PW1868-26 - Advancing Riparian Restoration through Strategic Shade Assessment Page 1 of 5

CONTRACT-SPECIFIC

SPECIAL PROCUREMENT

PW1868-26

for

Advancing Riparian Restoration through Strategic Shade Assessment

Marion County is conducting a Special Procurement pursuant to ORS 279B.085 and MCPCR

20-0285.

1. BACKGROUND

Marion County (County), through its Public Works Department, received grant funding in April

2026 from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) for Advancing Riparian

Restoration through Strategic Shade Assessment in Marion County. The grant supports streamside evaluation, implementation planning, landowner outreach, field verification, and restoration planning within Marion County.

The grant work will support the County in identifying priority streamside areas, evaluating potential restoration opportunities, coordinating with landowners, and developing an implementation plan to address the County's Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements through voluntary riparian restoration and water quality improvement projects.

The project area includes portions of the North Santiam Watershed. Because the work requires local watershed knowledge, established landowner relationships, partner coordination, and familiarity with restoration opportunities, the County seeks to contract with the North Santiam

Watershed Council (NSWC) to support project activities within its watershed.

Watershed councils are local organizations led by natural resource professionals and guided by boards representing community interests. They assess and monitor watershed conditions, coordinate with landowners and public agencies, and implement voluntary conservation and restoration projects to improve watershed health and habitat conditions. Oregon Revised Statute

(ORS) 541.910 recognizes and encourages the formation of watershed councils as a means of supporting locally coordinated watershed management and restoration.

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NSWC has established relationships with landowners, community organizations, restoration partners, and public agencies throughout the North Santiam Watershed. Through its ongoing watershed assessment, restoration planning, and project implementation activities, NSWC has developed local knowledge and experience directly relevant to the County's Temperature TMDL objectives. These existing relationships and capabilities position NSWC to assist the County with identifying feasible restoration opportunities, coordinating voluntary landowner participation, conducting field evaluations, and developing implementable riparian restoration strategies within the watershed.

2. CONTRACTING PROCEDURE

Marion County intends to enter into a contract with the North Santiam Watershed Council

(NSWC) for grant-funded streamside evaluation, landowner outreach, field verification, restoration planning, and implementation planning services within the North Santiam Watershed.

Specific tasks, deliverables, schedules, and documentation requirements will be established by

Marion County based on the approved grant scope, available funding, project priorities, and

NSWC's capacity.

The contract will be administered by Marion County Public Works. All work must be authorized by the County before it begins, and payment will be made only for approved work completed in accordance with the contract. The contract term will align with the grant period and any necessary grant closeout activities.

3. SERVICES

The services covered by this Special Procurement are grant-funded watershed coordination, streamside evaluation, landowner outreach, field verification, restoration planning, and implementation planning services.

Services may include, but are not limited to:

• reviewing County GIS analysis and priority streamside areas;

• assisting with landowner outreach and contact tracking;

• coordinating voluntary site visits;

• conducting field verification of priority properties;

• documenting site conditions, restoration opportunities, access constraints, and landowner interest;

• assisting with development of project-ready restoration opportunities;

• providing local watershed knowledge;

• supporting preparation of the Streamside Evaluation and Implementation Plan; and

• providing related documentation, reporting, and coordination needed to complete the grant scope.

The services will be performed by the North Santiam Watershed Council within its respective watershed area.

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4. REQUIREMENTS

Pursuant to MCPCR 20-0285, County may award a contract as a special procurement pursuant to the requirements of ORS 279B.085. The Board may approve a special procurement if the procurement:

A. ORS 279B.085(4)(a)

Is unlikely to encourage favoritism in the awarding of public contracts or to substantially diminish competition for public contracts; and

B. ORS 279B.085(4)(b)(A)

Is reasonably expected to result in substantial cost savings to the contracting agency or to the public; or

C. ORS 279B.085(4)(b)(B)

Otherwise substantially promotes public interest in a manner that could not practicably be realized by complying with requirements that are applicable under ORS 279B.055, 279B.060, 279B.065 or 279B.070 or under any rules adopted thereunder.

5. DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS

A. ORS 279B.085(4)(a)

This special procurement is unlikely to encourage favoritism in the awarding of public contracts or substantially diminish competition because the proposed contract is limited to a defined scope of grant-funded services requiring watershed-specific experience and established local coordination capabilities.

The North Santiam Watershed Council (NSWC) is an established natural resource organization with demonstrated experience in watershed assessments, riparian restoration, habitat improvement, and voluntary conservation activities within the North Santiam Watershed. Its ongoing work with private landowners, public agencies, and restoration partners provides qualifications directly relevant to Marion County's Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load

(TMDL) implementation requirements.

The proposed work requires coordination with private landowners and identification of feasible restoration opportunities. NSWC's existing activities and partnerships within the watershed provide an established means of carrying out these responsibilities.

The selection of NSWC is based on its demonstrated qualifications, geographic service area, and ability to perform the specific services required under the grant. Furthermore, the proposed contract is restricted to the approved grant activities and does not establish NSWC as the exclusive provider of future watershed assessment, restoration planning, or environmental consulting services. Future projects outside this scope and contract will remain subject to applicable procurement requirements.

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B. ORS 279B.085(4)(b)(A)

This special procurement is expected to result in cost savings by allowing Marion County to utilize

NSWC's existing watershed information, project experience, and coordination resources rather than duplicating preliminary work necessary to establish these capabilities.

NSWC's ongoing watershed assessments and restoration activities provide familiarity with local stream conditions, restoration priorities, and previously identified project opportunities. Access to this knowledge is expected to reduce the time and expense associated with preliminary data collection, site identification, and evaluation of potential restoration locations.

Additionally, NSWC's established operational relationships with local landowners and restoration partners can reduce the administrative effort associated with initiating outreach, arranging property access, and coordinating field activities. These efficiencies are particularly relevant because the grant-funded work must be completed within established project timelines and available funding.

By reducing duplicative preliminary work and associated coordination costs, the County can direct a greater portion of available grant resources toward streamside evaluations, restoration planning, and development of feasible implementation strategies.

For these reasons, the County anticipates that contracting with NSWC will provide cost efficiencies compared to procuring the same services from a contractor that would need to independently develop the watershed-specific information and coordination processes necessary to complete the work.

C. ORS 279B.085(4)(b)(B)

This special procurement substantially promotes the public interest by supporting Marion County's ability to fulfill its Temperature TMDL implementation requirements and advance voluntary restoration activities that improve water quality and watershed health.

The County's Temperature TMDL implementation strategy involves identifying priority streamside areas, evaluating opportunities to improve stream shade, and developing management strategies to address elevated water temperatures. Completing these planning requirements is an important step toward identifying and implementing restoration projects that can produce meaningful environmental improvements.

Because many potential restoration opportunities occur on privately owned property, the effectiveness of these efforts depends on securing voluntary landowner participation and developing projects that are both environmentally beneficial and practical to implement.

Contracting with NSWC connects the County's regulatory planning responsibilities with an organization actively engaged in coordinating and implementing restoration projects within the watershed.

This approach supports the development of actionable restoration strategies rather than limiting the grant-funded effort to technical assessments and planning documents. It also creates opportunities to align identified projects with existing conservation initiatives, watershed partnerships, and potential future restoration funding.

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The public benefits extend beyond completion of the immediate grant requirements. Identifying and advancing feasible riparian restoration projects can contribute to improved stream shade, reduced solar heating of waterways, enhanced aquatic habitat, and long-term watershed health.

These outcomes support the County's broader water quality objectives and provide benefits to local communities and natural resources.

6. LENGTH OF TIME

The length of time/duration for this special procurement is through the end of the grant term, ending March 31, 2029.

7. RESULTS OF INITIAL POSTING

TBD

8. REVIEW AND APPROVAL

MARION COUNTY SIGNATURES

Authorized Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Chief Administrative Officer Date

Reviewed by Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Marion County Contracts & Procurement Date