Under this contract Chelan County Natural Resource Department (CCNRD) will develop a 15% design for Clear Creek, as proposed in the 2020 Targeted Solicitation Final Proposal.  The project will occur on Clear Creek from Chiwawa Loop Road crossing downstream to Clear Creek confluence with Chiwawa, including historic Clear Creek channel, current Clear Creek bypass channel Thousand Trails ponds, and Wenatchee-Chiwawa Irrigation District infrastructure.

Clear Creek is an important spawning and rearing stream for steelhead. The Chiwawa River is an MaSA for spring Chinook and steelhead and spawning and rearing habitat for spring Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout. This project aims to improve stream complexity and fish access and use of 1.0 mile of the lowermost reaches of Clear Creek and to reduce the potential mortality associated with the current flow management methods. The Upper Columbia RTT Biological Strategy identifies Clear Creek as an important tributary to the Chiwawa River, and multiple project sponsors have worked in this stream to improve conditions for fish.In a collaborative effort with the Wenatchee-Chiwawa Irrigation District, CCNRD has identified practices and stream conditions that may inhibit this previous work and is therefore proposing to develop a restoration design to improve these conditions. CCNRD previously replaced three upstream fish barriers on USFS lands using SRFB funding, Chelan County Public Works replaced a culvert at the Chiwawa Loop Road, and Trout Unlimited recently replaced an upstream fish barrier at the Thousand Trails domestic water system diversion.

Potential restoration methods are two-fold. The irrigation district diversion on Clear Creek can likely be reduced or eliminated through irrigation district efficiency projects, such as piping and/or lining canals; transferring all or part of the Clear Creek diversion to the Chiwawa River diversion; and/or a water acquisition. Clear Creek channel restoration will include addressing the currently incised/ditched portion of the creek and ponds on Thousand Trails property and downstream options below the ponds. Floodplain reconnection, improved structure and riparian cover will be priorities for a restored Clear Creek channel. Fish use of the Thousand Trails ponds will be evaluated and addressed, possibly through screening to prevent fish movement through the ponds.

This project was approved for funding through Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)/Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) FY2020 Targeted Solicitation Notice and was reviewed and ranked by the Regional Technical Team (RTT).  The RTT is a team of technical experts familiar with the priority areas and limiting factors, and identify projects that will best contribute to the recovery of salmonids and other species of concern in the Upper Columbia.

The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) is co-sponsor to this Upper Columbia Programmatic Habitat Project selected through the BPA Targeted Solicitation in 2020.  As such, UCSRB is a key partner to BPA and within the UC region, and a local first point of contact for general Programmatic inquiries and coordination.  UCSRB may seek general project information and updates from CCNRD to pre-form and fulfill their necessary role and obligations under the Northwest Power and Conservation Council approved Programmatic with BPA.  CCNRD will coordinate with UCSRB and accommodate any such requests.  

CCNRD's Contract Manager and any design consultant (a mutually agreed to and selected subcontractor) will cooperate, coordinate, collaborate, and maintain effective communication with the BPA PM/COR, EC Lead, HIP Review Lead, and Hydraulic Engineer(s) during the entire length of this contract with regards to project design.  CCNRD will address BPA comments and concerns, and the entities will arrive at a mutually beneficial consensus.