The goal of this project is to increase the abundance of naturally produced Upper Columbia River steelhead on their natural spawning grounds.  Project objectives include: (1) Implementing steelhead kelt reconditioning program in Upper Columbia River to increase natural origin steelhead spawner abundance relative to current conditions, (2) Evaluating kelt survival and program effectiveness, and (3) Collaborating with ongoing M&E studies to document the reproductive success of reconditioned kelts after release.  The scope of this contract covers steps taken in the first year of implementation of a kelt reconditioning program in the Upper Columbia River.  Activities expected to be completed within the contract period include the collection, reconditioning, transportation, and release of natural origin (NOR) steelhead kelts.  Coordination with affected stakeholders (USFWS, WDFW, USGS, USFS, Chelan PUD and Douglas PUD) regarding live spawning of NOR broodstock, placement of weir traps, and other methods of kelt collection will take place.  An effort will be made under thing contract to work with stakeholders to find areas where collaboration on projects could be mutually beneficial.  The initiation of steelhead kelt collection will begin under this contract.  A temporary weir trap designed to downstream migrating steelhead kelts will be operated in Little Bridge Creek, a tributary to the Twisp River.  NOR kelts collected at this trap will be transported to the Methow Steelhead Kelt Facility (MSKF) for reconditioning.  In addition to trapping kelts at the Little Bridge Creek weir the YN will also participate in hook and line broodstock collection of steelhead for Winthrop National Fish Hatchery.  All NOR females used as broodstock by Winthrop National Fish Hatchery will be live spawned in a combined effort by the YN and USFWS staff.  Live spawning will allow the fishes' inclusion in the kelt reconditioning project.  The reconditioning process will begin once kelts have been transported to the MSKF.  Reconditioning will include the reintroduction of feed and pathogen treatment.  Kelts will be reconditioned for approximately six months before they are released near the mouth of the Methow River.