This contract provides Bonneville Power Administration with technical and policy support for implementation of the FCRPS Hydropower Biological Opinion and continued development of the Landscape Planning Framework for Juvenile Salmonid Habitat. Since assisting Bonneville Power Administration with the development of the FCRPS Biological Assessment in 2006, PC Trask has provided technical and policy assistance in helping to implement the estuary program. This included helping to form and assist the Estuary Regional Technical Group, provide technical services to restoration practitioners, resolve issues related to implementation, and to help resolve key implementation issues such as determining the correct surface water elevation determining project goals.

At the same time, Bonneville Power Administration has funded PC Trask and the University of Washington in the development of tools to advance the scientific identification of optimal juvenile salmonid habitats at the landscape level. These tools are collectively described as the Landscape Planning Framework. Development of the Landscape Planning Framework has been informed by a five-member team of scientists and has been regionally vetted through three major and well-attended workshops at Skamania Lodge.

This contract provides resources for continued technical and policy support to Bonneville Power Administration for implementation of the estuary habitat program. It also provides resources to finalize the Landscape Planning Framework with an expectation that at the end of this contract period, the Landscape Planning Framework is available for use and key practitioners and agency managers will have received training in using the tool.