Remove Final Levee Segment to Complete Restoration of Wetland-Riparian Habitat along Lower Glorieta Creek, Pecos National Historical Park
This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition. The purpose of this Task Agreement is to remove the final levee and complete the restoration of the wetland riparian habitat along the lower Glorieta Creek. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P13AS00044 Project Title Remove final levee segment to complete restoration of wetland-riparian habitat along lower Glorieta Creek, Pecos National Historic Park Recipient Colorado State University Total Anticipated Award Amount $98,996.00 Cost Share Yes Anticipated Length of Agreement Date of award to December 31, 2015 Anticipated Period of Performance Date of award to December 31, 2015 Award Instrument Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement H2370094000 Statutory Authority 16 USC 460L-1(G) CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs ¿ Resources of the National Park System Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Continuation: Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718; june_zastrow@nps.gov OVERVIEW In 1998-1999, NPS Water Resources Division (NPS-WRD) and Colorado State University (CSU) cooperators developed a restoration plan for lower Glorieta Creek in Pecos NHP to establish a more stable, functional riparian-wetland ecosystem. The restoration work performed during 1999-2000, involved extensive levee removal, site re-grading and planting of native willows, cottonwoods, sedges and rushes to restore native riparian-wetland habitat. Although the majority of the levee system was removed in 1999, a portion of the upper levee along Glorieta Creek was left in place to protect the newly excavated and planted site from being eroded by floods until soil-stabilizing vegetation could take hold. During a site assessment in 2007, NPS-WRD, PECO and CSU cooperators determined that sufficient plant establishment had occurred to allow the removal of the remaining levee separating Glorieta Creek from the adjacent, restored floodplain. This would provide an opportunity to fully restore natural channel-floodplain processes and functions. It would also eliminate the ongoing threat of levee erosion during floods, which could result in massive sediment deposition into the restored wetland-riparian area, Glorieta Creek, and the Pecos Wild and Scenic River immediately downstream. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT A. Colorado State University agrees to: 1. Ensure the completion of planned levee removal, re-contouring, seeding and erosion control utilizing specifications, drawings and cost estimates developed previously by CSU and NPS. 2. Work to collect native seed as needed for plant propagation and planting at the site. 3. Work closely with NPS cooperators (WRD, PECO) during field activities to make sure that NPS input is adequately addressed and that all park rules, regulations, and permits are incorporated and adhered to during the project. 4. Organize and lead all meetings or site visits related to the progress of this restoration and re-vegetation work. 5. Work with NPS to make sure that an adequate Storm water Pollution Prevention Plan is approved prior to commencement of restoration activities. 6. Immediately prior to the restoration, stake out design contours at the restoration site using standard surveying and construction staking methods. 7. Provide continuous onsite supervision of the restoration and re-vegetation work to assure that it is performed according to previously designed plans and permit conditions. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT B. NPS agrees to: 1. Participate with CSU cooperators to make sure that restoration plans and activities follow the approved plans for the site. 2. Provide any park permits necessary for restoration work. 3. Participate in meetings and site visits to oversee the restoration activities. 4. Participate in supervising levee removal, seeding and erosion control work to assure that it is performed according to the plan designed by CSU cooperators under a previous agreement. Provide housing, subject to availability, for CSU and NPS participants during onsite meetings and field work. 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 ¿ 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 ¿ 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 ¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications ¿ 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 ¿ 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. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: This project promotes the education and training of a new generation of natural resource restoration practitioners. A Colorado State University graduate student played a major role in preparing final restoration design drawings and specifications for earthmoving, erosion control and re-vegetation and helped develop cost estimates. In this implementation phase, he and other students would gain first-hand training and experience in overseeing the actual restoration work on the ground. This is a skill that is not taught in classrooms, and can only be learned on-the-job.
Office: National Park Service
June_Zastrow@nps.gov
