Middle Entiat Gray Project | BOR PN 18 N0016

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Middle Entiat Gray Project (BOR PN 18 N0016)

1) What is the Middle Entiat Gray Project?

The Middle Entiat Gray Project is a Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) discretionary grant opportunity focused on habitat restoration in the Entiat River. It targets restoration work across a roughly 4.5-mile river reach that has been under planning and development since 2014.

2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The core purpose is to improve spawning and rearing habitat for species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The work is intended to produce measurable ecological benefits for listed fish populations and the river conditions those species depend on.

3) Which river and what general location does the project address?

The project is focused on the Entiat River, specifically a roughly 4.5-mile reach referred to in the opportunity description.

4) When did planning for this restoration effort begin?

Planning and development for the restoration reach began in 2014, when Reclamation convened a technical team to develop restoration concepts for implementation.

5) How did the project move from planning concepts to implementation?

After the technical team developed restoration concepts in 2014, Reclamation competitively awarded cooperative agreements to project sponsors later that same year. Those agreements supported moving concepts into delivery activities such as landowner negotiations, state and local permitting, and contracting for construction.

6) How is the project footprint organized?

The restoration footprint is organized into multiple implementation segments labeled Project Areas A through F. This structure reflects a phased and/or geographically separated approach to completing restoration actions.

7) Who is the sponsor named under this specific grant agreement?

Under this specific grant agreement, the Cascadia Conservation District (CCD) is the named sponsor.

8) Which project areas is CCD responsible for advancing under this agreement?

CCD is responsible for advancing work in Project Areas E and F under this agreement.

9) What activities are included in the funded scope of work?

The funded scope includes construction of habitat improvement actions, along with monitoring and adaptive management. This means the sponsor is expected to build restoration features and track performance over time, adjusting methods if conditions change or if objectives are not being met.

10) What does "monitoring and adaptive management" mean in this context?

Based on the opportunity description, monitoring and adaptive management means the project includes performance tracking after construction and the ability to modify or refine restoration methods if results are not meeting objectives or if on-the-ground conditions change.

11) Is the work limited to in-channel habitat construction?

No. In addition to construction work in Project Areas E and F, CCD is also responsible for irrigation and vegetation management work in several project areas. This indicates the project also addresses adjacent land and riparian conditions that affect habitat quality.

12) Which project areas include irrigation and vegetation management responsibilities for CCD?

CCD is responsible for irrigation and vegetation management in Project Area A (limited to parcels owned by the Chelan Douglas Land Trust), as well as Project Areas C, E, and F.

13) What limitation applies to Project Area A?

For Project Area A, CCD's irrigation and vegetation management responsibility is limited to parcels owned by the Chelan Douglas Land Trust.

14) Why does the opportunity include irrigation and vegetation management?

The description indicates these activities relate to managing riparian and adjacent land conditions that influence stream temperature, bank stability, sediment, and overall habitat quality, all of which can affect spawning and rearing habitat.

15) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

16) What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

17) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity description notes that a cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement and coordination during implementation, rather than a hands-off pass-through grant.

18) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Natural Resources.

19) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.517.

20) Who is eligible to apply based on the listing?

Eligibility is limited to special district governments.

21) How does the stated eligibility relate to the named sponsor?

The listing aligns eligibility with special district governments, and the award arrangement described includes a conservation district partner (CCD) as the named sponsor.

22) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is BOR PN 18 N0016.

23) What are the key dates shown for this opportunity?

The posting (creation) date is September 17, 2018, and the original closing date is October 1, 2018.

24) What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $2,363,806, which is described as the maximum anticipated federal amount available under this specific award listing.

25) Does the description indicate the work is aimed at ESA-protected species?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly states the purpose is to improve spawning and rearing habitat for species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).