This FY2012 Statement of Work and Budget is part of the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership’s Habitat Restoration Program.

BPA Project Number:  2003-011-00
Contract Request Number:  CR- 211465
Performance/Budget Period: July 1, 2012– September 30, 2013

Technical Contact:  Jim O'Connor
Technical Projects Coordinator
USGS
2130 SW Fifth Ave.
Portland, OR 97201
oconnor@usgs.gov

Background
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is working closely with the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership (Estuary Partnership) to implement elements of the Estuary Partnership’s Habitat Restoration Program. This project builds on previous projects under the Estuary Partnership's Ecosystem Monitoring Program by completing documentation of the Columbia River Estuary Ecosystem Classification (Classification), which was finished under the Monitoring Programs contract in early 2012. This statement of work describes the work elements, deliverables, and costs for work efforts that USGS will implement from April 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013 as part of the Estuary Partnership’s Habitat Restoration Program.

Review of Prior Work
The USGS has been a subcontractor under the Estuary Partnership’s Ecosystem Monitoring Program contract (#2003-007-00) from September 1, 2003 to present. The work on the Classification is completed in partnership with the University of Washington (UW) and the Estuary Partnership. The following is a brief synopsis of the Classification project:
• During 2003-2005, an initial Classification using LANDSAT TM imagery and bathymetry data was created and used to develop metrics for monitoring habitat in the lower Columbia River.
• During September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007, using the Classification as a basis, a rotational panel sampling design was created for monitoring efforts during the subsequent years of the Ecosystem Monitoring Program, until the final Classification was available.
• During September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009, criteria based on river geomorphology and hydrology was developed for delineating habitats at smaller spatial scales and incorporated into the Classification. USGS also delineated floodplain Ecosystem Complexes and draft Geomorphic Catenae for Reach F as a pilot. The partners developed a peer-reviewed scientific publication (USGS open file report) that describes the Classification’s conceptual basis, methods used to develop datasets, preliminary results, and management applications. The document is available from the USGS website and Estuary Partnership office.
• During September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010, USGS delineated floodplain Complexes and draft Catenae for most Reaches in the lower Columbia River and assisted UW in merging the floodplain and bathymetric Complexes into a GIS data layer.
• During September 1, 2010 to January 2012, USGS completed the delineation of all floodplain Complexes and Catenae for Reaches A-H in the lower Columbia River, merged the floodplain and bathymetric Complexes into a finalized GIS data layer, developed associated metadata, and developed a report describing the delineations of the CREEC Levels 1-5, general assumptions made in the delineations, data used, and how to use the Classification.

Current Project
In 2008, RPA 59.2 was included in the 2008 Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion requiring the Action Agencies to “establish a hierarchical habitat classification system based on hydrogeomorphology, ground-truth it with vegetation cover monitoring data and map existing habitats” for the lower Columbia River. The Classification created by the Estuary Partnership, USGS and UW under the Ecosystem Monitoring Program addresses this requirement.

The Estuary Partnership will use the Classification in its final sampling design for the Ecosystem Monitoring Program, the results of which will be presented to the Independent Science Review Panel in fall/winter 2012. The Estuary Partnership is also using Classification in its habitat restoration prioritization framework for identifying priority areas for protection and restoration.

Under this contract the USGS, UW and Estuary Partnership will develop a final summary report to serve as a reference document, providing a full description of the conceptual basis, mapping methodologies and assumptions for the six classification levels to Classification users. The report will also include a section of case studies that demonstrate the Classification‘s applicability to restoration practitioners, resource managers, planners and others. The final report will be provided as a USGS formal series report digitally accessible without restriction or cost through the USGS Publications Warehouse.