This contract supports and is part of the Wind River Watershed Project, initiated in 1998.  The project's focus is on restoration of Wind River steelhead.  In 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed the steelhead of the lower Columbia river as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.  In 1997, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rated the status of the Wind River summer run steelhead as critical.  Due to the status of this stock, the Wind River summer steelhead have the highest priority for recovery/restoration in the state of Washington's Lower Columbia Steelhead Conservation Initiative.  Project participants are the Underwood Conservation District, US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  

This contract continues UCD support and participation in the project.  Underwood Conservation District will provide habitat restoration work in 2011-12.  Included in this contract will be removal of noxious weeds (primarily scotch broom), planting of native vegetation along riparian areas, providing the appropriate environmental compliance documentation for this work, and developing new projects with landowners that support the recovery of Wind River steelhead.  Additionally, UCD will utilize BPA dollars to match other grant funds for the preparation of the Little Wind River Community Habitat Restoration Project.  This project will likely be constructed in the summer of 2012, but this contract will include finalizing of permits, engineering, and design work, as well as conducting the bid process and contracting with a subcontractor for the construction work to occur in FY12.  Other work under this FY11 contract will include producing periodic (quarterly) status reports, annual reports, as well as managing and administering the project.