The Freshwater Trust

DESCRIPTION:THE FRESHWATER TRUST (TFT) WILL IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT IRRIGATION UPGRADES ON AGRICULTURAL FIELDS THAT REDUCE THE SEDIMENT#8208;ASSOCIATED INORGANIC MERCURY AND PHOSPHORUS RUNOFF THAT FUEL DANGEROUS METHYLMERCURY PRODUCTION IN THE SNAKE RIVER. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE HEALTHIER RIVER SYSTEMS AND A REDUCTION OF IMPACTS OF TOXICS ON FISH AND WILDLIFE. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE FUNDED UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT. ACTIVITIES:TFT WILL DEVELOP A FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND DEPLOY AN OPERATIONAL SUBAWARD SYSTEM THAT IDENTIFIES HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS TO MAXIMIZE MERCURY REDUCTIONS. A COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF KEY FUNDERS AND IMPLEMENTERS WILL USE ANALYTICS TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY PROJECTS, WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL AND IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS, AND USE EXISTING CREDIBLE AND TRANSPARENT SYSTEMS TO ACCOUNT FOR, TRACK AND REPORT OVERALL MERCURY REDUCTION RESULTS.SUBRECIPIENT:THIS PROJECT WILL LAUNCH, GROW, AND ADAPTIVELY MANAGE SUBAWARDS UNDER AN OUTCOMES-BASED FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. TFT ANTICIPATES FUNDING 22+ PRIORITY SUBAWARD PROJECTS DESIGNED TO REDUCE MERCURY FROM ENTERING THE MID-SNAKE RIVER. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, TFT WILL MAXIMIZE PROJECT INVESTMENT INTO COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES BY THE EPA EJ SCREEN OR CJEST TOOLS, OR AS IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PRIORITY NITRATE AREAS.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED PROJECT OUTPUTS INCLUDE ASSEMBLING A COORDINATING COMMITTEE, AND DESIGNING AN SUBAWARD SYSTEM AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THIS WORK INCLUDE A MINIMUM OF 2.7M POUNDS OF MERCURY-LADEN SEDIMENT PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE MID-SNAKE, WITH AN ASSOCIATED REDUCTION IN PHOSPHORUS LOAD. THE ANTICIPATED BENEFICIARIES ARE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE MID-SNAKE RIVER AND COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN.

R18AC00056

ROGUE RIVER BASIN INSTREAM HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM

2014-2019 RIPARIAN & LWM IMPLEMENTATION & STEWARDSHIP WITHIN THE ROGUE RIVER BASIN

INSTREAM HABITAT RESTORATION IN BEAR CREEK (BCAO) PROJECTS 5 & 6

PROJECT ABSTRACT TEMPLATEAWARD PURPOSE: THIS AGREEMENT WILL CONTINUE THE PROJECTS FOR THE ROGUE RIVER HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM: CONSOLIDATED PROJECT COMPLETION, MONITORING & STEWARDSHIP.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THIS AWARD INCLUDE:INSTREAM HABITAT/LWM PROJECTS VISUALLY ASSESS PROJECT PERFORMANCE AT LWM PROJECT SITES 2 TO 3 TIMES PER YEAR. SITE VISITS WILL OCCUR DURING OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING GREATER-THAN-BANK FULL EVENTS TO ASSESS CHANGES IN STRUCTURE PERFORMANCE OR RISK. PROJECT SITES WILL ALSO BE VISITED ANNUALLY DURING THE BIOLOGICAL OPINION (BIOP) PRESCRIBED DISCHARGE PERIOD USED TO MEASURE AND CALCULATE HABITAT UPLIFT.EVALUATION, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS (E.G., MODIFICATION OF LWM STRUCTURES) TO ENSURE PROJECTS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INTENDED HABITAT BENEFITS.PROVIDE AN ANNUAL SITE REPORT TO DETAIL SITE PERFORMANCE, MONITORING RESULTS (INCLUDING REPEAT PHOTO POINTS), AND RESPONSIVE STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN.RIPARIAN ZONE ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS VISUALLY ASSESS PROJECT PERFORMANCE AT RIPARIAN SITES TWICE PER YEAR. SURVEYORS WILL WALK THE ENTIRE SITE AND RECORD INFORMATION INTENDED TO PROVIDE A GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER THE PROJECT IS ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE QUANTITATIVE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES TO ATTAINING THOSE STANDARDS (E.G., HEALTH OF NATIVE SPECIES, COMPETITION FROM INVASIVE SPECIES, BROWSE AND WILDLIFE USE, SOILS AND EROSION, INSECTS AND DISEASE, OTHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING FIRE). THESE SITE VISITS COULD ALSO DAYLIGHT REQUESTS FROM LANDOWNERS AND RECOMMENDED STEWARDSHIP INTERVENTIONS. EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS (E.G., WEED TREATMENT, PLANT PROTECTION/REPLACEMENT) TO ENSURE PROJECTS REMAIN ON TRAJECTORY TO ACHIEVE IDENTIFIED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.PROVIDE AN ANNUAL SITE REPORT TO DETAIL SITE PERFORMANCE, MONITORING RESULTS (INCLUDING REPEAT PHOTO POINTS), AND RESPONSIVE STEWARDSHIP ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN.EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES: THE RECIPIENT HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING RECLAMATION MEET THE ROGUE BIOP HABITAT REQUIREMENTS THROUGH PREVIOUS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. TFT IDENTIFIED, EVALUATED FEASIBILITY, PRIORITIZED POTENTIAL HABITAT PROJECT SITES IN THE BASIN, AND DILIGENTLY WORKED WITH LANDOWNERS TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS THE PROJECT SITE FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, MAINTENANCE, AND MONITORING. THE ACTIVITIES LISTED ABOVE WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS BELOW WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND MUST BE MONITORED AND MAINTAINED AS LATE AS THE END OF 2026:INSTREAM HABITAT/LWM PROJECTS SOUTH FORK LITTLE BUTTE CREEK RIVER MILE (RM) 1.3SOUTH FORK LITTLE BUTTE CREEK RM 1.92SOUTH FORK LITTLE BUTTE CREEK RM 2.2SOUTH FORK LITTLE BUTTE CREEK RM 3.32BEAR CREEK RM 24.7BEAR CREEK RM 25.5BEAR CREEK RM 25.3NEIL CREEK RM 0.1NEIL CREEK RM 2.0NEIL CREEK RM 2.97NEIL CREEK RM 3.04EMIGRANT CREEK RM 1.5RIPARIAN ZONE ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS LONE PINE RM 0.5NEIL CREEK RM 2.0WAGNER CREEK RM 0.25INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT LANDOWNERS, STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THE HABITAT PROJECT, THE PUBLIC, INSTREAM HABITAT PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LAND IN THE ROGUE BASIN.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT TIME OF AWARD): NONE

UPPER SANDY RIVER BASIN SALMON AND STEELHEAD HABITAT RESTORATION

DESCRIPTION:THE FRESHWATER TRUST (TFT) WILL USE THIS FUNDING TO EXPAND A HIGH RESOLUTION, WATERSHED LEVEL MERCURY MONITORING NETWORK IN THE WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN TO CHARACTERIZE SPATIOTEMPORAL TRENDS IN MERCURY LEVELS AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS IN FOUR FOCAL WATERSHEDS ACROSS THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN. ACTIVITIES:TFT WILL ITERATIVELY TRAIN AND APPLY A NATIONAL SCALE PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR MERCURY IN DRAGONFLIES TO ESTIMATE MERCURY RISK IN FOUR MAJOR COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARY WATERSHEDS. THEY WILL GROUND TRUTH THESE PREDICTIONS WITH TARGETED FINE RESOLUTION MONITORING TO CHARACTERIZE SPATIOTEMPORAL TRENDS ACROSS REPRESENTATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. THE PROJECT COMPRISES FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES: ENGAGE NEW COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND OUR PARTICIPATORY DRAGONFLY MERCURY MONITORING PROGRAM TO COVER FOUR FOCAL WATERSHEDS; FINE-TUNE A NATIONAL-SCALE PREDICTIVE MODEL OF DRAGONFLY MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS TO ESTIMATE SITE-SPECIFIC RISK THROUGHOUT THE BASIN; CLARIFY SOURCE ATTRIBUTION FOR DOMINANT MERCURY SOURCE-TO-SITE PATHWAYS USING STABLE ISOTOPE TECHNIQUES; AND TEST THE IMPACT OF SPECIFIC LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS ON MERCURY LEVELS.SUBRECIPIENT:THE FRESHWATER TRUST WILL PARTNER WITH AND ADMINISTER SUBAWARDS TO OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU) AND THE U.S. GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEY (USGS). WITH SUPPORT FROM OSU'S OFFICE FOR SPONSORED RESEARCH AND AWARD ADMINISTRATION, TFT WILL OVERSEE SPENDING AND PERFORMANCE. OSU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR: LEADING STUDY DESIGN AND SITE SELECTION; COMPLETING ALL FIELDWORK; HOSTING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EVENTS; LEADING ITERATIVE MODEL TRAINING, TESTING, AND PREDICTION; ANALYZING STABLE MERCURY ISOTOPE AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE EFFECTIVENESS DATASETS; AND PREPARING AND DISSEMINATING ALL DELIVERABLES. USGS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR: PROCESSING AND ANALYZING ALL TISSUE SAMPLES FOR MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS AND STABLE MERCURY ISOTOPE RATIOS; CONDUCTING QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEWS; HOUSING ALL PROJECT DATA IN ITS ACTIVELY MANAGED DATABASE; PARTICIPATING IN MODELING; AND COMMUNICATING PROJECT FINDINGS TO A BROADER AUDIENCE. OUTCOMES:OUTPUTS INCLUDE 240 SITES SAMPLED FOR MERCURY, 3,600 DRAGONFLIES ANALYZED, 50 FISH TISSUE SAMPLES ANALYZED, 240 WATER SAMPLING ANALYZED, THREE BASIN-WIDE MAPS DEVELOPED, A BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FACTSHEET DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED, 1,000 COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS ENGAGED, AND SUMMARY REPORTS CREATED FOR TRIBES AND ANGLERS. THE PRIMARY OUTCOME FOR THIS PROJECT IS THE RIGOROUS ESTIMATE OF MERCURY TRENDS AND SOURCE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WILL EMPOWER SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT FOR MINIMIZING MERCURY RISK.

BASINSCOUT ANALYTICS TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC NRCS CONSERVATION INVESTMENTS IN OREGON.

INSTREAM HABITAT RESTORATION IN BEAR CREEK ABOVE ASHLAND OREGON PROJECTS 1 AND 4

PLAN, DESIGN, AND BASELINE MONITORING OF HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE ROGUE RIVER BASIN, NON-CONSTRUCTION

TO OBTAIN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP AN INVENTORY OF HIGH-RANKING, CLIMATE SMART ELIGIBLE, AND FUNDING-READY IRRIGATION UPGRADE PROJECTS.

SALMON RIVER AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION

THE TFT WILL DEVELOP A TRANSFERABLE SCENARIO-PLANNING METHODLOGY TO PRIORITIZE AND OPTIMIZE NRCS PRACTICES FOR GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY TO SUPPORT IMPROVED IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT.

MIDDLE FORK JOHN DAY RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT (GR-MALO9-007)

THE FRESHWATER TRUST TFT IS PROPOSING THE COSUMNES FOCAL RAPTOR RIPARIAN HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY OF BLM SENSITIVE RAPTOR SPECIES IN THE COSUMNES WATERSHED RESTORATION LANDSCAPE. TFT PROPOSES TO WORK WITH THE COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP AND THE HARVEST WATER PROGRAM HWP TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY PARCELS WITHIN THE COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE CRP AND ADJACENT TO THE HWP ECOPLAN BENEFIT AREA SUITABLE FOR TARGETED RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENT TO SUPPORT RAPTOR NESTING AND FORAGING HABITAT, AND TO WORK WITH ITS MIDDLE WATERSHED PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL PRIORITY PARCELS UPSTREAM. TFT PROPOSES TO LEAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENHANCEMENTS THAT IMPROVE RAPTOR HABITAT CONNECTIVITY NESTING AND FORAGING, AND RIPARIAN HABITAT CONNECTIVITY FOR ADDITIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES AND OTHER WILDLIFE. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF FOUR PHASES.

BLODGETT DAM FISH PASSAGE IMPROVEMENT

SALMON RIVER AQUATIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT

LARGE WOODY MATERIAL AND FLOW AUGMENTATION FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

ROGUE RIVER BASIN RESTORATION IMPLEMENTATION

ROGUE RIVER BASIN HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM, RIPARIAN STEWARDSHIP

HEALTHY WATERS INSTITUTE - PROGRAM DELIVERY EXPANSION

SALMON RIVER RESTORATION, HW-09-133

FISH, WILDLIFE, & PLANT CONSV. RES. MGMT, 2008

RUDIO CREEK RANCH HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT (GR-MAL11-168)

OR/WA UPPER SANDY RIVER BASIN RESTORATION

USDA’S OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS WILL PARTNER WITH THE FRESHWATER TRUST (TFT) TO ENGAGE IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, AGRICULTURAL, AND MUNICIPAL WATER USERS IN THE REGION IN A SERIES OF DIALOGUES AIMED AT DESIGNING AN OPTIMIZED WATER DELIVERY AND ON-FARM IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION EFFORT. THE PROJECT AIMS TO JUMPSTART A COORDINATED, EFFICIENT WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT EFFORT THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITS AGRICULTURAL WATER USERS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

MIDDLE FORK JOHN DAY CHANNEL RELOCATION AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION PROJECT

WATERS CREEK RM 0.7 HABITAT PROJECT

THE PROJECT IS TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLAN THAT SERVES AS A CROSS-CURRICULAR INCLUSIVE FRAM