Project Background:  Through operation of the groundwater wells at the Cle Elum Supplementation and Research Facility, associated wetland have been impacted by lowering the groundwater table.  Mitigation for wetland impacts had been undertaken at Tillman Creek, however, additional mitigation is now needed due to the magnitude of impacts to the wetland located next to the well field used to supply the ground water for the hatchery.    Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) has made implementing a successful wetland mitigation site as compensation for the lost performance of the well field wetland a requirement of the water right permit issued to Bonneville for non-consumptive use of groundwater at the facility.  Time is of the essence in complying with these water right conditions.  
  
WDOE identified the affected wetland following the start-up of hatchery operations in 1997 and directed that BPA take appropriate actions to compensate for the lost performance of the wetland near the well field (Tillman Creek Wetland Mitigation Project).  Subsequently in March 2011, BPA , Yakama Nation (YN) and WDOE determined additional impacts to the dewater wetland had occurred and agreed that the Boones Pond Wetland Mitigation Project would meet the need as final compensation for long-term impacts.  The Boones Pond wetland mitigation project conceptual plan has been reviewed and agreed to by WDOE, BPA, and YN (who operate the facility) as appropriate and final compensation for the Cle Elum Hatchery wetland losses.  

The Boones property acquisition and restoration proposal presents an opportunity for mitigation that is geographically strategic, cost-effective and ecologically significant.  The project includes side channel creation, wetland creation and enhancement, flow control structures, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat functions. Implementation of this project  includes purchase of City of Cle Elum acreage as well as purchase of a conservation easement from the Boones, a private land owner. At the time of this contract development, both entities are willing participants encouraging this project and cooperative in the conceptual plan.  The wetland mitigation discussed in this contract is tied directly to the original construction of the Cle Elum Supplementation and Research Facility (Cle Elum Hatchery) and as such, represents a final construction activity of the original hatchery.
-----------------------------------------------

This contract includes:

1) The Yakama Nation will subcontract with a Design Engineer for the final design  for the Boones Pond Mitigation Site in order to compensate for the lost wetland functions at Well 3 Wetland at the Cle Elum Hatchery located in Kittitas County, Washington.  
2) The Yakama Nation, with the assistance of the Design Engineer will hire construction subcontractors, purchase and provide the materials for the habitat features and revegetation project plan, and provide on-site construction oversight for all activities during the implementation and maintenance phases of this mitigation project.  Specifically, this includes the completion of permitting and environmental compliance, side channel creation, wetland creation, flow control structures and habitat enhancement.  
3) The Yakama Nation will employ and oversee the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) for planting native vegetation as part of the mitigation obligation.

Monitoring and maintenance of site for approximately 3-5 years (as approved by WDOE) to occur in out years.