Overview:  The Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB) manages the Tucannon River Programmatic Habitat Project (2010-077-00) through this parent contract for the operations support, management organization, implementation assistance, and reporting described in this summary.  The goal of the Tucannon River programmatic is to restore habitat function and channel processes in the spring Chinook priority restoration reaches of the Tucannon River, leading to improved population productivity and abundance.  

Current Emphases:  Project management activities in 2013 will encompass the following major task: the SRSFB and WDFW staff will implement the ecological restoration and habitat improvement project prioritized and selected for Project Area 14 (PA-14) -- located between the Tucannon Hatchery bridge and the WDFW Wildlife Area Headquarters.  PA-14 design review, final design adjustments, and construction of the design is encompassed in a separate implementation contract (#58777); construction supervision, implementation oversight, and contract administration is addressed within this contract via subcontracted assistance from WDFW.
-- The objective of this project will be to improve floodplain connectivity by increasing stream channel roughness (LWD).  
-- The project is expected to increase pool, LWD, frequency, improve off channel habitat and increase channel and side channel length.
___________________________________________________________
Background

Purpose:  Habitat restoration projects developed though the programmatic approach are vetted in the SRSRB recovery process building local support in the communities where the restoration will take place.  Restoration projects recommended for funding under the programmatic have undergone multiple levels of review and technical comment before being recommended for implementation.  Only projects exhibiting high benefit to spring Chinook are currently recommended for funding, with selection criteria that prioritize projects that will address the limiting factors outlined for the Tucannon River in the 2008 Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion.

Objectives:  The restoration objectives for the Tucannon spring Chinook are as follows (channel structure, LWD and floodplain connectivity being the highest priority):  
  1.  Increase riparian function to 75% of maximum
  2.  Increase large woody debris to 2 or more pieces per channel width
  3.  Increase pool frequency to 15% of stream area
  4.  Reduce channel confinement/increase floodplain connectivity to at least 25% of river length
  5.  Reduce maximum daily water temperature so that it does not exceed 72F at confluence of Pataha Creek (RM 11.8 of the Tucannon)
  6.  Decrease substrate embeddedness to 20% in all reaches above confluence of Pataha Creek (RM 11.8).

Status:  In 2012 the SRSRB RTT worked with project sponsors to identify the high priority projects which are in stage of design that could put them in position for construction in the 2013 work window. The RTT has selected projects based on their ability to achieve measurable progress towards one or more of the objectives listed below, that are outlined in a work plan through 2018.  Solicitation of projects will take place annually as the following two years work is outlined and recommended to BPA for funding. Project designs will be evaluated by the RTT and the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board as they are developed leading into implementation.
_____________________________________________________________
Management Considerations

Implementation of projects is expected to be completed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Columbia Conservation District, Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (legislative program that supports non-profit groups of volunteers who cooperate with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve salmon resources throughout the state), the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Pomeroy Conservation District, and/or other qualified groups, tribes, or agencies that submit proposals that are approved by the SRSRB.

WDFW will partner with SRSRB to implement this project, and will be a subcontractor to help perform project selection, implementation management, monitoring planning, data collection, outreach, and other tasks where they can provide expertise.  SRSRB's finances are managed by the Walla Walla Community College and SRSRB's staff are employees of WWCC.  The contract is technically with WWCC, though SRSRB staff will do all the work other than invoicing and other minor administrative items.

This ongoing BPA contract support will facilitate the development of future projects and the refinement of the work plan as well as soliciting project sponsors for implementation.  The SRSRB will also facilitate the collection and reporting of data for implementation status, action and habitat effectiveness, and trend monitoring.  The SRSRB will update the Habitat Work Schedule restoration project data base with new projects started, and the completion status for active projects.  With long-term and sufficient funding levels, restoring channel processes and habitat function across large reaches will improve spring Chinook productivity in the Tucannon River.