Endangered Species Program Support – Upper Klamath Lake (UKL)
OVERVIEW This project will continue monitoring of water quality conditions in Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) and tributary nutrient loading. Long-term monitoring of water quality allows continued evaluation of lake management operations, effects of climatic variables, and evaluation of restoration activities in the watershed. Continued water quality monitoring by the Klamath Tribes will serve to document long term trends in water quality and allow for assessment of restoration activities as they are implemented to improve quality. Additionally, Klamath Tribes data is used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to report on water quality and algal bloom conditions. These reports are distributed to Reclamation and its partners throughout the irrigation season to provide critically needed information on habitat conditions, which could potentially reduce sucker survival and lead to fish-kills each summer season. The measure of success will be determined by successful completion by the Tribes of the seasonal water quality sampling, monitoring, and assessment objectives specified in the Project objectives. The goal of Reclamation and the Tribes is to demonstrate trends in water quality and nutrient conditions that can be used to determine whether landscape level changes in watershed management conditions (i.e. on farm management improvement programs, cattle grazing containment activities, water conservation programs, wetland enhancements) result in positive improvements in UKL water quality conditions. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT This modification will add additional scope of work 5.1.1, 5.6.1 with funds to the existing agreement (R14AP200077). 5.1.1 The Tribes also will also be working with the USGS to determine if toxic microcystins, M. aeruginosa cell abundance, and M. aeruginosa potential (genetic) toxicity vary in predictable ways along nutrient gradients. Restoration projects around UKL and Agency Lake have the potential to alter spatial gradients in nutrient concentrations. The Tribes will assisting with this work by analyzing mycrocystin, ammonia, nitrate, total nitrogen, and phosphorus at a number of existing sites as well along several transects across UKL and Agency Lake. 5.6.1 The Klamath Tribes will provide a thorough analysis of spatial-temporal, trend, and multivariate analyses of the historical 24-year Upper Klamath Lake limnological, climate, and hydrology database. The 25th year of this data collection is currently being completed under Tasks 5.1 and 5.2 of the grant agreement. Additionally, the Tribes subcontractor will provide an analyses of microcystin findings. A draft report of analyses of the historical 24-year Upper Klamath Lake limnological, climate, and hydrology database will be provided by May of 2016, with a final report incorporating comments to be provided in September of 2016. A data report of preliminary microcystin analyses will be provided by February 16, 2016. RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT No substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that Reclamationâ₏™s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc. SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: (1) Unsolicited Proposal â₏“ The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives; (2) Continuation â₏“ The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity; (3) Legislative intent â₏“ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ₏™ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications â₏“ The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications; (5) Emergencies â₏“ Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed. Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: (2) CONTINUATION Single Source Justification Description: Continuation â₏“ The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity The Bureau of Reclamation has provided support of the Klamath Tribes (Tribes) Endangered Species Restoration Program, which includes monitoring Upper Klamath Lake limnology, quantifying and monitoring nutrient loading, and fish hatchery research for over 20 years. Recent grants awarded to support the Klamath Tribes Program include a five-year grant (07FG200147) from 2007 through 2011, and two, one-year grants in 2012 (R12AP20015) and 2013(R13AP20023). The Klamath Tribes also maintain a state of the art water quality laboratory and all of the field equipment such as boats and trucks necessary to collect water quality samples. Requiring competition for this important work would result in loss of continuity of this 20 year effort and would provide uncertainty in data collection, quality assurance and control, and data sharing should an another entity continue the work. STATUTORY AUTHORITY Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Public Law 85-624 (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq,), as amended; as limited and delegated by the Secretary of the Interior delegation of authority to the Bureau of Reclamation at 255 DM 1.1B. The following section, provided in full text, authorizes Reclamation to award this financial assistance agreement: The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. § 661, states in part: [T]o provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs through the effectual and harmonious planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation â₏¦ the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (1) to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, â₏¦. 255 DM 1.1B Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, Public Law 85-624, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., as amended, and Section 7(a) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) (70 Stat 1122; 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)); as limited and delegated by the Secretary of the Interior delegation of authority to the Bureau of Reclamation at 255 DM 1.1B: 1.1 Delegation. Subject to the exceptions in Section 1.2, the Commissioner of Reclamation (Commissioner) is delegated the authority of the Assistant Secretary â₏“ Water and Science to: B. Take the following actions, either directly or by providing financial assistance to non-Federal parties, pursuant to the Conservation of Wild Life, Fish and Game Act of March 10, 1934 (Public Law 73-121; 48 Stat. 401) as amended by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of August 14, 1946 (Public Law 85-624; 72 Stat. 563; 16 U.S.C. 661-666c); Section 5 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, December 28, 1973 (Public Law 93-205; 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1534); and Section 7(a) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, August 8, 1956 (70 Stat. 1122; 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)), regarding the construction and/or continued operation and maintenance of any Federal reclamation project: (1) plan, design, and construct, including acquiring lands or interest therein as needed for: (a) fish passage and screening facilities at any non-Federal water diversion or storage project; or (b)projects to create or improve instream habitat. (2) acquire or lease water or water rights from willing sellers or lessors; or (3) monitor and evaluate the effect of Reclamation actions on Endangered Species Act- listed species.
Office: Bureau of Reclamation
Grants Officer
