Bureau of Reclamation Grants for Wenatchee Subbasin Anadromous Fishery Habitat Improvement

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is committed to proving assistance to entities that can attend to issues involving fish screening, fish passage, water flow, and channel complexity in specific tributary subbasins of the Columbia River in order to benefit anadromous fish habitat. The Wenatchee Subbasin is one such subbasin. Reclamation expects to provide assistance to meet specific metric goals that include: (1) fish screens that meet current criteria; (2) spawning and rearing access restored by removal of fish passage barriers; (3) meeting instream flow targets; and (4) increased miles of channel complexity in the Wenatchee Subbasin.

The kind of habitat improvement activity anticipated includes: reconnecting flood plains, side channel improvements, backwater channel improvements, woody structure and large rock cluster development, deeper pool development, and reconstruction of spawning gravel.

Due to the complexity of the issues and the geographic location a great amount of activity must be coordinated involving State and local government units, private landowners, non-profit organizations, in addition to various Federal Agencies including Reclamation, before a project is finalized. Coordination with local organizations and private landowners is essential to the overall success of habitat improvement in the Wenatchee Subbasin.

Any activity meeting the appropriate criteria and that has been coordinated, approved, and prioritized with the local land owners and others within a project area will be presented to Reclamation for potential funding. Reclamation will make a determination as to whether the individual projects are suitable.

The anticipated length of the agreement is 5 years. Subsequent renewal or continuation modifications related to additional funds for any awards as of a result of this Notice of Intent may be entered into without future competition; however, they are conditioned upon successful project performance and availability of appropriated funds.