Design Phase:  This contract (Year-1) would be to complete:
- a final assessment, design report, and project design,
- any subsequent design modifications (following review), and
- the initiation of permitting requirements, and environmental and cultural resources clearances, if possible.

Background:  Under prior contracts, the Columbia Conservation District (CCD) coordinated the development of a habitat restoration plan for the Tucannon River from RM-30 upstream to RM-50; the District continues to work with the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB), through the Tucannon River Programmatic Habitat project, to extend the restoration plan from RM-30 downstream to the confluence of the Snake River.  This Conceptual Restoration Plan (Anchor QEA, 2011) has prioritized projects into three Tiers (1-3) based on the projected effects of implementation as a benefit to Snake River spring Chinook, cost-efficiency relative to those benefits, and the feasibility of construction.  

Summary:  The contract will produce the engineering design required to permit and implement the Project Area (Area) 15 -Tucannon River project; and the less comprehensive design analysis and construction drawing detail for Area - 3, both identified asTier-1 priority projects in the restoration plan.  The design focus for both projects is on increasing in-channel complexity through the placement of LWD to promote the reduction of channel confinement.  A description of the project areas with respect to existing natural processes and habitat conditions is to be provided in the Design Report, along with the specific physical and biological objectives that the proposed restoration features are expected to address and achieve.  In addition, the project’s contribution to the overall watershed-scale restoration plan will be described.  Construction considerations, implementation cost estimates, and best management practices will be included for the treatment actions proposed in the restoration plan and Design Report for Area 15; the design review and assistance for Area 3 requires a brief report and the evaluation and/or adjustment of design features.

Status:   Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) and the SRSRB received state Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) money to advance priority Tier-1 projects (from the Restoration Plan) to a 30% design-stage during the 2012 field season.  The Area -15 project is currently designed to a 30% level, as part of the grant held by the SRSRB.  The 30% Design Plan for Project Area 15 begins to describe the purpose, function, design, and construction of restoration treatments that are proposed for implementation in this river segment.  The Area -3 project design is more advanced; project structures are less complex and the design plan is near-complete.  Between September 2012 and into the summer of 2013 the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB) staff and implementation partners will advance the development of the restoration designs to a near-final (90%) Plan and Report, pursuant to this contract; staff will also begin to initiate and coordinate permitting requirements and environmental clearances in anticipation of design implementation and project construction in the summer of 2014 for the Tier-1 Area 15 project, and the summer of 2013 for the Tier-1 Area 3 project.  In particular, Cultural Resource protection investigations associated with planned materials staging areas, equipment mobilization, and work-site access will require immediate attention and deliberate scheduling to initiate compliance actions such as surveys, or other requirements, in order for clearances to be timely during these construction periods.
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Implementation Phase (provided here for context): The next contract (Year-2) would be to complete:
- permitting
- environmental and cultural resources clearances, and
- implementation of the design (construction of improved habitat features, and actions to restore ecological function).

Background:  The Tucannon River basin is located in Southeast Washington State in Columbia and Garfield counties.  The system-wide restoration objective for the Tucannon River is to improve habitat conditions for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species (Snake River Spring Chinook and Steelhead) for all life history stages.  It is expected that improved habitat conditions will lead to an increase in the abundance of listed species returning to the river.  Increasing abundance will lead to de-listing of the species, which is the overall recovery goal for the system.  Previous efforts (CCD 2004; SRSRB 2006) have identified the habitat-limiting factors associated with the decline of ESA-listed populations.

Summary:  Enhancing and restoring instream habitat in this project area will be accomplished through a variety of treatment actions in the main channel, along the banks, and within the floodplain. These treatments include construction of instream habitat features such as engineered log jams (ELJs), removal of infrastructure such as spoils material and artificial embankment, and the installation of riparian plantings.  The principal benefits of project implementation will be restoration of historic spring Chinook spawning, rearing, and migration corridor habitats.  The associated treatment of riparian areas is expected to induce naturally occurring repair, restoration, and recovery of both floodplain and riparian zone function and processes.

Expected Implementation Actions (from the 30% Conceptual Design):  Protect the existing spring channel in the right floodplain. Install ELJs and other LWD to initiate side channel development through the left floodplain, which was recently converted to public land.  Remove levees and spoils and modify existing wood and rock structures to improve their habitat benefits and reduce impediments to natural processes.  (Re)plant adjacent floodplain and riparian areas; re-vegetate and restore disturbed construction access sites and staging areas.  
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Future Management Considerations

Geomorphic Implications:  LWD placement throughout the stream reach will force pools and hydraulic variability in the plane-bed channel sections, decrease instream velocities, and provide additional hydraulic complexity in the deep, incised sections. Placing ELJs in strategic locations along the left bank will promote side channel development through the former Russell property, developing a more complex channel network. Throughout the LWD placement areas, the structures will promote retention of additional LWD and bed-load that will promote building up the bed elevation over time and increasing floodplain connectivity. Removing the levee at RM-36.4 will ease channel confinement and allow for better floodplain connectivity during high flows.

Biological Benefits:  Adding complexity to the project area via LWD will address habitat limiting factors in the mainstem by diversifying the channel and initiating side channel development. In the short term, the pools that form at the structures will increase the available area for holding in the project area. The hydraulic diversity created by the structures will provide high-flow refuge and low-flow cover for juveniles. The structures also sort bed-load sediment, leading to the formation of spawning areas. In the long term, ELJs will promote channel complexity by splitting flow and encouraging the natural processes that drive the formation of habitat elements such as pools and side channels. The availability of diverse habitats will increase the carrying capacity for juvenile salmonids and increase the number of pools for holding adults. Levee removal and modifying the existing revetment structures will increase floodplain connectivity and the ability for the channel to migrate throughout the valley. In the long term, increased floodplain connectivity will lead to better riparian conditions that drive many ecosystem processes that are beneficial to both aquatic and non-aquatic species.

Potential Challenges:  Some trees and other existing vegetation may be disturbed in the process of gaining access to and placing the LWD structures and removing the levee.  Project actions in the upstream end of the project area from RM 37.15 to 36.85 will involve cooperation of adjacent landowners.  Because this project area is located just upstream of a residential area, LWD will likely require stabilization under extreme high-flow conditions to prevent it from mobilizing.