Background:  The Tucannon River basin is located within the ceded-area of the CTUIR in Southeast Washington State, in Columbia and Garfield counties. The system-wide restoration objective for the Tucannon River is to improve habitat conditions for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species (Snake River Spring Chinook and Steelhead) for all life history stages.  It is expected that improved habitat conditions will lead to an increase in the abundance of listed species returning to the river.  The long term goal of increasing abundance should lead to de-listing of the species, which is the overall recovery goal for the system. Previous assessment efforts (CTUIR, WDFW, CCD and SRSRB) have identified the habitat-limiting factors associated with the decline of ESA-listed populations.  

The Tucannon River Geomorphic Assessment & Habitat Restoration Study (Anchor QEA, April 2011) identified and prioritized stream reaches and restoration actions which would best improve habitat for salmonids.  Focusing on the high priority areas for Tucannon spring Chinook, the Columbia Conservation District (CCD) coordinated the development of a habitat restoration plan for the Tucannon River from RM-20 upstream to RM-50; the CCD continued to work with the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB), through the Tucannon River Programmatic Habitat project, and extended the Tucannon River restoration plan from RM-20 downstream to the confluence of the Snake River.  This Conceptual Restoration Plan (Anchor QEA, November 2011) has prioritized projects into three Tiers (1-3) based on the projected effects of implementation as a benefit to Snake River spring Chinook, cost-efficiency relative to those benefits, and the feasibility of construction.

Overview: The Snake River Salmon Recovery Board (SRSRB) manages the Tucannon River Programmatic Habitat Project (2010-077-00) through a parent contract for the operations support, management organization, implementation assistance, and reporting described in this summary. The goal of the Tucannon River programmatic is to restore habitat function and natural channel processes in the spring Chinook priority restoration reaches of the Tucannon River, leading to improved population productivity and abundance.  The CTUIR manages this project as a contribution in support of programmatic goals, consistent with the CTUIR River Vision: a desired riverine system that is shaped and maintained by the dynamic interactions and interconnections of its natural physical and ecological processes. The restoration actions proposed for implementation in the prioritized river segments promote and enhance the interconnected nature of the five primary touchstones of the Tribes' Vision: a) hydrology, b) geomorphology, c) connectivity, d) riparian community, and e) aquatic biota.  

Major limiting factors influencing the condition of these touchstones throughout the project reaches proposed for treatment in the watershed, include:  
  • Anthropogenic modifications affecting and causing the loss of natural channel forming processes that link the Tucannon River to its floodplain;
  • Loss of key in-channel habitat complexity and structure, including diversity and quantity, especially in the form of gravel sorting, varied velocities, and pools associated with recruitment of large wood; and
  • Elevated summer water temperature, and reduced flow duration.

Summary: This yearly contract supports the development of future project concepts, refinement of restoration approaches, the production of engineered designs for selected projects, implementation work-planning and construction scheduling for approved projects, and the build-out of completed projects. The contract continues the CTUIR role anticipated in the Accords (BPA) and the Tucannon Habitat Programmatic Project: to inform and conduct project evaluation, selection, management, implementation planning, data collection, monitoring, outreach and other tasks, where tribal staff can provide expertise; and to be an implementer of the on-the-ground project construction activities for projects identified in the Programmatic work plan, and sub-regional Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan. Contract tasks include identifying and sequencing projects for implementation pursuant to the prioritized restoration strategy of the Habitat Programmatic, and consistent with the Tribes' First-Foods paradigm and River Vision principles; the CTUIR staff will partner with SRSRB participants and others to implement the priority projects.

  • Emphasis (ongoing): In this contract term, CTUIR staff continues to support and maintain watershed coordination with SRSRB, CCD, WDFW and Nez Perce Tribe, through ongoing communication and collaboration, shared work-tasks, and monthly and quarterly meetings. The CTUIR is also a member of and attends the meetings of the SRFB Lead-Entity committee, to review, rank and select projects for funding in the State of Washington (RCO) Salmon Recovery sub-regional process for the Snake River. CTUIR attends SRSRB (Board) Meetings on a monthly basis, and acts as the RTT Board Liaison to ensure pertinent information is transferred from the RTT to the Board.
  • Emphasis (current): CTUIR continues project development efforts and implementation tasks addressed to improving habitat structure and function throughout the Tucannon Watershed: Project Area (PA) 17/18, Project Areas 4/5, & 7, and Tucannon Ranch.  
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Work Status (FY19): CTUIR will lead the implementation management and supervision for: pre-construction site preparation, permitting, and design finalization in PA-17/18 and PA 4/5 &7.  Actions in both project areas are identified as a high priority for habitat improvements (Anchor QEA, Nov 2011), and focus on increasing the amount of large wood debris (LWD) to increase channel complexity and floodplain connectivity, the highest priority actions for spring Chinook in the Tucannon.  Description of the project areas with respect to existing natural processes and habitat conditions is to be provided in the associated project Design Report, along with the specific physical and biological objectives that the proposed restoration features are expected to achieve for each phase of the design/build for the project areas.  

Project Elements (PA-17/18) included in the Hartsock Floodplain Restoration Project: Phase-1 of the WDFW Hartsock project area (PA-18) was completed in summer of 2017; the intention is to be ready for implementation of Phase-2 of the PA-18 design in 2020. Note (caveat): CTUIR staff expects these next phases (Phase-2 and beyond) to be challenging as we move from public to private lands. CTUIR anticipates needed flexibility in the dates for project design completion and implementation planning, to adapt to changing circumstances, adjusting time frames as development proceeds.

Phase-I (complete): 1-mile reach (Hartsock Floodplain Restoration Project) Wooten Wildlife Area (summer 2017): PA-18  
  -- Removed selected levee segments, and excavated seasonally active side channels to increase floodplain connectivity and allow for local sediment deposition and channel migration;
  -- Helicopter and excavator installation of ~ 50 LWD structures to increase complexity throughout the reach to provide velocity refuge for instream juvenile salmonid habitat, pools for adult salmonid holding habitat and promote side channel and floodplain connectivity;
  -- Increased spring channel connectivity with the river on WDFW property to promote salmonid spawning and rearing.

Phase-2 (FY19): work with local landowners to determine restoration project interest on the upper 1.5 miles: PA-17  
  -- Restoration planning with local landowners to determine landowners interest in a future restoration project;
  -- Complete landowner agreements verifying landowner participation in the restoration project;
  -- Start project design with Tucannon implementer and landowners in PA-17 starting with 15% design;
  -- Work through project design to 100% with Tucannon implementers and landowners, identify project elements and start permitting during 2019.  
  -- Project implementation would start summer of 2020, if momentum continues with willing landowners in PA-17.

Phase-3 (FY20): work with Columbia County and private landowners in the bottom of reach: PA-18
  -- Long-term planning with Columbia County for the replacement of the downstream Tucannon River Road Bridge;
  -- Work with private landowners to gauge interest in levee removal and side channel reactivation;
  -- Complete landowner agreements verifying landowner participation in the restoration project;
  -- Start project design with Tucannon implementers and landowners in PA-18 starting with 15% design;
  -- Work through project design to 100% with Tucannon implementers and landowners, identify project elements and start permitting during 2019;
  -- Project implementation would start summer of 2020, if we have willing landowners in PA-18; and if we can find funding to replace Columbia County Bridge.

In addition to the work at PA-17/18, CTUIR staff will also be planning for future project area work in PA-4/5 & 7, and at Tucannon Ranch:

Project Elements (PA-4/5 & 7): The CTUIR will work to initiate preliminary design, permitting, and pre-construction activities for for floodplain connectivity and channel complexity at Project Area 4, 5, and 7, conceptually described in the restoration plan (Anchor QEA, Nov 2011) as a priority action for improving spring Chinook habitat, by focusing on increasing channel length, improving shape, channel complexity, and floodplain connectivity. This will include working with US Forest Service to complete a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review for the project area. CTUIR staff has been working with the USFS to start the NEPA process as a priority, but PA-7 is down the list of other NEPA project tasks needed on the National Forest.

Phase-1: define the scope of the project(s)  
  -- PA-4/5 are on WDFW property above and below Camp Wooten; CTUIR will approach WDFW (Camp Wooten) in 2019, to explore restoration interest; seems like a great fit for a restoration project as Camp Wooten is an environmental learning facility and could benefit from the opportunities restoration presents for learning.    
  -- PA-7 is on USFW property and will require NEPA to advance any restoration opportunities; this will take some time and planning to accomplish. Originally NEPA was planned to start in 2018, but CTUIR lacks the power to get the NEPA motivation started within the USFS.  

Phase-2: start working in PA-4 & 5  
  -- Restoration planning with WDFW Camp Wooten to determine interest in a future restoration project.
  -- Start project design with Tucannon implementer and Camp Wooten in PA-4/5 starting with 15% design
  -- Work through project design to 100% with Tucannon implementers and landowners, identify project elements and start permitting during 2020.  
  -- Project implementation would start summer of 2021, if Camp Wooten is interested in restoration.

The anticipated 30-60% designs for the above phases, will identify the following types of measures that can address spring Chinook limiting factors and the touchstones of the CTUIR River Vision: 1) Increasing large woody debris loading to promote instream habitat quantity, quality/complexity; 2) Increasing instream habitat quantity/quality with habitat boulder clusters; 3) Hydraulically reconnecting the river with its floodplain through side channel construction (improved off channel habitat, floodplain vegetation); 4) Restoring riparian forest vegetation to promote future large wood loading and summer water temperature reductions; 5) Replacing downstream bridge to increase flood conveyance, and reduce upstream geomorphic effects. The project’s contribution to the overall watershed-scale restoration plan will be described in each of the phased basis of design report (BDA). Construction considerations and best management practices will be included in the BDA for each development phase and in the 90% design drawings for the proposed treatment actions, once they are completed.
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Management Considerations: The initiation and subsequent management of restoration actions in each Project Area reach identified within the Tucannon Programmatic occurs generally on a four-year project-cycle overlap.  Each individual project is scheduled and completed across four major elements or sequenced stages:
-- Design, risk review, clearances and permitting,
-- Pre-construction activities (material staging and site preparation),
-- Construction (design implementation), and
-- Vegetative planting (design features), site clean-up, and the remediation of construction impacts.  

Generally, year-one will include design and permitting; year-two will be material acquisition/pre-construction preparation/ logistics considerations; year-three is the construction of the design, and the spring of year-four is planting work and the recovery of impacted areas. Therefore, multiple projects will be progressing simultaneously and not sequentially; and the construction of one project will occur in each year over the duration of the Habitat Programmatic Project. Permits need to be in place prior to all pre-construction activities.  The Tucannon River In-Water Work Window is July15th through August 20th for all the stream reaches located in the Tucannon Watershed.  Site plantings (design features) and clean-up or restoration (impact remediation) will occur in subsequent years, usually followed by fall and spring planting cycles in the 3 years following the project construction.  Tree planting between the late fall–early spring is the critical period for plant survival, because the area has limited annual precipitation (approximately 12”-13”), mostly occurring in the winter and spring months.