Attach 1 - PWS Willamette Valley RME Monitoring and Sampling- Amend 0002.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Willamette Valley Downstream Fish Passage Monitoring

Reservoir & Quartzville Creek Sampling - 2025

Solicitation No.: W9127N24Q0105

Contents

• GENERAL INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND

• SCOPE OF WORK

• LOCATION OF SERVICES

• COURT INJUNCTION MEASURES PERTINENT TO CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

• DEFINITIONS

• GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE)

• GOVERNMENT FURNISHED SERVICES (GFS)

• CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

• OVERVIEW OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL TASKS

General Requirements

Quartzville Creek and Middle Santiam River – Juvenile Chinook Sampling Requirements

Reservoir Distribution Study Sampling General Requirements

Data Reporting

In-Season Reporting

Biannual Reporting

Willamette Valley Science Review

• Contract Task Requirements

Task 1 - Pre-Work Coordination and Work Plan

Task 2 - Reservoir Distribution Studies 2025

Task 3 - Quartzville Creek and Middle Santiam River – Juvenile Chinook Sampling

Task 4 - Reporting 2025

• MILESTONES & DELIVERABLES

• GENERAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

• REFERENCES

• GENERAL INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND

On September 1, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued an interim injunction that requires the Corps to implement interim injunction measures intended to improve conditions for fish passage and water quality at several Willamette Valley Project (WVP) dams for the benefit of Upper Willamette River (UWR) spring Chinook salmon and UWR winter steelhead salmon during the interim period until the completion of the reinitiated Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation. The Court assigned an Expert Panel to define the implementation plans of specific measures, which were required to “provide meaningful research, monitoring, and evaluation (“RM&E”) of the interim measures.”

Further, the injunction mandates that the Corps “fund and/or carry out RM&E to evaluate the effects of the interim measures on UWR Chinook salmon and UWR steelhead.” On February 28, 2022, the Expert Panel submitted its proposed “long term” plan for the RM&E to accompany the interim injunction measures for the remainder of the duration of the injunction.

• SCOPE OF WORK

This is a firm-fixed price contract for collecting biological information regarding the downstream passage of juvenile Chinook salmon and winter steelhead including the reporting of results. This Contract consists of the following actions:

• Evaluation of juvenile Chinook distribution and passage in the South Santiam River sub-basin including Quartzville Creek and Middle Santiam River.

• Evaluation of juvenile Chinook salmon distribution within Green Peter Reservoir and Lookout

Point Reservoirs.

• The reporting of information collected herein, along with results of other related RM&E measures (e.g., other RST sampling and downstream PIT tag detectors), and previously collected information collected throughout the WVP under previous conditions (e.g. Romer et al. 2013- 2017; Keefer et al. 2012, 2013) will be synthesized to evaluate implementation of certain measures prescribed under the “long term” RM&E plan.

• LOCATION OF SERVICES

Requirements of this Contract will occur within the Willamette Valley throughout the Corps Willamette Valley Project (WVP). Activities will occur throughout the Willamette Valley Project (WVP) in the North Santiam, South/Middle Santiam, South Fork McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette River subbasins including Fall Creek (Figure 1).

Figure 1 – Services to be performed throughout the Willamette Valley Project (WVP)

• COURT INJUNCTION MEASURES PERTINENT TO CONTRACT

REQUIREMENTS

For the purposes of this Contract, the following information is provided, by sub-basin, for context in performing Contract requirements. See PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS for Contract performance requirements.

South Santiam River Sub-basin: Green Peter Dam and Foster Dam

South Santiam River Sub-basin: Green Peter Dam

Description of Operations for Downstream Fish Passage and Water Temperature Management (Abbreviated from Implementation Plans & Long-Term RM&E Plan):

• Initiate a drawdown of Green Peter Reservoir in the fall, so as to achieve the targeted elevation of 780 ft. by winter. Inter-seasonable adjustments will be necessary and modeling results should be considered a general guideline. Discharge during drawdown will likely range between 3,000 and 4,000 cfs, except as may be required by flood risk management (FRM) operations or during Chinook spawning. From September through mid-October, Green Peter and Foster Dam outflows will be managed to maintain flows between 1,500 and 3,000 cfs in the South Santiam River downstream from Foster Dam to protect Chinook spawning, to the extent possible.

• The targeted elevation of 780 ft. is approximately 35 feet over the regulating outlets (ROs) at Green Peter Dam. As soon as the reservoir is drawn down below minimum power pool (El. El.

887 ft.), the Green Peter powerhouse will cease operation and all water will be discharged through the ROs. The reservoir will be held at or near El. 780 ft. for approximately one month unless FRM dictates otherwise.

• In the spring, the Corps will release water from the spillway once the Green Peter Reservoir reaches El. 971 ft. Spill will be carried out continuously until May 1 or for at least 30 days, whichever is longer. At least two different spill strategies will be tested in a block study: (1) continuous (24/7) spill through a minimum gate opening of 1.5 ft. and (2) nighttime spill through a 3–4 ft gate opening one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise. Additional spill may continue throughout the summer for water temperature management. This will be adaptively managed and may change from year to year, depending on climate and hydrologic conditions.

Operations in spring 2023 are summarized in the respective Green Peter Dam implementation plan and may be modified by mutual agreement of the Corps and NMFS as warranted.

Management Purpose and Biological Goal: <Excerpt from Implementation Plans and Long-Term RM&E Plan>

• The overall goal [of the Green Peter Dam drawdown] is to establish a self-sustaining population of spring Chinook salmon upstream of Green Peter Dam. The goal of this drawdown operation measure is to provide volitional downstream passage and survival for juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead through Green Peter Reservoir and past Green Peter Dam in the fall with high passage efficiency and high immediate and long-term survival. The target fish for the fall operations would be salmon fry and subyearlings that entered the reservoir in the previous winter–spring and reared through summer in the reservoir, and subyearlings that enter the reservoir in summer and fall. The number and proportion of salmon fry that remain and rear in the reservoir will depend on the passage effectiveness of spring operations under Measure 12a.

The number and proportion of stream-reared summer and fall migrants after adult Chinook salmon are outplanted will be determined through RM&E activities under this measure (traps upstream of reservoir) and Measure 12a (traps upstream of reservoir and life history sampling in streams upstream of the reservoir.

South Santiam River Sub-basin: Foster Dam

Description of Operations for Downstream Fish Passage and Water Temperature Management (Abbreviated from Implementation Plans & Long-Term RM&E Plan):

• Starting after Labor Day weekend, Foster Reservoir will be drawn down to a forebay elevation of

620–625 ft. by October 01. From October 1–December 15 the Foster spillway will be operated from one hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise; turbine unit 1 (only) will be operated at station service to reduce/balance TDG levels created by the spill operation. Spill gates should be opened to a 1 ft. gate opening; outflow amounts will be dictated by reservoir elevation. Flows will be spread across multiple gates if necessary. During the day, the Foster turbine units will be operated from one-half hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset, with full generation. The spillway will not be used to discharge water during this time unless required for flood risk management.

• Starting 01 February maintain Foster Reservoir at minimum conservation pool (El. 613 ft.)

prioritizing spillway operation from one hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise.

During the day (one-half hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset, the Foster turbine units will be operated with full generation. The spillway will not be used to discharge water during this time unless required for flood risk management. On 15 May the Corps will begin refilling Foster Reservoir using stored water from Green Peter Reservoir and South Santiam River inflow targeting full pool of Foster Reservoir by Memorial Day Weekend. From May 16 – June 15, operations at Foster Dam will continue as described above.

• From June 16 – late July, the focus of Foster operations will transition to downstream water temperature control. The fish weir will be installed in one spillbay and operated continuously (day and night) to improve downstream water temperatures and upstream migration. Outflows from the fish weir are approximately 300 cfs.

Management Purpose and Biological Goal: <Excerpt from Implementation Plans and Long-Term RM&E

• The overall goal of the Foster operations is to establish self-sustaining populations of spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead upstream of Foster Dam. The goal of this spill operation is to provide improved downstream fish passage and survival for juvenile spring Chinook salmon and steelhead through Foster Reservoir and past Foster Dam [including operating Foster Dam in a manner that reduces reservoir holding time and increases downstream passage survival for juvenile salmonids]. A primary objective of the delayed refill operation is to provide conditions for volitional passage of juvenile Chinook (especially fry, including fry that pass Green Peter Dam) as well as winter steelhead.

• The target fish for the fall operations would be salmon fry and subyearlings that entered the reservoir in the previous winter–spring and reared through summer in the reservoir, and subyearlings that enter the reservoir in summer and fall. Juvenile winter steelhead (age 0 and age 1) are present in the reservoir and have been observed in high numbers in the forebay.

Although few steelhead were caught downstream of the dam in previous years, fall spill operations could provide passage opportunities for these fish. Passage would also be provided for juvenile salmon migrating past Green Peter Dam.

• The target fish for the spring operations would be salmon fry and subyearlings that enter the reservoir in winter–spring and juvenile salmon that reared through fall-winter in the reservoir.

Juvenile winter steelhead pass the dam in the spring as age 2 smolts. Age 1 juvenile steelhead are also present in the reservoir and may benefit from passage measures. Passage would also be provided for juvenile salmon migrating past Green Peter Dam.

Middle Fork Willamette River: Dexter Dam, Lookout Point Dam, Hills Creek Dam

Middle Fork Willamette River Sub-basin: Fall Creek Dam

(Abbreviated from Implementation Plans & Long-Term RM&E Plan):

• Extend the drawdown of Fall Creek reservoir from December 1 through January 15. Ensure that

Fall Creek Reservoir hits streambed (El. 780-785 ft.) by December 01. Hold at this elevation through January 15. On January 16, begin refill to El. 700 ft. and hold at this elevation (+/- 3 ft.)

for the spring passage operation (Injunction Number 20), except as needed to provide downstream flood damage reduction or sediment management. The Corps may need to provide flushing flows to clear the RO tailrace of sediment.

• Fall Creek Reservoir will refill from streambed level to El. 700 ft starting January 16 and will be held at that level until March 15, except as needed for flood control or sediment management.

Refill, following rule curve, will begin on March 16.

Management Purpose and Biological Goals: <Excerpt from Implementation Plans and Long-Term RM&E

• The overall goal is to establish a self-sustaining population of spring Chinook salmon upstream of Fall Creek Dam. The goal of this drawdown operation is to provide downstream fish passage and high survival for juvenile spring Chinook salmon through Fall Creek Reservoir and past Fall Creek Dam.

• The target fish for the fall operations would be salmon fry and subyearlings that migrated downstream in the previous winter–spring and reared through summer in the reservoir, and subyearlings that enter the reservoir in summer and fall (before drawdown). The number and proportion of salmon fry that remain and rear in the reservoir will depend on the passage effectiveness of spring operations under Measure 20.

• The target fish for the spring operations would be salmon fry and subyearlings that migrate downstream in late winter and spring, and yearlings that migrate downstream from winter through spring.

• [The purpose of the fall/winter measure is to] extend the opportunity for juvenile Chinook salmon to pass through the reservoir and past the dam in the late fall and early winter. The metrics of interest for biological monitoring include juvenile Chinook salmon passage timing, passage rates, and passage survival.

• The primary objective of [the spring] measure is to provide safe and timely passage for young-of-year juvenile Chinook salmon that enter Fall Creek reservoir such that they may avoid extended reservoir residence and express their natural life-history strategy. The metrics of interest include juvenile Chinook salmon passage timing with an emphasis on fry.

Middle Fork Willamette River Sub-basin: Lookout Point and Dexter Dams

(Abbreviated from Implementation Plans & Long-Term RM&E Plan):

• The Corps anticipates, beginning in 2023, to draw down the Lookout Point Reservoir to elevation

750 ft. in the winter while prioritizing use of the regulating outlets (ROs) during this time.

Drawdown likely to be initiated in late summer / early fall, using a combination of the spillway, regulating outlets and powerhouse. Once the reservoir is below minimum conservation pool, the ROs will be used exclusively to pass outflows.

• Starting as early in March as possible, and once Lookout Point Reservoir elevation reaches 2.5 feet over spillway crest (El. 890 ft.), continuous, ungated spillway releases will be implemented at Lookout Point Dam, along with continuous gated spill at Dexter Dam. Spill operations will be implemented continuously (24/7) for at least 30 days at both projects. After the 30-day continual ungated spill operation, transition to a nighttime, gated spill operation with generation during the day at Lookout Point and Dexter for as long as water is available and downstream conditions allow.

• When water temperatures as measured at the USGS gage downstream of Dexter Dam near 60°F, operate the Lookout Point ROs to reduce downstream water temperatures.

• The overall goal is to establish a self-sustaining population of spring Chinook salmon upstream of Lookout Point Dam. The goal of the [spring measure] is to provide volitional passage for juvenile salmon at Lookout Point Dam in spring with high passage efficiency, and high immediate and long-term survival. Safe, timely, and effective passage includes minimizing juvenile residence time in Lookout Point reservoir. Objectives of the spring spill are twofold: first to reduce residence time in Lookout Point Reservoir. This will subsequently reduce the risks of predation and copepod infestation by increasing migration rates through the reservoir. Second, to increase passage survival at the dams. At a larger scale, an objective of the spring spill is to increase survival of juvenile salmon below Dexter Dam.

• The target fish for the spring operations would be salmon fry, subyearlings, and stream-reared yearlings that enter the reservoir in late winter and spring; and subyearlings that entered the reservoir in the previous winter–fall and remained through the winter.

• Intent of spring operations is to provide operations that minimize reservoir rearing time and reduce turbine passage for juvenile Chinook salmon at Lookout Point and Dexter dams.

Determine if downstream fish passage conditions through Lookout Point Reservoir and at Lookout Point and Dexter dams have improved compared to previous operations as a result of implementing this operation. Compare passage of juvenile Chinook salmon under 30-day continuous spill to that under nighttime spill. RM&E should be prioritized to understand active outmigration versus reservoir use.

• General research questions are:

• What is the travel time of juvenile salmon from reservoir entry to the forebay during conditions of spring spill and how does it compare between continuous spill and nighttime spill, and to previous years with limited or no spill?

• What is the passage rate and passage survival of juvenile salmon during spring spill and how does it compare between continuous spill and nighttime spill, and to years with limited or no spill?

• The metrics of interest include migration timing into the reservoir, migration timing through the reservoir, size at passage, dam passage rates and passage survival.

Middle Fork Willamette River Sub-basin: Hills Creek Dam

(Abbreviated from Implementation Plans & Long-Term RM&E Plan):

• Once Hills Creek Reservoir is drawn down below El. 1460 ft., operate the regulating outlets daily from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This operation is expected to be implemented from approximately December 1 through March 1.

• The overall goal is to establish a self-sustaining population of spring Chinook salmon upstream of Hills Creek Dam. The goal of this drawdown operation is to provide downstream fish passage and high survival for juvenile spring Chinook salmon through Hills Creek reservoir and dam.

• The intent is to operate Hills Creek Dam in a manner that reduces reservoir holding time and increases passage survival for juvenile salmonids. The metrics of interest for biological monitoring include juvenile Chinook salmon passage timing, passage rates, and passage survival.

• Adult Chinook salmon were not outplanted upstream of Hills Creek Dam in 2021. Therefore, effectiveness of the measure cannot be fully evaluated for this cohort in winter-spring 2022 (for fry) or winter-spring 2023 (for fall migrants, spring yearling migrants, and reservoir residents).

However, juvenile salmon from previous outplants would be present and studies could be conducted in winter-spring 2023 with experimental releases.

• DEFINITIONS

Throughout this PWS terms are defined as follows:

• Acceptable Quality Level (AQL): Acceptable Quality Level equals the performance standards listed in Section 6.0. The Contractor must re-perform all unsatisfactory work unless excused by the COR.

• Columbia Basin PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS) - The Columbia Basin PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS) was implemented in 1991 to manage and serve PIT tag data collected in the

Columbia Basin. PTAGIS develops software used to collect and contribute PIT tag data; validates, stores, and makes those data available for download via the PTAGIS website (www.ptagis.org);

and operates large scale PIT tag detection sites throughout the Columbia Basin. In 2002, the scope of the PTAGIS program expanded to include resident and semi-anadromous stocks of rainbow and cutthroat trout, bull trout, lamprey, sturgeon, and other species.

• Contracting Officer (KO): The Government employee who is authorized to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings.

• Contracting Officers Representative (COR): An individual designated in accordance with subsection 201.602-2 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer to perform specific technical or administrative functions.

The COR is not authorized to make any commitments or changes that will affect price, quality, quantity, delivery, or any other term or condition of the contract.

• Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR): A written record of unsatisfactory performance by the Contractor as observed by the COR.

• Long-term RM&E Plan: Willamette Project Interim Injunction Measures Research Monitoring and Evaluation Plan developed by the US District Court assigned Expert Panel comprised of two of Plaintiffs’ experts, two NMFS biologists, two Corps employees, and two “ad hoc” Federal experts to define the implementation plans of specific measures.

• Passive Integrated Transponder Tag (PIT Tag) - Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags are electronic, implantable microchips used in biological applications and have been used to monitor the movement and behavior of anadromous salmonids in the Columbia River Basin (CRB) since 1987. PIT tags are an RFID tag typically measuring 8 to 12 mm long coded with one of 35 billion unique codes. PIT tags used in the CRB can be automatically detected and decoded in situ – eliminating the need to sacrifice, anesthetize, handle, or restrain fish after the initial tagging event. PIT Tags used herein shall be of the most recent and highest performing RFID tag model(s) currently on the market in the 8 mm size for fish <65mm or 12mm size for fish >65mm, encapsulated in biocompatible glass and provide 100% unique identification. PIT tags and detection equipment used herein shall meet Columbia Basin PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS) standards as well as be ISO 11784 and 11785 compliant (e.g., APT12 or equivalent).

• Rotary Screw Trap (Screw Trap; Trap; RST) - A rotary screw trap consists of a fish collection device having a screw blade (i.e., rotary cone) driven by water current acting thereon which, in conjunction with a porous enclosure (e.g., stainless steel mesh or screen), confines fish and/or debris for passage to a discharge site (i.e., live box). Typically, the device consists of a large frustoconical shaped cone (5 or 8 feet in diameter) which, with the screen, confines fish and/ or debris for travel to the outlet end of the screen. Adjustable means (e.g., lifting A-Frame) coupled to the screen permit lifting of the screen relative to the water surface. A receptacle (e.g., live box) into which fish and/or debris is deposited are supported by the buoyant support structure (i.e., floatation pontoons).

• Willamette Valley Project (WVP) - The Portland District operates 13 dams in the Willamette River basin (i.e., ‘Operating Projects’ or ‘Project’). Each dam contributes to a water resource management system that provides flood risk management, power generation, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation for the Willamette River and many of its tributaries. For purposes of this Contract, the WVP typically refers to the Corps’ Operating Projects in the North Santiam, South Santiam, South Fork McKenzie, and Middle Fork Willamette River sub-basins. This includes Detroit Dam (DET) and Big Cliff Dam (BCL) on the North Santiam River, Green Peter Dam (GPR) and Foster Dam (FOS) on the South Santiam River, Cougar (CGR) Dam on the South Fork McKenzie River, Fall Creek Dam (FCR) on Fall Creek

(tributary of Middle Fork Willamette River) and Dexter Dam (DEX), Lookout Point Dam (LOP), and Hills Creek Dam (HCR) on the Middle Fork Willamette River. See additional background information at: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/

• GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT (GFE)

The Government will not provide Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) for purposes of this contract.

No other Government provided equipment will be provided as part of this Contract.

• GOVERNMENT FURNISHED SERVICES (GFS)

The Government will provide the following services to the Contractor to meet the requirements of this order. No other Government provided services will be provided as part of this Contract.

The Government will provide the following GFS to support the Contractor in meeting requirements of this order. Government provided services are provided at no cost to the Contractor. All Government services are at the discretion of the Government and shall not be relied on by Contractor.

Item Description Item Condition Anticipated location at time of award

Site Access Authorization(s)

Where applicable, the Corps will gain the necessary real estate access to non-Corps properties. The Contractor shall be responsible for abiding by terms and conditions of Real Estate related agreements associated with non- Corps property.

Mobile Crane Services The Corps will not provide crane services for the purpose of this contract.

Storage Space Where available, USACE will provide outdoor storage space for Contractor equipment associated with contract performance requirements.

Green Peter Dam has a storage yard with space available for boat and equipment storage.

Fall Creek Dam has a storage yard available for boat and equipment storage. This storage yard is used by multiple projects and is therefore limited on space.

The Contractor shall be aware that storage is provided in outdoor areas that while secured with fencing, is subject to vandalism and theft for which USACE is not responsible.

• CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide all personnel including key personnel, supervision, permits, equipment, materials and other items and services necessary to perform Contract requirements as defined in this http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Locations/Willamette-Valley/

PWS, except those identified as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Government Furnished Services (GFS). The Contractor is ultimately responsible for the procurement and proper placement, inspection, and maintenance of all necessary equipment and services associated with implementation of this Contract.

Certain personnel are considered key personnel essential for successful accomplishment of the work to be performed under this contract. These positions can be held by the same person as long as all qualifications are meet for the role/s they are representing.

Project Manager (PM) Principal Investigator (PI) Statistician/Biometrician

Project Manager (PM) The PM is responsible for all aspects of the development and implementation of the contract and serves as a single point of contact of the contract. The PM is accountable for schedule, budget, and quality of all contract elements. The PM defines study scope and objectives; develops work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports; conducts project meetings and is responsible for project tracking and analysis. The PM communicates with the Corps Contract Officer (KO) and the KO’s designees, conducts periodic briefings/status updates, and escalates decisions to the KO as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications: The PM must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of experience managing biological and ecological studies involving the same type of work encompassed by this PWS.

Principal Investigator (PI) The PI provides technical oversight to develop and implement scientific studies, experiments, and evaluations in field and laboratory settings. The PI ensures objective research that generates independent, high quality, and reproducible results.

Minimum Qualifications: PI’s must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of experience conducting biological and ecological studies involving the same type of work encompassed by this PWS.

Statistician/Biometrician The Statistician/Biometrician evaluates biological observations, phenomena, and relationships using statistical analysis. The Statistician/Biometrician provide knowledge on statistical and analytical methods and experimental design. The Statistician/Biometrician manages, supervises, leads, and performs scientific work or provides professional consultation in applying statistical theory, techniques, and methods to gather, analyze, interpret, and/or report quantified information.

Minimum Qualifications: Doctoral degree in Statistics, Bio-Statistics, Biometry, Research Science, or a quantitative interdisciplinary program that encompasses one of these areas of focus coupled with a minimum of 3 years of experience conducting biological and ecological studies involving the same type of work encompassed by this PWS.

• OVERVIEW OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL TASKS

General Requirements

• The Contractor shall regularly coordinate field work with the Contracting Officer Representative

(COR) and WVP Operations staff to ensure timely communication of activities with Corps staff.

o Other entities are marking juvenile salmonids in the region with elastomer (or similar) and PIT tags including at rotary screw traps; the Contractor shall coordinate with the COR on marking strategies to avoid any conflicts.

o Rotary Screw Trap Sampling (RST) and release of PIT tagged juvenile Chinook is occurring throughout the WVP to meet court injunction RM&E requirements. Release of PIT tagged juvenile Chinook are occurring above and within Green Peter (approximately 27,000 annually). Releases of PIT tagged fish above Lookout Pt reservoir may occur however it is anticipated there will be insufficient numbers of BY23 and BY24 juvenile hatchery Chinook to do so. These fish shall be considered in designing study plans and during sampling activities. Release numbers and release timing is anticipated to be similar to efforts in 2024 (Cramer Fish Sciences, 2024).

o Approximately 500 juvenile Chinook per month are available from ODFW, via contract with the Corps, for use for capture efficiency trials in Quartzville Creek by the contractor herein. RST operators in the Middle Santiam River above Green Peter Dam typically release approximately 1,000 juvenile Chinook hatchery fish per month to conduct RST capture efficiency trials. The Middle Santiam RST TE releases can be coordinated with the Corps and RST operators. The Corps anticipates the RST operators can provide 3-5 days of notice prior to an RST TE trial, however final timing depends on multiple factors including environmental conditions and therefore cannot be guaranteed.

Juvenile Hatchery Chinook Available for use in Quartzville Creek Period Age-Class Quantity

February to March BY23 Yearling 1,000(~500 per month) April to November BY24 Fry/Sub-yearling 4,000(~500 per month)

• The Contractor is responsible for proper deployment, placement, inspection, and maintenance of all necessary equipment to deploy, anchor, and maintain all equipment associated with this Contract.

• Sampling shall be consistent with previous studies where applicable (e.g., Romer et al. 2014- 2017, Monzyk et al. 2015, Keefer et al. 2012, 2013; Kock et al. (2019a, 2019b), FPC 2012) and be conducted consistently at all sites for comparison of results across sites, sub-basins, and sample periods.

• Passive Integrated Transponder Tags (PIT Tags) - PIT Tags used herein shall be of the most recent and highest performing RFID tag model(s) currently on the market in the 8mm and 12mm size, encapsulated in biocompatible glass and provide 100% unique identification. PIT tags and detection equipment used herein shall meet Columbia Basin PIT Tag Information System (PTAGIS) standards as well as be ISO 11784 and 11785 compliant (e.g., APT12 or equivalent).

Sourcing of PIT tags for each Task, and pre-loading of injection needles and trays if desired, is the responsibility of the Contractor.

• The Contractor shall submit detailed information for deployment of equipment for use under this Contract including anchoring details as part of work plan submittals (Task 1). Deployment and anchoring hardware shall not be drilled into Corps permanent structures (i.e., concrete, dam appurtenant); use of alternate anchoring hardware is required.

• The Contractor is responsible for regularly evaluating conditions and making adjustments to equipment, supplies and materials used as part of this Contract, as warranted to meet Contract requirements.

• The Contractor is responsible for any boats, boating services, and deployment/retrieval of boats needed for proper placement, inspection, and maintenance of equipment necessary to perform requirements under this Contract.

• Field sites are in areas that may be difficult to reach during the winter months due to winter weather conditions including snow and ice. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to have the equipment necessary for reaching field sites (e.g., snowplow, snowmobiles, atv/utv with snow tracks) as required to meet Contract requirements as some access roads are not maintained during the winter.

o Middle Santiam River above Green Peter Dam - For the ‘haul road’ on the south side of Green Peter Dam, this road is privately owned with a federal easement for use herein.

The Contractor is allowed to use an SUV and/or pickup truck type vehicles with chains for access; however, a plow and/or ATV/UTV type equipment cannot be used by the Contractor.

• The Lookout Point and Green Peter reservoir areas may be difficult to reach during the deep draw down periods once the reservoirs are drafted below the existing boat ramps. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to have the equipment necessary for reaching field sites as required to meet Contract requirements.

• The contractor is responsible for physical access to the work site(s). The Contractor shall carry a CB radio in all vehicles for communication with local road users. In particular, there is active logging activities occurring in the Middle Santiam sub-basin and the use of CB radios is required for communication with local log trucks when accessing the head of Green Peter Reservoir area on the Middle Santiam River arm.

• There are other monitoring projects occurring in multiple locations and the Contractor shall not interfere with those efforts as part of this Contract. The Corps shall provide a list of monitoring projects and deployed equipment for those projects to the Contractor at the beginning of each monitoring period, if requested.

• Western Pond turtles are known to be present in Lookout Pt reservoir and may be present in Green Peter Reservoir. The Contractor shall take special care to avoid and minimize harm to any turtles captured during the course of sampling activities. Corps and USGS may be conducting sampling activities for turtles during the study period herein and the Contractor shall coordinate sampling activities.

• If Bull trout are captured, the specimen shall be measured, scanned for PIT tag (may be half duplex tags), and evaluated in accordance with standard sampling metrics and permit requirements. The COR and ODFW shall be notified of capture and provided for transport by Corps/ODFW if requested in a timely manner by the COR. Bull trout are typically observed in the vicinity of Hills Creek and Cougar dams.

• If lamprey (adults, juveniles, or larvae) are captured, the specimen shall be scanned for PIT tags (potentially half duplex) and evaluated in accordance with standard sampling metrics including measurement of total length (mm), life-stage (eyed = adult or juvenile; no eye = larvae), and lamprey genus (ENTOSPHENUS = Pacific Lamprey; LAMPETRA = Western Brook Lamprey/Western River Lamprey). A fin clip for DNA analysis shall be collected consistent with Scale and Tissue sample (see below) and provided to the COR who will transfer to CRITFC, up to a total of 200 samples per year.

• PIT Tagging and Elastomer (VIE) Marking o Reservoir Sampling - Juvenile salmonids <45 mm shall be marked with elastomer tags, up to 1,000 per week per sub-basin, using different colors and/or body locations to delineate sampling/marking location within the reservoir and by sample month. Tag color and/or body location shall be distinct from those used for bulk marking, rotary screw trap sampling, and other studies throughout the WVP in order to distinctly mark and track sample groups. Fry <45mm captured in Quartzville Creek and Middle Santiam River shall be marked as necessary to meet overall contract and study plan requirements associated with estimating relative abundance and passage timing.

o Juvenile chinook salmon and O. mykiss ≥45 mm shall be PIT tagged with associated data biological and environmental data collected on fish length, date, location, etc.

PIT tagging efforts, data collection, and upload to PTAGIS shall comply with PTAGIS standards as specified throughout this contract. PIT tag data shall be uploaded to PTAGIS on a weekly basis at minimum.

o All salmonids shall be scanned for the presence of PIT tags and coded wire tags (CWT). All associated data shall be recorded if detected (e.g., location including upstream/downstream of dam, date, time, species, size). PIT tag data shall be uploaded to PTAGIS at minimum weekly, in accordance with standard PTAGIS reporting requirements, and reported to the Corps in accordance with reporting requirements specified throughout this contract.

o Standard biological metrics shall be recorded for all PIT tagged and elastomer marked fish.

o Other entities are marking juvenile salmonids in the region with elastomer (or similar) tags including at rotary screw traps; the Contractor shall coordinate with the COR on marking strategies to avoid any conflicts.

• Scale and Tissue Samples o The Contractor shall collect tissue and scale samples from all juvenile Chinook at all sites, and O. mykiss in the Santiam River sub-basins. Samples will be collected and catalogued to provide a brood year reference collection for evaluating productivity of out planted adult fish as part of a future pedigree analysis and for identifying stream-reared yearlings in returning adult salmon.

o Fin clips for DNA samples shall be taken on juvenile Chinook salmon and O. mykiss ≥45mm and scale samples shall be taken on all juvenile Chinook salmon and O. mykiss ≥50mm in length.

o If necessary to sub-sample, a representative sample of juvenile Chinook shall be sampled from up to 100 juvenile Chinook per day and at no less than ten percent of daily catch. Samples will be collected from juvenile fish across the migration period.

Samples will be catalogued along with appropriate data such as date, size of fish, and location. See Banks et al., 2012 and Banks et al., 2014.

o A small sample of caudal fin tissue shall be non-lethally collected and preserved in a labeled vial with 95% ethanol with standard sampling metrics recorded for all samples including date of collection, species, age class, length measurements, and presence or absence of any marks including an adipose fin (Banks et al., 2011, Banks et al., 2014).

o Consistent with established biological sampling methods in the basin, scales shall be periodically collected and analyzed by the Contractor herein to verify the age class determinations of captured fish, with selective sampling at sizes where age classes may overlap. This is to be consistent with historical sampling methods (e.g., EAS 2023/2024, Romer et al.) and annual reporting requirements herein to verify age class assignments (fry, parr, subyearling, yearling).

o All tissue and scale samples, including a hardcopy of sample information, shall be turned over to the Corps Willamette Valley Operations (WVP) staff for long term storage. An electronic copy of sample records shall be concurrently provided to the COR and WVP staff for concurrent record keeping purposes.

Quartzville Creek and Middle Santiam River – Juvenile Chinook Sampling Requirements

BLM, as the landowner above Green Peter Reservoir, manages Quartzville Creek in accordance with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Quartzville Creek was designated as a recreational river under the Omnibus Oregon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1988, and BLM is therefore mandated with the protection and enhancement of the recreational use and scenic values within the Quartzville Creek corridor. As such, all activities must be carefully designed to not impede recreation (e.g., kayakers and other river users) and be visually harmonious with the area. As a result, the BLM will not permit the Corps to deploy a rotary screw trap (RST) in Quartzville Creek. Therefore, the Corps is proposing to conduct sampling measures herein as an alternative to RST sampling in Quartzville Creek and additional sampling measures in the Middle Santiam River to compare with RST sampling results.

The Contractor shall conduct sampling in Quartzville Creek and in the Middle Santiam River above Green Peter reservoir to (1) determine size and age class of juvenile Chinook salmon (fry, subyearlings, yearlings) exiting the respective tributary and entering Green Peter Reservoir, (2) estimate relative abundance (i.,e., estimated numbers by age class exiting the respective tributary and entering Green Peter Reservoir), and

(3) document passage timing of outmigrating juvenile Chinook from the tributaries to Green Peter Reservoir. Sampling efforts and reporting shall be implemented to inform these objectives, along with downstream passage estimates passing Green Peter Dam, at weekly, seasonal, and annual timescales and subsequently reported at these scales to the extent data supports.

The Contractor shall anticipate permission from BLM to conduct sampling activities in Quartzville Creek Monday through Thursday, utilizing temporary, non-permanent sampling methods suitable to Quartzville Creek for purposes of the above objectives to ensure consistency with the Quartzville Creek Wild and Scenic River designation (e.g., snorkeling, seining, electrofishing). The Contractor will not be permitted to place equipment or materials that act as, or appear as, structures or physical barriers in Quartzville Creek (e.g., RSTs, fyke nets and minnow traps cannot be used as they would impede recreational use and scenic values). Temporary nets can be used by the Contractor as long as personnel are present at all times during deployment. Public use of the river supersedes sampling activities herein. Quartzville Creek sampling shall occur primarily Monday through Thursday to minimize potential conflicts with other river users, however the Contractor may sample Friday to Sunday if necessary and does not conflict with other river users.

The Contractor will be limited to conducting sampling activities on Corps and BLM property only (Figure 1). Of note, the permitted sample area on Middle Santiam River is limited to one small river reach downstream of the USGS gaging station that is on Corps and BLM property.

To fulfill objective, the Contractor shall:

• Conduct sampling efforts from late January through November on a weekly scale sufficient to address study objectives including estimation of juvenile Chinook salmon abundance and outmigration timing while accounting for potential sampling bias relative to factors such as size of fish.

• Establish 3-5 sample regions (i.e., areas over a range of hydraulic features such as pools, riffles, glides, rapids that provide varying fish habitat) in Quartzville Creek near the confluence with

Green Peter Reservoir for conducting electrofishing for purposes of meeting sampling objectives (i.e., ~1-2 days per week are anticipated depending on final methods). The study/work plan shall identify the analytical approach including sample sites (pools, riffles, glide sections) and methods (e.g., random, stratified, spatially balanced sampling methods) ensuring they are representative of the overall sample area.

o Sampling activities shall be performed by experienced staff familiar with NMFS backpack electrofishing requirements (NMFS 2000). For purposes of this study, NMFS will permit electrofish sampling in water temperatures up to 20° C.

o The outplanting of adult Chinook and spawning occur upstream of the anticipated sampling area (e.g., Cramer Fish Sciences 2023), however special care will need to be taken to avoid the sampling of adult Chinook salmon that may move downstream from outplanting areas.

• Establish 3-5 sample regions (i.e., areas over a range of hydraulic features such as pools, riffles, glides, rapids that provide varying fish habitat) in Quartzville Creek near the confluence with Green Peter Reservoir to sample by seining for purposes of meeting sampling objectives (e.g., beach or pole seining). The study/work plan shall identify the analytical approach including sample sites (pools, riffles, glide sections) and methods (e.g., random, stratified, spatially balanced sampling methods) ensuring they are representative of the overall sample area.

o It is recognized that seining in Quartzville Creek will be challenging due to the substrate, bathymetry, hydraulics, and flows. This effort is intended, in part, to determine feasibility of implementing this type of sampling measure in this reach. Reporting shall document evaluation of methods employed for refinement in future studies.

• Employ similar measures in the Middle Santiam River at 1-2 sample regions at least once per week for comparison to Quartzville Creek, Middle Santiam RST sampling results, and adult outplanting efforts. Access is restricted to Corps and BLM properties on the Middle Santiam River and downstream of the RST (Figure 2).

• Snorkel surveys shall be conducted in conjunction with other methods as necessary to implement study methods and inform study objectives.

• The Contractor is limited to conducting sampling activities on Corps and BLM property only (Figure 2). Of note, the permitted sample area on Middle Santiam is limited to small river reach downstream of the USGS gaging station that is Corps and BLM property. The upstream extent of BLM and Corps property on the Middle Santiam River ends just downstream of the USGS gaging station.

o An RST is expected to continue sampling on the Middle Santiam River on BLM property, just downstream of the USGS gaging station (Figure 2, Figure 3). The sampling herein shall not conflict with the continued operation and sampling of this RST (i.e., sampling shall occur sufficiently downstream of the RST as to not bias RST sampling efforts).

• Sampling shall include collection of standard biological and environmental metrics for all captured juvenile salmon. This includes, at minimum, enumeration of species caught, length, fish condition, weight, copepod infestation, sample location and date.

• Sampling shall include enumeration, measurement, and condition assessments for any fish caught with a batch mark (VIE/Elastomer marks, PIT tags, CWT, blank wire tags, etc.), noting date and location for reporting to the respective entity conducting the marking activity.

• Fish ≥45 mm shall be PIT tagged with associated data biological and environmental data collected on fish length, date, location, etc. PIT tagging efforts, data collection, and upload to PTAGIS shall comply with PTAGIS standards as specified throughout this contract. PIT tag data shall be uploaded to PTAGIS on a weekly basis at minimum.

• The Contractor shall collect tissue and scale samples from all juvenile Chinook and O. mykiss as prescribed under the general requirements section.

• For reference, outplanting of adult Chinook in Quartzville Creek began in 2022 with release of

200 adult Chinook along with 600 adult Chinook in the Middle Santiam. These outplanting efforts have continued to occur annually. Spawning surveys have been conducted since 2022 and continue to be done so independently of this contract (e.g., Cramer Fish Sciences 2023).

• For reference, USGS plans to conduct snorkel surveys during 2025. The level of effort is yet to be determined but anticipated to be up to 1-2 times per month. The COR will coordinate sharing of preliminary observations and results between USGS and the Contractor herein for study coordination purposes.

• Reporting shall inform the objectives identified herein and include reporting of size and age class of juvenile Chinook salmon, relative abundance, and passage timing of outmigrating juvenile Chinook. These passage metrics shall be calculated and reported at the weekly, seasonal, and annual timescales and subsequently reported at these scales to the extent data supports.

Results shall be compared with rotary screw trap results for relative comparison of the different sampling methods and evaluation of results.

o Historical reports are available from ODFW (e.g., Romer et al 2012) and USACE (e.g., EAS 2024). The COR will coordinate data sharing between this contractor and the RST contractor(s) during the 2025 season.

Figure 2 – Map of property ownership above Green Peter Dam and reservoir.

Figure 3 – Rotary screw trap sampling location on BLM property above Green Peter Reservoir on the Middle Santiam River on North Bank Road, Mile Post 14.5 (MS-1)

Reservoir Distribution Study Sampling General Requirements

Sampling, data analysis and reporting by the Contractor shall include, in addition to other Contract requirements herein, at minimum:

• The Contactor shall characterize life history characteristics of juvenile salmon utilizing the reservoir environment, including nearshore juvenile salmonid distribution within Green Peter and Lookout Pt reservoirs. Longitudinal distribution of Chinook shall be calculated using methods such as those of Monzyk et al. (2015 and other reports), Kock et al. (2019a, 2019b), and Cramer Fish Sciences (2024).

• An abundance index of juvenile salmon within longitudinal reservoir zones shall be estimated (methods need to account for open population with fish entering and exiting the reservoir during certain times of year).

• Distribution and movement of juvenile salmon, relative growth of juvenile salmon, copepod infestation, and species composition and predation (including relative abundance of predators).

• Reservoir sampling shall occur on a weekly basis during the 01 Feb to 30 November time period.

• Each study site and sampling period shall be designed to detect differences in juvenile salmon behavior relative to operational measures. Sampling shall follow the timing and location of previous studies (where applicable) (Monzyk et al. (2015 and other reports), Kock et al.

2019a/b, Cramer Fish Sciences 2024) to provide a basis for comparing fry, subyearling, and yearling…