Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) and its partners, including Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Methow Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited (TU), plan to implement a reach-scale salmon habitat enhancement project in the Lower Twisp River between 2014 and 2017. The Twisp River Floodplain Project will conduct project development and environmental compliance activities in advance of the implementation contract for the Twisp River Floodplain Project funded through the UCSRB targeted solicitation process.

Project development activities for this project include on-site vegetation surveys, topographic surveys, hydrologic monitoring and data collection, wetland delineation, fish surveys (presence/absence/use), photo points, pre-implementation weed removal, concept development, landowner/stakeholder outreach and coordination, and related project coordination activities.

Environmental compliance for this project includes Section 106 cultural consultation, limited federal Section 7 ESA consultation (USFWS and NOAA) as needed for pre-implementation activities such as surveying, and the state-required SEPA process.  Other permitting processes completed through the JARPA, including the WDFW Hydraulic Project Authorization, Corps of Engineers Nationwide permits, county shorelines and floodplain development, and water quality permits may also be initiated and/or completed in this contract if sufficient design information is completed during the contract period.  

The goal of this Twisp River Floodplain pre-implementation contract would be to work with BPA, UCSRB, and the Bureau of Reclamation to develop and design a preferred alternative for implementation at the site; and, to complete state, local, and BPA's federal EC requirements as early in the process as feasible in order to ensure completion of these requirements within the respective timelines, to allow construction to proceed in the summer 2015-17 work windows.  Early implementation actions may also be considered for 2014.