Performance_Work_Statement_Aquatic_Ecology_1.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Science Advisory Board – Aquatic Ecology

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 OBJECTIVE - The objective of this contract is to acquire contractor services to support specific subject matter requirements on the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) Science Advisory Board (SAB). The objective of the Science Advisory Board is to provide the independent scientific peer review necessary for effective and credible implementation of the adaptive environmental assessment and management component of the TRRP.

1.2 BACKGROUND

The December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement/Impact Report (EIS/EIR) directed the Department of the Interior to undertake an innovative and system-oriented approach to recovering the River's anadromous fish populations. The Trinity River Restoration Program was established to restore the attributes found in natural alluvial river systems that support anadromous fish populations on a managed river downstream of a dam. A naturalized flow release schedule, and adaptive environmental assessment and management (AEAM) program that includes variable flow management, infrastructure improvements to accommodate 11,000 cfs peak releases, coarse sediment and fine sediment management, watershed restoration and mechanical channel rehabilitation. The accompanying mitigation and compliance requirements are used to reverse the impacts caused by decades of flow diversion on one of California's significant anadromous fisheries. In addition to recovery of naturally-spawning anadromous fish populations in the Trinity River, the TRRP also presents a unique opportunity to advance scientific understanding of semi-alluvial river systems and the recovery processes of natural systems for broader application in managed river systems.

The Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992- P.L. 102-575, Title 34 (CVPIA), provides the legal authority for projects that restore the fishery resources of the Trinity River. Specifically, Section 3406(b)(1) states in part, “That in the course of developing and implementing this program, the Secretary shall make all reasonable efforts consistent with the requirements of this section to address other identified adverse environmental impacts of the Central Valley Project not specifically enumerated in this section." Actions identified in the ROD are for the purpose of addressing the significant declines (in anadromous fish runs) following the construction and operation of the Central Valley Project's Trinity River Division in the early 1960s." The Solicitor's Opinion to the Secretary of the Interior dated May 22, 1998 clarifies this relation of adverse impacts of the CVP to specific actions of the TRRP when it states “to the extent activities are designed to address adverse environmental impacts of the Project they are authorized by section 3406(b)( 1)."

The establishment and funding of the Scientific Advisory Board task outlined in this scope of work is directly related to the TRRP's responsibility to address other identified adverse environmental impacts of the Central Valley Project not specifically enumerated in section 3406(b)(1). The Implementation Plan, contained in Appendix C of the final EIS/EIR and incorporated in the ROD, describes the function of an independent Science Advisory Board. The Board will help the TRRP identify and respond to the above mentioned "adverse environmental impacts". More specifically, SAB members will provide independent scientific peer review of proposed hypotheses, research reports and recommendations, proposed annual flow schedules, short and long-tern monitoring plans and research priorities of the TRRP Program.

Background information necessary to understanding this requirement is included in the following documents: I) Trinity River Flow Evaluation Final Report, June 1999; 2) Trinity River Mainstem

Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement/Impact Report (EIS/EIR) and ROD, December 2000; 3) the SAB’s Phase I Review, April 2014. During the period of a SAB member’s tenure under an agreement or contract, other documents or products may be produced by the Program requiring review and comment by the SAB. These will include, but are not limited to:

annual programs of work and budget proposals; project study designs; draft and final reports related to the program’s restoration activities including variable flow management, coarse and fine sediment management (including watershed restoration activities); collaborative research proposals; strategic plan(s); monitoring plans and reports. Participation in or presentations at TRRP partnership meetings, including technical work groups, scientific symposia, Trinity Management Council (TMC), Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, program seminars, and other TRRP information transfer venues may be requested requiring travel, or participation by WebEx or Webinar.

This performance work statement outlines the requirements for membership and participation on an independent Science Advisory Board for the Trinity River Restoration Program. The TRRP is an Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management (AEAM) program charged with restoring the natural production of anadromous fishes below Lewiston Dam on the Trinity River in northern California.

The Trinity River Mainstem Fisheries Restoration EIS, Appendix C, Chapter 7, defines the roles and responsibilities of the overall Trinity River Restoration Program organization, particularly the role of the Science Advisory Board. Additionally, Appendix C specifies that members must be nominated by the TMC.

Positions in specific areas of expertise on the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) Science Advisory Board (SAB) include:

I. Fish Biology II. Aquatic Ecology III. Riparian and Watershed Ecology IV. Fluvial Geomorphology V. Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrology

2.0 REFERENCES - The following list of documents are required in the performance of this contract:

● N/A

3.0 TASKS - The contractor shall perform the following tasks:

1. Participates in as a member of the SAB to provide expert scientific advice to the Trinity River Restoration Program, with a focus in the area of aquatic ecology. The SAB shall convene 1 to 2 times per year to collectively develop a consolidated set of recommendations and draft a report to the TRRP Executive Director.

2. Advise the Trinity Management Council (TMC), Trinity Stakeholder Advisory Committee (TSAC) and Executive Director (ED) about the technical merits of proposed alternatives for monitoring and assessment, modeling, and restoration actions.

3. Engage Trinity River Restoration Program scientists in the collaborative refinement of conceptual models and monitoring and restoration strategies.

4. Provide input or review for selected reports and investigation plans:

• SAB members shall individually review the conceptual models and hypotheses motivating past and present TRRP monitoring activities, rehabilitation designs, program priorities, and other management decisions. The TRRP will provide appropriate background information, as well as documentation of the rational for specific rehabilitation designs and assessment plans for review.

• SAB members will be asked to review reports and / or investigation plans as they become available from technical staff or technical work groups on novel, sensitive or complex topics (anticipate 3-4 times per year).

• SAB members will provide external peer review of draft design reports for channel rehabilitation projects.

• Participate on a value engineering/peer review study for channel rehabilitation projects.

• SAB members will often be asked to suggest external peer reviewers for program reports, products and / or investigation plans (anticipate fewer than 12 times per year).

• SAB members will occasionally be asked to provide advice when external peer reviewers provide divergent input (anticipate 1-2 times per year).

5. Review the TRRP preliminary fiscal year work plans:

• During spring TRRP will provide a concise description of what is being proposed for the following year. The document will include the number / type of planned restoration actions as well as science and monitoring activities.

• SAB input on the preliminary work plan will be provided to the Trinity Management Council for their use in formulating and approving the final work plan.

4.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

Task No.

Task Description

Performance

Indicator

Performance

Standard

Minimum Acceptable Quality

Level 1 Participate as a member of the SAB to provide scientific advice to Program

Acts as the TRRP’s primary external advisor on the subjects within the specified SAB position role

Attendance of meetings among the SAB and participation in

SAB reviews and reports

Attends at least 75% of meetings among the SAB and actively contributes to all review and report material relevant to the specified SAB position role 2 Advise TMC, TSAC, and ED as needed Responds in a timely manner and provides appropriate advice

Timely and appropriate responses to requests for advice

Responses are received within 2 business days of requested response time; respond in a professional manner with appropriate scientific information

3 Engage in refining models and strategies

Participates in topics as requested within the SAB and with the Program

Attendance of TRRP meetings that specifically request SAB attendance

Present for at least 50% of TRRP meetings that specifically request SAB attendance

4 Review of reports or investigation plans

Requested reviews are delivered at the requested deadline

Within three weeks of delivery by the government

No more than 3 business days late

Advise TRRP on work plans

Recommendations are delivered at the requested deadline

Recommendation s presented on the agreed to date

SAB member will miss no more than two calls or meetings per year where they are requested to deliver their recommendations.

Example: Mop floors daily.

Example: State of cleanliness

Example: Floors must be free of dirt and refuse.

Example: Floors are mopped at least 95% of the time. Failure to perform within the 5% could result in poor performance evaluation.

5.0 DATA AND REPORTS - The contractor shall provide the following data and reports as follows:

Item No.

Description

Content

Format

Medium

Delivery

1 Consolidated annual recommendations report.

See PWS Task 6

Contractor’s choice

MS Word Electronic copy delivered to

COR,

Executive Director, and Science Coordinator in last month of fiscal year