CONTRACT OVERVIEW:

This agreement will support ongoing aquatic habitat restoration work on the Warm Springs Reservation within the Deschutes Basin for project 2008-301-00 that provides the operational funding to implement the Aquatic Restoration Strategy developed in 2018 for watershed on the Warm Springs Reservation. The two year agreement covers FY23 and FY24 program costs (personnel, vehicles, office space etc.).

Under this agreement the riparian protection fence network along with water developments will be maintained protecting over 50 miles of critical anadromous fish habitat in the Warm Springs River Watershed.  Maintenance and improvements will be focused on the lower Warm Springs River and lower Deschutes River protection fence segments.  Maintenance work will be completed but the CTWS technician positions.

The contract manager will focus on project planning and project prioritization using the scoring matrix developed to accompany the 2018 Aquatic Restoration Strategy for the Reservation lands.  This scoring matrix will be used to show the relative rank or score of current and future projects proposed on the Reservation using BPA funds.  These scoring outputs and project descriptions will be updated through the reporting work elements under this contract, and provide project planning for future contracts.  



CONTRACT CHANGE REQUEST (CCR) ALTERATIONS:

Shitike Creek:

Instream restoration will shift focus to Shitike Creek. The Shitike Creek watershed in an un-dammed system that supports the largest wild populations of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead on reservation land. Bull Trout spawn in the upper Shitike Creek watershed and utilize the lower reaches of the creek as foraging habitat. Creating resilient and connected riverscapes within this system will help mitigate future climatic conditions, provide increased spawning habitat, and increase rearing habitat for ESA listed species. Two projects within Shitike Creek are being proposed in this CCR; Shitike Headworks removal and Shitike Bennets Reach Floodplain reconnection.

Eagle Creek:

The project area, located near the community of Dant Or. lies predominately on reservation land but flows through particles of BLM and private land near its confluence with the Deschutes river. Eagle Creek is a tributary to the Lower Deschutes River and supports all life stages of ESA-listed mid-Columbia River summer steelhead and resident-band trout. The project will focus on: (1) placement of instream wood (BDAs & PALS) to increase habitat complexity and spawning gravel retention (2) installation of livestock fencing to to protect riparian vegetation, and (3) riparian planting to decrease solar loading of the stream.

Warms Springs River and Beaver Creek Lardy Woody Debris:

The Warm Springs River Large Woody Debris Phase II and Middle Beaver Creek Large Woody Debris projects will be descoped so funds can be directed toward Shitike Creek restoration projects. Based on the aquatic restoration strategy scoring matrix and recent fisheries population data, the prioritization of habitat projects within Shitike Creek is likely to have greater lasting benefits to the ESA listed fisheries populations of the lower Deschutes watershed.

Education and Outreach:

Habitat staff will concentrate on fisheries habitat, biology, and management focused outreach rather than the the eggs to fry program. This will proved a varied education and outreach plan that allows habitat staff more flexibility in lesson development.