Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program
SOW Report
Contract 74781: 2008-800-00 EXP MONTANA RESIDENT FISH HABITAT
Project Number:
Title:
Montana Resident Fish Habitat Acquisition
Stage:
Implementation
Area:
Province Subbasin %
Mountain Columbia Flathead 100.00%
Contract Number:
74781
Contract Title:
2008-800-00 EXP MONTANA RESIDENT FISH HABITAT
Contract Continuation:
Previous: Next:
71349: 2008-800-00 EXP MONTANA RESIDENT FISH HABITAT
  • 76916 REL 1: 2008-800-00 EXP MONTANA RESIDENT FISH HABITAT
Contract Status:
Closed
Contract Description:
Send contract documents to Mike Burke, Administrative Contact and Matt Boyer, Contract Manager.

Construction of Hungry Horse Dam inundated about 125 km of resident and adfluvial trout habitat in the South Fork of the Flathead River and its tributaries, profoundly affecting natural fish reproduction and rearing.  Hydropower development, other land disturbances, and both legal and illegal introductions of non-native and invasive fish species, have caused severe declines in the range and abundance of our focal resident fish species, bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.  As part of the Hungry Horse Fisheries Mitigation Program, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) have been collaboratively mitigating Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) acknowledged losses, in part through habitat conservation projects.  Our joint priority has been conservation of the highest quality and most important aquatic and riparian habitats within the Flathead Basin before development undermines the values of these areas.  Consistent with the goals and objectives of the NPCC’s Fish and Wildlife Program and the Flathead Subbasin Plan, MFWP and CSKT are working to maintain the best, most functional fish habitat for resident fish species affected by hydropower development. The Flathead River Subbasin Plan identifies the protection of aquatic and riparian habitat for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout as one of the most critical needs in the subbasin and directs actions to offset identified habitat losses.

The current project augments past and ongoing efforts by the CSKT and MFWP to protect and enhance critical fish habitat within the Flathead River watershed.  Specifically, this project implements the 2008 Columbia Basin Fish Accords negotiated between the State of Montana and the United States as represented by the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Action Agencies that include the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), the U.S. Army  corps of Engineers (USCOE) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR).  As set forth in the Memorandum of Agreement, reasons for the agreement include the following:  
  
   • To address legal mandates for the FCRPS and Upper Snake Projects under the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), the Northwest Power Act ("NPA"), and the Clean Water Act ("CWA").
   • To address the Parties’ mutual concerns for certainty and stability in the funding and implementation of projects for the benefit of fish and wildlife affected by the FCRPS and Upper Snake Projects, affirming and adding to the actions proposed in the draft FCRPS and Upper Snake Biological Opinions (“BiOps”); and
   • To foster a cooperative and partnership-like relationship in implementation of the mutual commitments in this Agreement.

Practical outcomes of the agreement will be expanded fisheries protections in Flathead Basin watersheds achieved by purchase and easement of lands that support critical fisheries habitats, including protection of important spawning and rearing  areas. This project will work with a variety of partners, where appropriate, to secure remaining priority fish habitats. Habitat conservation will be achieved by MFWP acquiring fee ownership or conservation easements on critical spawning and rearing streams within the Flathead River drainage.  Pre-acquisition work, the  subject of this contract, will set the stage for these acquisitions and conservation easements to occur.
Account Type(s):
Expense
Contract Start Date:
10/01/2016
Contract End Date:
09/30/2017
Current Contract Value:
$29,525
Expenditures:
$29,525

* Expenditures data includes accruals and are based on data through 31-Mar-2024.

BPA CO:
Env. Compliance Lead:
Work Order Task(s):
Contract Type:
Contract (IGC)
Pricing Method:
Cost Reimbursement (CNF)
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Viewing of Work Statement Elements

Deliverable Title WSE Sort Letter, Number, Title Start End Concluded
All administrative tasks fulfilled with timely quality products A: 119. Contract coordination with BPA Project Manager 09/30/2017 09/14/2017
Initial pre-acquisition coordination completed B: 172. Establish initial project coordination 09/30/2017 06/02/2017
Due diligence C: 172. Complete due diligence requirements 09/30/2017 08/09/2017
Completed appraisals D: 172. Complete appraisals 05/01/2017 05/01/2017
Completed environmental compliance documentation E: 165. Complete EC and public involvement requirements 09/30/2017 09/14/2017
Final authorizations and approvals. F: 172. Obtain final authorizations 09/30/2017 09/26/2017
Annual Report for federal FY 2017 G: 132. Report on acquisitions and preacquisition activity from March 1, 2015-September 30, 2016 03/01/2017 03/01/2017

Viewing of Implementation Metrics
Viewing of Environmental Metrics Customize

Primary Focal Species Work Statement Elements
Cutthroat Trout, Westslope (O. c. lewisi)
  • 4 instances of WE 172 Conduct Pre-Acquisition Activities
Trout, Bull (S. confluentus) (Threatened)
  • 4 instances of WE 172 Conduct Pre-Acquisition Activities

Sort WE ID WE Title NEPA NOAA USFWS NHPA Has Provisions Inadvertent Discovery Completed
A 119 Contract coordination with BPA Project Manager 10/01/2016
B 172 Establish initial project coordination 10/01/2016
C 172 Complete due diligence requirements 10/01/2016
D 172 Complete appraisals 10/01/2016
E 165 Complete EC and public involvement requirements 10/01/2016
F 172 Obtain final authorizations 10/01/2016
G 132 Report on acquisitions and preacquisition activity from March 1, 2015-September 30, 2016 10/01/2016
H 185 Periodic Status Reports for BPA 10/01/2016