area for many species.

Project Site Acres = 22
Land Ownership:  WDFW (Wildlife Area)
Summary of Biological Benefit:  Reconnected wetlands will result in expanded rearing habitat benefiting fall and spring Chinook, chum, coho and steelhead.
Estimated Cost of 536 Feasibility Study:  $150,000

PROJECT #2  HUMP-FISHER ISLANDS CHANNEL CONNECTIVITY RESTORATION: (This project has been put on hold)

This project will manage placement of dredge material to accelerate the formation of intertidal wetland habitats. This includes but is not limited to filling of subtidal or deeper intertidal areas to a elevations conducive to a range of estuarine wetland plant communities. It also requires creating higher berms across shallow embayments that allow the deposition of fine sediments required for wetland plant propagation. As Figure 5 depicts, some grading down of upland edge areas may be necessary to promote regular inundation patterns required for wetland development. Tidal channel excavation is also an option on this site depending on morphometric data collected from existing adjacent channels.

A network of channels with improved water flow should increase habitat connectivity and improve foraging conditions for juvenile salmonids.  This restoration will provide some short- and long-term improvements to habitat complexity, connectivity, or conveyance; feeding habitat opportunity; refugia; and habitat-specific food availability indicators.  The proposal also includes plantings of additional riparian vegetation on Hump Island, re-vegetation of  meadow habitats on Fisher Island, removing pilings, and addition of  large woody debris (LWD).

Project Site Acres = 337
Land Ownership:  WDFW and WDNR
Summary of Biological Benefit:  Induces expansion of ecologically significant intertidal wetlands important for a variety of threatened and endangered salmon life histories. These wetland habitat types perform important wetland functions for rearing and foraging needs of juvenile salmon in the form of low velocity refugia and increased food web productivity.
Estimated Cost of 536 Feasibility Study:  $300,000

PROJECT #3  COTTONWOOD-HOWARD ISLANDS CHANNEL CONNECTIVITY RESTORATION (This project has been put on hold)

Cottonwood Island (RM 70.1) is an existing upland disposal site for navigation channel dredge materials (NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion 2002).  The Cottonwood Island site is 654.2 acres and is owned by the ports of Longview, Kalama, Vancouver and Woodland.  Howard Island (RM 68.7) is just downstream and connected to Cottonwood Island.  The proposed habitat restoration project would reconnect and construct backwater tidal channels in the vicinity of Cottonwood and Howard Islands (Figure 6).  The purpose of this project is to restore and enhance channel connectivity within the Cottonwood-Howard Island complex in order to:
• Increase the extent of channels (length, depth, volume) within the Island complex,
• to enhance water flow and circulation through the restored channels,
• to maintain water temperatures within the channels that are suitable for juvenile salmonid survival and growth throughout the downstream migration and rearing time period, and
• thus create a network of channels that provide enhanced rearing habitat for anadromous salmonid juveniles – both in terms of increased area and extended time.  

Project Site Acres = 400
Land Ownership:  Cottonwood Island: Ports of Longview, Kalama, Woodland and Vancouver ; filled channel area between the former Cottonwood and Howard Island boundaries: WDNR; portion that was formerly Howard Island: private citizen.
Summary of Biological Benefit:  Reconnected and enhanced tidal channels will provide increased access to channel slough and wetland rearing habitat for juvenile life histories.  Re-establishing hydrologic connectivity maintains circulation patterns important for preventing slough aggradation and associated temperature increases.
Estimated Cost of 536 Feasibility Study:  $300,000

PROJECT #4 LOWER KALAMA TIDAL RESTORATION  (This project has been replaced)

Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group (LCFEG) recently completed a Lower Kalama Off-channel Habitat Assessment that identified five projects in the tidal reaches of the Kalama. Three of these scored in the fundable range when subjected to the LCFRB criteria (KRL 0.1, KRR 0.7, and KRL 1.4). These projects would create or enhance existing off-channel habitat. Conceptual designs and cost estimates have been completed for KRR 0.7. Explore opportunities for creation of chum spawning habitat.
Project Site Acres = 32 + 34 + 2+12

PROJECT #5: WOODS LANDING/COLUMBIA SPRINGS CHUM HABITAT RESTORATION (This project has been put on hold)

Acquire one of two possible properties in the vicinity of the genetically distinct I-205 spawning population of chum salmon, and restore tributary spawning habitat either by: OPTION A - Acquire the 2.29 acre Chaney property located just downriver of the Wood's Landing Columbia River chum salmon spawning site -- that can be combined with existing conservation easements to result in a combined restoration area of 13.0 acres. This parcel contains the last unprotected habitat for "I-205 population" of chum salmon. Site also has Native American cultural and educational values and a functioning riverine wildlife community; or, OPTION B - Acquire the 5.5 acre Egan Property and construct a 1400' long by 6' wide engineered spawning channel using natural springs and the WDFW Vancouver Hatchery as a water source. A conceptual design and preliminary feasibility study have been completed on this alternative. This site has high educational potential since it is adjacent to the Columbia Springs educational facility.

PROJECT #6: POST OFFICE LAKE WETLAND RESTORATION (This Project has been replaced)

This project will restore hydrologic connection from the Post Office Lake floodplain wetland with the Columbia River while protecting privately owned prime farmland. The project will consist of a hydrologic study followed by implementation of the preferred restoration alternative. The study will predict the effects of removing an existing tide gate and portions of the Columbia River levee on existing habitat provided by the 80 ac wetland complex. Ultimately, the objective is to open access to critical habitat for Federally listed Columbia River salmonids while ensuring continued availability of wetland resources for migratory waterfowl. Restoration alternatives include construction of a setback levee with water control structure, tide gate removal, levee removal (breaching or full removal), and possibly new fish passable pool-weir water control structures.
Project Site Acres =80


REPLACEMENT PROJECTS FOR: Project #4  LOWER KALAMA TIDAL RESTORATION and Project #6 POST OFFICE LAKE WETLAND RESTORATION:

PROJECT #7: ELOCHOMAN TIDAL RESTORATION

The Elochoman Tidal Restoration site is at Columbia river mile 36 on the Washington Shore.  The following Vision, goal and outcome statements describe what the site would look like if restoration is successful.
Vision:  A properly functioning tidal reach of the Elochoman Slough that supports the entire life cycle for in-basin anadromous salmonid populations – coho, Chinook, chum, steelhead, sea-run cutthroat -- as well as providing temporary holding habitat for out of basin stocks. The primary goal is to improve habitat for rearing juveniles and spawning adult anadromous salmonids -- originating from both the Elochoman River and upriver Columbia River populations.  The outcome will be reconnection of more than 200 acres of isolated forested swamp and shrub wetlands to the tidelands of the Elochoman River, Elochoman Slough and the mainstem Columbia River – that increases survival and production of the thirteen Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of anadromous salmonids currently protected under the Endangered Species Act, as well as unlisted salmonids (e.g., sea run cutthroat) and other anadromous fish species (smelt, lamprey, and sturgeon).

Project objectives: Correct undersize culverts and tide gates – enlarge water passage structures to maximize tidal prism to enable tidal floodplain ecological function – to allow access by anadromous salmonids from the Columbia and Elochoman rivers.  An estimated 7,130 feet of high quality side/off channels wetland habitat will be made available for anadromous salmonid habitat.  The old access road will be removed to facilitate hydraulic connectivity and ecological function.  Historical forested swamp will be restored – providing 200 acres of fish and wildlife habitat.  Existing water conveyance structures will be enlarged to maximize tidal prism, and thus optimize estuarine function.  We expect the form of the natural channels to respond to the increased volume of water.  We would expect the opening under Hwy 4 to be 100% passable to juvenile and adult salmonids during the full range of the tidal cycle.  The riparian area would be enriched with native Sitka spruce.  The entire north end of the CLT tide channels and tidal marshes would be reconnected to the Elochoman River.


PROJECT #8: SHILLAPOO

The vision of this project is for a major portion of the available floodplain within the Shillapoo Wildlife area to be restored to accessible and ecologically functioning juvenile salmonid rearing habitat.  The project goal is to provide improved shallow water rearing and foraging habitat conditions for juvenile salmonids which originate in the mainstem Columbia River (primary) and/or Lake River (secondary).  The expected outcome of the restoration project is restoration of critical off-channel habitat – considered to be limiting for sub-yearling and ocean type juvenile salmonids. Project objectives: Restore shallow water off-channel floodplain habitat by re-establishing an historic hydrologic connection between the Columbia River and the Shillapoo Lake basin. Increase cover and foraging opportunity for juvenile salmonids with life history characteristics requiring extended estuarine residency. During the high flow season, provide access to a tidally inundated sanctuary for all upriver stocks of juvenile salmonids during downstream migration. Consider incorporating a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) component and/or coordinating with other M&E efforts.

Potential acreage restored to shallow water/wetland habitat, if entire historic Shillapoo Lake basin is reconnected to Columbia River is 950 acres, based on filling the lake basin to elevation +7 ft NGVD. (From: ‘Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration at Shillapoo Lake: Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis’ nhc, 1998).