BOR-MP-17-N033 RF-102_NOI DWR--Juvenile Fish Collectors.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102 02-2016

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement BOR-MP-17-N033

Project Title Development of Pilot Juvenile Salmon Collectors for Use Above High Head Dams

Recipient California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Randy Beckwith; Senior Engineer

Anticipated Federal Amount FY17: $2,500,000.00 / Total Agreement: $8,594,322.00

Anticipated Non-Federal Amount

$500,000.00

New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance September 22, 2017 through September 30, 2022

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority Public Law 102-575, Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Title

XXXIV, Section 3406 (b)(1) and Section 3407(e) CFDA # and Title 15.512— Central Valley Project Improvement Act Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact John Hannon / Megan Bryant

OVERVIEW

High-head dams, often called rim dams, have been estimated to block more than 90% of historical spawning habitat for Central Valley Chinook Salmon and steelhead preventing them from reaching the high-elevation, cold water reaches during warmer months. As a result, reservoirs throughout Northern California must be operated to provide cold water releases to sustain holding and spawning temperatures for these populations on the valley floor. Maintaining cold water for releases during warmer months could be problematic under climate change or prolonged periods of drought, as evident by the egg mortality estimated for winter-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River in 2014 and 2015.

The Interagency Fish Passage Steering Committee has been working since 2010 on a pilot reintroduction of Chinook salmon upstream of CVP dams. The focus has been on winter-run Chinook salmon above Shasta Dam due to the endangered status of these fish. The most challenging part of passing fish around dams is providing downstream passage for juvenile fish migrating out to the ocean. The height of the CVP dams and the size and operation of the reservoirs adds a level of complexity above that where similar salmon passage projects have been implemented.

This project addresses a critical element of reintroduction of salmon above high-head dams in California – the ability to efficiently collect outmigrating juveniles before or as they enter the reservoir and move them around the dam so that they may continue their migration to the ocean, rather than potentially suffering high temperatures and predation rates in the reservoir. The project focuses on developing pilot juvenile salmon collectors with a goal of increasing populations of listed salmonids.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

DWR Project Manager, Randy Beckwith, will implement and oversee the Development of Pilot Juvenile Salmon Collectors in collaboration with other agencies including the Interagency Fish Passage Steering Committee.

DWR shall complete the following objectives.

Objective #1: Complete the design, fabrication, installation, testing and full operation of the juvenile salmon collection systems

Objective #2: Identify and evaluate the long-term fish passage options at Shasta Dam and other high dams of the Central Valley Project.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, Reclamation will be responsible for the following:

• Lead the Interagency Fish Passage Steering Committee

• Work with DWR to obtain permits for testing

• Provide assistance for testing, including staff from USGS for biological studies

• Provide storage at Reclamation facilities for juvenile collector components

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

Randy Beckwith, DWR Program Manager, and his staff in the Riverine Stewardship Program in the Division of Integrated Regional Water Management, are uniquely qualified to carry out these particular objectives of the Development of Pilot Juvenile Salmon Collectors project focused on developing pilot juvenile salmon collectors with a goal of increasing populations of listed salmonids. DWR convened a team of fish passage experts from five states to develop concepts for downstream fish passage at Shasta Dam. Through collaboration with these experts, DWR developed the concepts into preliminary designs for pilot juvenile salmon collectors. To preserve consistency in the final design and to ensure data compatibility, it is important that DWR conduct this juvenile salmon collectors project which is necessary to successfully improve the juvenile fish passage. DWR has been responsible for design and engineering specifications related to the project, in coordination with Reclamation and other state and Federal agencies.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), Public Law 102-575, Title XXXIV Section 3406 (b)(1) and Section 3407 (e):

(b) Fish and Wildlife Restoration Activities.--The Secretary, immediately upon the enactment of this title, shall operate the Central Valley Project to meet all obligations under state and federal law, including but not limited to the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. s 1531, et seq., and all decisions of the California State Water Resources Control Board establishing conditions on applicable licenses and permits for the project. The Secretary, in consultation with other State and Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and affected interests, is further authorized and directed to:

(1) Develop within three years of enactment and implement a program which makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that, by the year 2002, natural production of anadromous fish in Central Valley rivers and streams will be sustainable, on a long-term basis, at levels not less than twice the average levels attained during the period of 1967-1991; Provided, That this goal shall not apply to the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and the Mendota Pool, for which a separate program is authorized under subsection 3406(c) of this title; Provided further, That the programs and activities authorized by this section shall, when fully implemented, be deemed to meet the mitigation, protection, restoration, and enhancement purposes established by subsection 3406(a) of this title; And provided further, 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.

AND

(e) FUNDING TO NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES- If the Secretary determines that the State of California or an agency or subdivision thereof, an Indian tribe, or a nonprofit entity concerned with restoration, protection, or enhancement of fish, wildlife, habitat, or environmental values is able to assist in implementing any action authorized by this title in an efficient, timely, and cost effective manner, the Secretary is authorized to provide funding to such entity on such terms and conditions as he deems necessary to assist in implementing the identified action.