WDFW Estuary Habitat MOA (2009) -- BPA Umbrella Project 2010-070-00 – FY2016 Funding

Contract Performance Period: September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017

The federal Action Agencies (AAs) that operate the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) have asked the state of Washington to join in a partnership to expedite habitat restoration efforts for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Estuary below Bonneville Dam.  On September 16, 2009 the Washington Governor and Director of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) signed the Estuary Habitat Memorandum of Agreement (Estuary MOA) with the Action Agencies.  The Estuary MOA establishes a nine-year funding arrangement for habitat restoration in the lower Columbia River and tidally influenced tributaries – from Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the Columbia River where it flows into the Pacific Ocean. This MOA expires at midnight on September 30, 2018, the end of the Federal Fiscal year.

Under this contract, WDFW may identify one or two new projects, collect the information necessary to determine if a project is feasible, and take the necessary steps to move feasible projects into the design/construction phase.  Also covered under this contract are the costs associated with subcontracts, environmental compliance, AEMR, and a portion of the operation and maintenance for existing projects.    

During this contract period, WDFW MOA Team will continue to be fully funded for all the projects under this contract. Primary tasks during this contract period include: coordinating tasks for the South Unit Shillapoo Project; partnering with the Washington Department of Natural Resources on development of the Turtle Lake Project; and evaluting additional short-term, while continuing to advance forward long-term projects. Although the core MOA Team from WDFW will be funded under this contract - including input into designs, planning, and permitting - WDFW is hoping to enter into seperate design contracts with BPA for both the South Unit Shillapoo and Turtle Lake.