Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

The United States has a strong interest in addressing long standing disputes over scarce water resources and fisheries restoration in the Klamath River Basin. Decades of water conflicts in the Klamath Basin between conservationists, tribes, farmers, fishermen and state and federal Agencies have recently devolved into a “rotating crisis” for Klamath Basin communities. The United States, since 2003, has spent over $500 million in the Klamath basin for irrigation, fisheries, wildlife refuges, and other resource enhancements and management actions.Concurrent with the rotating crisis of resource issues during the past decade, PacifiCorp, the owner of the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project (Project), submitted an application for a hydropower relicensing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). However, PacifiCorp and interested parties have since signed an agreement in principle to consider removing the lower four Project dams. The Secretary of the Interior will make a final decision, the Secretarial Determination (SD), after determining whether removal of the four hydroelectric dams will advance restoration of the salmonid fisheries of the Klamath Basin and is in the best interest of the public. To inform the Secretary, biological information and modeling will be necessary regarding two alternatives for management of the dams with a time horizon of 50 years starting in 2020. Under the SD process, the best scientific evidence will be required to estimate potential impacts of dam removal or retention on Klamath Basin fisheries.This agreement will benefit the public by providing the Secretary of the Interior the needed information to decide how to improve the restoration in the Klamath River Basin and resolve on-going water conflicts.TASKS:TASK 1. Provide technical report review of SD documents for technical and policy consistency A) within DOI and B) between DOC and DOI. TASK 2. Produce a report of the findings and identify any inconsistencies on positions within and between the bureaus and departments. TASK 3. Assist in drafting language to resolved inconsistencies. PRODUCTS: Review of technical documents within DOI and DOC for consistency and produce a report of the findings. This review will ensure that the SD and NEPA documents are defensible and internally consistent. A report of the findings and include any inconsistencies on positions between bureaus. WORK AND REPORTING SCHEDULE: FY10 TASK 1 July 30, 2010TASK 2 August 31, 2010TASK 3 September 30, 2010Currently, these SD tasks are planned for completion by the end of September 30, 2010. If project milestones are delayed, the studies may continue into FY2011. The performance period for the studies in this statement of work reflects the uncertainty surrounding the ambitious schedule for meeting the SD deadlines. A separate statement of work and funding estimate will be developed for FY2011, if it becomes necessary to continue this work into that fiscal year. PERFORMANCE PERIOD: Upon Signature through June 30, 2011.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Misty Bradford <br/>Coop. Agreements Assistant <br/>Phone 530-842-5763
misty_bradford@fws.gov