The primary goal of this contract is to continue to develop projects that protect, enhance and restore anadromous and resident fish habitat and to achieve a balance between resource protection and use in the Upper Salmon River Basin. Project selection is based off existing relationships, ranking through the Salmon Basin Technical Team, and a continuing effort starting in 2017 on a new science-based process led by efforts between OSC and the BOR, resulting in the Integrated Rehabilitation Assessment (IRA). The IRA has subsequently moved into the Multiple Reach Assessment (MRA) Phase. This contract also builds on continuing to improve multi-year planning and design, and collaboration with BPA staff.

This contract provides resources in support of the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program (USBWP), which has been administered by the Office of Species Conservation (OSC).  The OSC will become known as the Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination (OSMEC) as of July 1, 2026, per Idaho House Bill 737.  

The USBWP will continue to identify, prioritize, select, and develop projects for implementation occurring under other BPA projects, such as 2007-399-00 or 2010-072-00. Projects are developed to address identified limiting factors for anadromous fish, which improves habitat conditions, resulting in increased survival rates. The USBWP facilitates collaboration and coordination of basin-wide restoration efforts among local entities and private landowners to implement these projects.

A locally staffed office develops projects focused on addressing factors limiting the productivity of ESA-listed Pacific salmonids presented in the Salmon Subbasin Management Plan (2004) and the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion, and provides collaboration and coordination on basin wide restoration efforts among local entities. This contract provides staff and operational support in order to accelerate the pace of project development of high priority, on-the-ground fish habitat improvement projects that will be implemented under Idaho Fish Accord and Capital BPA projects, including 2010-072-00 and 2007-399-00.