SOLICITATION NOTICE
10 -- Lower Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration General Investigation Feasibility Study and Regional Sediment Management
- Notice Date
- 8/23/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Engineer District, Portland, Portland District, US Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division (CENWP-CT_, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946
- ZIP Code
- 97208-2946
- Solicitation Number
- W9127N08Q0102
- Response Due
- 9/22/2008
- Archive Date
- 11/21/2008
- Point of Contact
- Kathleen Seitz, 503/808-4628<br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Introduction: The Columbia River basin has experienced considerable changes in water resource needs and uses. In addition, significant environmental degradation has occurred within the lower Columbia River and estuarine system. Modification of the system by human activities has led to a marked change in the hydrologic regime, caused pollution and substantial losses of in stream, riparian and wetland habitats, and a concomitant reduction in fish and wildlife resources. To date, thirteen salmonid species from this region have been listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Such listings have broad implications to existing water resource uses, and future developments. Historic losses of 52,000 acres of wetland/marsh habitats, 13,800 acres of riparian forest habitat, and 27,000 acres of forested wetland habitat downstream of Portland have significantly impacted this ecosystems ability to produce and sustain fish and wildlife resources. Much of this wetland loss can be attributed to the 84,000 acres encompassed by diking districts and the 20,000-acre increase in urban development along the lower Columbia River. Additionally, habitat forming processes have been substantially altered due to upstream impoundments caused by the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) and downstream pile structures associated with navigation channel maintenance. The science of ecological restoration has defined five strategies that provide guidance for restoration projects (conservation, creation, enhancement, restoration, and protection). Site specific characteristics and restoration project goals may require more than one strategy be used to accomplish the restoration goal. Additionally, multiple strategies may be employed at a site to maximize the benefits to the ecosystem. To date, the use of creation as a form of ecosystem restoration has not been thoroughly evaluated within the Columbia River Basin. Given the paucity of available sites available for ecosystem restoration from more traditional methods and the emphasis on habitat needs for recovery of ESA listed salmonids we feel it prudent to evaluate all tools available to the regional efforts. Additionally, regional efforts are evaluating the role of large wood within the estuarine ecosystem as it pertains to salmon recovery. These evaluations are intended to ascertain the potential benefits of piling and pile dike removal to increase salmonid survival in the lower river and estuary. However, the potential is also there that some modification to piles could add to the ecosystem complexity and be beneficial to salmon and other aquatic animals. The Portland District has a series of feasibility studies to evaluate the steps necessary to evaluate these concepts and this will be an additional goal as it relates to ongoing efforts and larger regional sediment management needs. The larger regional sediment management theme will incorporate both ecosystem restoration through habitat creation and piling evaluations into one comprehensive evaluation. LCRGI Project Contract Goal: The goal of this LCRGI contract is to assess the feasibility of ecosystem restoration utilizing the restoration strategy of habitat creation. Within this context the use of creation as a strategy for ecosystem restoration will be evaluated as a stand along option or as a part of a larger regionally coordinated ecosystem restoration ESA recovery effort. LCRGI Project Contract Objectives: 1. Evaluate and characterize the physical and biological conditions for a set of tidal wetlands that exist on islands that were formed from dredged materials. This evaluation will need to take into account the timeline of island creation and habitat formation. Evaluate a set of dredge material islands that were intended to be wetland habitat and have not shown promise as a means to learn from past experiences.2. Assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District in developing a regional technical work group to that will provide on project tasks. This team will need to provide planning and policy input as well as technical guidance. 3. Assist with the development of potential site location guidelines based on the principles of experimental design and scientific literature related to tidal habitat creation. Input from others in the field will also be warranted. 4. Work with the Corps Portland District Product Development Team to evaluate support from stakeholders and build interest for more regional collaboration and cooperation of wetland habitat creation as part of the Lower Columbia River Ecosystem Restoration General Investigation Study. LCRGI Project Contract Tasks: 1. Inventory existing dredge material tidal wetland habitats in the lower Columbia River. Contractor will review historical T-Sheets and GIS Ortho layers in all reaches of the lower Columbia River to identify wetland tidal habitats that have likely formed in dredged materials. Contractor will also evaluate at least one island that was intended to be tidal wetland habitat but has yet to form for a lessons learned perspective. Potential project sites will be examined further using the Portland Districts Engineering Photo Archive to establish evolutionary history from the 1920s to present day. The inventory will form the basis for future field investigations to verify dredged material played in the formation or intertidal wetlands. Contractor will work with Corps engineers to evaluate how/why these islands have converted into tidal wetland habitats (physical and biological forming factors). Deliverable: A GIS layer and historical photo essay for each of the eight geomorphic reaches in the lower Columbia River with dredged material wetland sites identified. 2. Contractor will perform site visits to selected dredged material wetlands to make an initial assessment of site conditions, including landscape orientation, size and quality of wetlands, wetland vegetation community structure, and other relevant geomorphic features (e.g., channel formation). These sites can serve as reference sites for future habitat creation design and provide insight into the range of site evolution patterns in the system. A summary of the sites physical controlling factors (i.e. hydrology, hydraulics) will also provide the foundation for more intensive investigations. Site photos will be taken from established points for project documentation and presentations to partners. Deliverable: A detailed characterization of dredged material wetland sites in various stages of developmental maturity. 3. Identify and apply guidelines for locating dredged material habitat creation projects in the lower Columbia River. Contractor will review literature sources and contact wetland habitat creation practitioners around the United States (particularly other Corps Districts) to identify selection guidelines for evaluating potential project sites. The contractor will also assist the Corps in assembling a technical workgroup (e.g. USACE, Port of Portland, LCREP, CREST, etc.) to review the guidelines and refine them for use in the lower Columbia River. These guidelines will be tested on a set of potential project sites to help identify one or more habitat creation projects for future implementation consideration. Guidelines will include a list of initial testable hypotheses based on literature review and reference site findings from task Deliverable: Identification, refinement, and application of dredged material habitat creation site selection guidelines with an end goal of selecting one or more project sites for future implementation consideration. 4. Perform stakeholder outreach to evaluate and build support for including dredged material habitat creation within the scope of the Corps current General Investigations Study. The contractor will coordinate with the Corps, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, State of Oregon, State of Washington, and Bonneville Power Administration to build and evaluate support for an increased focus on habitat creation using dredged materials. Habitat creation using dredged materials is referenced in a variety of lower Columbia River planning documents, including NOAAs Estuary Recovery Plan Module, and the Ecosystem-Based Restoration Plan with Emphasis on Salmon Habitat (159 Plan). Recent planning efforts by LCREP and the Port of Portland also support an experimental approach to habitat creation. Contractor will utilize existing relationships with the above partners to draw attention to the Corps General Investigations Study with the purpose of focusing the planning effort on habitat creation techniques. Deliverable: Outreach and coordination among stakeholders to build and evaluate interest in the initiation of a pilot habitat creation project under the Corps General Investigations Study. 5. Facilitate focused technical workgroup sessions to discuss initial findings, identify data gaps, and next steps. Contractor will work with existing Army Corps staff and technical workgroup to review products generated from tasks above and identify additional information needs. Contractor will recruit additional expertise as needed to refine and begin to address these critical uncertainties. Outcome of this discussion will be used to set up an initial experimental design framework that includes an array of testable hypotheses for an array of physical and biological parameters. This task would also include developing an inventory of potential project constraints and how they may be addressed. Deliverable: Technical team meeting summaries, list of critical uncertainties, draft experimental design template. A Feasibility Working Draft Report containing all deliverables will be compiled. As this is a feasibility study this report will likely become a working document that will need editing and refinement. RSM Project Contract Goal: The goal of the RSM project is to explore and document any potential benefits of specific pile structure removal in the Columbia River. This will include both pilings and pile dikes that no longer serve their intended purpose and upon removal may contribute to ecosystem health improvements. Removal benefits will be determined by mainly focusing on the improvement of embayment access for juvenile salmonids. Potential benefits in terms of; improved local sediment conditions, the reduction of salmonid predation, and the potential hazard to navigation; may also be explored. Some prep work will be done in July 08. Depending on Columbia River water levels, fieldwork will be carried out in the August/September timeframe RSM Project Contract Objectives: Evaluate and coordinate existing pile evaluation programs and sediment management planning efforts with an eye on a national perspective of Corps pile and pile dike management. RSM Project Contract Tasks: 1. Review 1987 Value Engineering Report entitled Columbia River Pile Dike Maintenance Phase 1 and existing Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership GIS layer to focus on one reach of the lower Columbia River and identify a subset of pile dikes in this reach which have the best potential for environmental restoration for further research and evaluation. 2. Perform field research for pile dikes identified in task 1 to gather data for potential pile dike removal or enhancement projects. This task will be best performed in low river stage months. Deliverable: Develop a report of findings and draft recommendations for future directions. Experience/Expertise: Planning and wetland restoration experience in the Columbia River and estuary. Knowledge and experience of ecosystem restoration from habitat creation designed for aquatic species improvements. Good working relationships with regional state, federal, Tribal, and NGO entities associated with restoration efforts in the Columbia River and estuary. Experience and a working understanding with regional sediment management planning efforts. Knowledge of the confinements of the lower Columbia River, elements contribution to the confinements, and an ability to work within a holistic yet confined river system. Schedules: Beginning date for this contract is expected to be by the end of September 2008. It is expected that as the RSM component of this contract is part of a larger regional efforts the final report will be complete by 30 December 2008. Given the newness and complexity of the LCRGI component of this contract the final report should be completed by 30 May 2009.
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- Place of Performance
- Address: Portland District, US Army Corps of Engineers Contracting Division (CENWP-CT_, P.O. Box 2946 Portland OR<br />
- Zip Code: 97208-2946<br />
- Zip Code: 97208-2946<br />
- Record
- SN01649488-W 20080825/080823213703-2ba76b60a446277df65ba60a76611515 (fbodaily.com)
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