17-01801_Statement_of_Work_RFQ.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A SONAR-BASED PROGRAM ON THE OZETTE RIVER TO ASSESS THE ANNUAL ABUNDANCE STATUS OF THE ESA-LISTED LAKE OZETTE SOCKEYE SALMON POPULATION

NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS)

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES DIVISION (SFD)

WEST COAST REGION

I. Background

The Ozette Lake sockeye salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14528). In making this determination, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concluded that the ESU was likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future if present conditions continue. NMFS also concluded that current protective efforts were insufficient to forestall the risk of extinction. The listed sockeye salmon ESU includes all naturally spawned sockeye salmon residing below impassable natural barriers (e.g., long-standing, natural waterfalls) in Lake Ozette and its tributaries. The ESU also includes sockeye salmon produced by the Makah Indian Tribes’ Umbrella Creek Hatchery program that return to spawn in two northern tributaries in Lake Ozette (Umbrella Creek and Big River).

Sockeye salmon in the Ozette Lake Basin comprise a unique ESU and are genetically distinct from all other sockeye populations on the Washington Coast and in Puget Sound. Mature adults return from the Pacific Ocean to the Ozette River and into Lake Ozette from late spring through the early summer months. Adult sockeye salmon then hold in the lake for up to six months prior to spawning at two primary locations along eastern and western lakeshore areas at the southern end of the lake, and in Umbrella Creek and Big River.

As required by the ESA, NMFS completed a recovery plan for the listed sockeye salmon ESU in 2009 that identified strategies for recovering the species. Included in the recovery plan were sections identifying primary limiting factors to sockeye salmon recovery. One primary limiting factor was the effect of a full-spanning weir and trap used by the Makah Indian Tribe to count migrating sockeye salmon in exacerbating mammalian predation on the population. Use of sonar to census sockeye salmon was identified in the NMFS recovery plan for the ESU as a key measure to minimize river otter and harbor seal predation on adult fish associated with the tribe’s operation of the full spanning weir and trap used for nearly two decades to count sockeye salmon. The weir and trap block sockeye salmon migration in the Ozette River in order to funnel the fish through a confined viewing chamber for counting. The weir and trap provide a migrating sockeye salmon corralling point for river otters and seals, causing substantial losses of adult fish through predation.

To alleviate this problem, the Makah Indian Tribe secured the purchase of the Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS) and Duel frequency IDentification SONar (DIDSON) system for the tribe’s use, with the goal of supplanting the full spanning weir and trap for counting inbound sockeye salmon. In attempting to operate the sonar system over the past two years, the tribe has encountered problems stemming from the complexity of sonar array placement and daily operation in a remote location, and lack of experience in analyzing sonar image recordings of migrating sockeye to derive abundance estimates. The sonar weir-based fish counting systems are therefore currently operating side-by-side due to on-going concerns about the successful use of the sonar system operating alone to count sockeye salmon. Weir-related predation on sockeye salmon by river otters and harbor seals remains as a limiting factor to ESU recovery. Technical assistance from an entity with expertise in the use of sonar to count migrating salmon populations is required to ensure the program is able to effectively and singularly allow for the estimation of annual migrating sockeye salmon abundance, allowing for removal of the weir and trap to alleviate the predation problem.

II. Objectives

NMFS is seeking an individual or entity that will provide guidance and training to Makah tribal staff in proper placement and operation of the sonar array, and analysis of sonar images recorded over the full adult sockeye migratory season to estimate daily and total sockeye salmon adult abundance. The individual or entity must have demonstrated expertise in the use of ARIS/DIDSON to enumerate and monitor adult salmon migration in small and large rivers; provide expert guidance regarding required equipment and setup to complete proper installation of an ARIS/DIDSON array on the upper Ozette River, including supporting infrastructure, such as electrical components, mounting options, and deflection weirs; provide expert advice for sonar monitoring site and project management; provide guidance, training, and participate in ARIS/DIDSON data collection, management, and analysis; provide quantitative assistance and training to produce statistically defensible deliverables from raw acoustic data collected through the program through analysis of sonar images recorded over the season to estimate daily and total sockeye salmon adult abundance; and assembling technical reports to document results.

This work will support implementation of a key ESA-listed sockeye salmon protection and restoration action specified in the Lake Ozette Sockeye Salmon ESU Recovery Plan. Completion of the proposed work will foster use of sonar to count migrating sockeye, and abandonment of the previous weir and trap-based fish counting program that is exacerbating river otter and harbor seal predation on sockeye salmon adults.

This report will provide data that is necessary for NOAA fisheries to 1) perform 5 year status updates, 2) document viability trends necessary to evaluate progress toward achieving recovery goals and 3) establish that conditions are sufficient to perform a critical recovery action for the Lake Ozette sockeye ESU.

III. Scope

The NMFS West Coast Regional Office is seeking to enter into a contract with an individual or entity to evaluate existing data sets, provide training and expertise in the data gathering process and analyze the outcomes of the data gathered in a report to NMFS as defined in the tasks below. The chosen vendor must have the that 1) has specialized knowledge and firsthand experience regarding ARIS/DIDSON data collection, management, analysis, and reporting to census Pacific salmon populations in the Olympic Peninsula region, and in particular, ESA-listed “threatened” sockeye salmon returning to the unique setting of the Ozette River; 2) has a proven ability and a successful performance record in using ARIS/DIDSON technology to estimate annual abundances of migrating salmon; 3) has a proven ability and a successful performance record in producing and reporting statistically defensible estimates of salmon abundance based on review of acoustic data collected through the program; and, 4) is located in close proximity to the Ozette River sonar data collection site to effectively monitor the operation through site visits to ensure that the sonar-based monitoring program is functioning properly.

IV. Tasks:

a. Make no fewer than 8 site visits to the Ozette River sonar monitoring location during the course of the 2017 operating season. The site visits will focus on periods of time when changes to sonar monitoring infrastructure are needed, such as moving the ARIS/DIDSON mounting ladder or picket weirs. These visits will also facilitate data exchanges, project coordination, and training involving personnel from the Makah Indian Tribe.

b. Perform full 2017 data review & management, and data analysis hours of sonar images collected at the Ozette River site over the extent of the 2017 operating season (approximately May 1, 2017 through mid-August 2017).

c. Perform limited 2015-16 data review, management, and analysis.

d. Produce and provide a final report to NMFS on the data review tasks that will outline an estimate of the abundance of adult sockeye salmon entering Lake Ozette through the upper Ozette River in 2017. The report will include a discussion of any uncertainties associated with the sockeye salmon abundance estimate.

e. Provide training to Makah staff biologists in Sonar Imagery Review

V. Deliverables

All deliverables will be submitted to the Government Project Officer.

The Contractor shall provide a detailed report by December 31, 2017 identifying Lake Ozette sockeye abundance estimates based on sonar data reviewed, and recommendations for future operation of the ARIS/DIDSON population census program.

Work Period – May 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017

VI. Period of Performance

Period of Performance is requested to begin (on or around) May 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

VII. Place of Performance:

Primary locations include: 1) Site visits: Upper Ozette River sonar location where the National Park Service walking bridge spans the river; 2) Data review: Upper Ozette River sonar location; contractor’s office and/or Makah Fisheries Management Office in Neah Bay, Washington; 3) Makah staff training: Upper Ozette River sonar location; contractor’s office; and/or Makah Fisheries Management Office in Neah Bay, Washington and 4) Report writing: contractor’s office.

VIII. Reimbursable Expenses (Travel, Conference, Training, Equipment, Materials, Etc.):

All site visits anticipate travel to and from the monitoring stations. Based on location and past experience, all travel is expected to be local with no lodging required. Include in the price of the quote.

IX. Experience Required:

Requirements of the Selected Vendor:

a. Must have demonstrated expertise in the use of ARIS/DIDSON to enumerate and monitor adult salmon migration in small and large rivers;

b. Must possess necessary training and experience to provide expert guidance regarding required equipment and setup to complete proper installation of an ARIS/DIDSON array on the upper Ozette River, including supporting infrastructure, such as electrical components, mounting options, and deflection weirs.

c. Must possess necessary training and experience to provide expert advice for sonar monitoring site and project management;

d. Must possess necessary training and experience to provide expert guidance, training, and hands-on participation in ARIS/DIDSON data collection, management, and analysis;

e. Must possess necessary expert training and experience to provide quantitative assistance and training to produce statistically defensible deliverables from raw acoustic data collected through the program through analysis of sonar images recorded over the season to estimate daily and total sockeye salmon adult abundance; and

f. Must have demonstrated experience in assembling technical reports to document sonar project results.