CTWS capacity in the basin is limited due to staff turnover and recent hiring challenges. CTWS project manager time is included in this SOW to facilitate continued recruitment the position was vacant at the time of SOW development. CTWS specific tasks under this SOW include continued staff recruitment, coordination, and measuring and flow within the East Fork bypass reach. For 2024 the Hood River Watershed Group (HRWG) also has a standalone agreement 91616 from 1/1/24 to 12/31/24 to continue to advance habitat projects during the CTWS vacancy. Specific tasks covered under that agreement are noted below.

FISCAL YEAR 2024 OBJECTIVES:

Goal: Complete feasibility evaluations and project designs for fish habitat restoration projects in high priority stream reaches, as identified in the Hood River Basin Partnership Strategic Action Plan (2021).
Objective 1: Finish lower East Fork Hood River Phase 2 and Phase 3 fish habitat restoration designs. (HRWG 91616)
Objective 2: Finalize Neal Creek Phase 3 fish habitat restoration design. (HRWG 91616)
Objective 3: Evaluate feasibility of fish habitat restoration actions in the Powerdale Corridor of the Hood River, including removal of the old PacifiCorps powerhouse and modifying railroad infrastructure to allow for floodplain reconnection.

Goal: Implement fish habitat restoration projects in high priority stream reaches, as identified in the Hood River Basin Partnership Strategic Action Plan (2021).
Objective 1: Implement Neal Creek Phase 3 fish habitat restoration project to improve approximately 1 mile of steelhead and coho spawning and rearing habitat. (HRWG 91616)
Objective 2: Remove two fish passage barriers on Baldwin Creek to provide access to 2 miles of upstream habitat; begin riparian and wetland restoration at diversion site. (HRWG 91616)

Goal: Educate watershed residents on the ecology, fisheries, and tribal involvement in the Hood River Watershed. Recruit and engage private streamside landowners to begin development of additional habitat projects in high priority stream reaches.
Objective 1: Provide 9 public presentations on topics such as watershed ecology and conservation, fish populations and management, tribal history, and completed restoration projects.
Objective 2: Recruit 3 to 5 new private streamside landowners for out-year habitat restoration projects.

Goal: Evaluate the impact of past habitat restoration projects.
Objective 1: Conduct post-project monitoring of completed habitat restoration projects according to joint CTWS-USFS-HRWG habitat monitoring protocol. (HRWG lead)

Goal: Enhance and monitor flows within the East Fork bypass reach to ensure adult chinook passage in accordance with the CTWS 2020 Memorandum of Agreement with the East Fork Irrigation District (EFID).
Objective 1: Monitor flows within the East Fork bypass reach to assure that 17 CFS be maintained in the bypass reach per the 2020 MOA.
Objective 2: Work with EFID to identify and implement an additional 10 CFS of water savings projects resulting in 27 CFS being maintained in the East Fork Bypass Reach by April 1, 2027.