Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 18 N028
The Storage Dam Fish Passage Feasibility Study is a Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) grant opportunity aimed at advancing a cooperative, multi-agency effort to determine how fish passage could be added to five major storage dams in Washington State's Yakima Project: Bumping Lake, Kachess, Keechelus, Cle Elum, and Tieton. These dams were built without fish passage facilities, despite the fact that four of the reservoirs were originally natural lakes that historically supported important Native American fisheries, including sockeye salmon and other anadromous and resident species. The overall purpose of the work is to assess, at feasibility level, whether and how upstream and downstream passage could be implemented in a way that is biologically effective, operationally workable, and engineering-feasible.
The opportunity is rooted in the ecological and cultural benefits that could come from reconnecting fish to historical habitat above the dams. Reclamation highlights several anticipated outcomes if passage features are ultimately implemented: boosting upper-basin populations of steelhead as well as coho and Chinook salmon, restoring salmon life history strategies and genetic diversity, reintroducing sockeye salmon into portions of the watershed where they were historically present, and reconnecting isolated bull trout populations. In other words, the study is not just about a single species or a single structure; it is about restoring connectivity across a major basin that has been fragmented for decades and documenting what that would take in practical terms.
Work on feasibility has been underway for years, with a key set of detailed evaluations completed in fiscal year 2004. Since then, the current emphasis has been on "feasibility-grade" investigations at Cle Elum Dam and Bumping Lake Dam, specifically looking at the engineering design needs, operational constraints (for example, how dam operations and water management would interact with fish passage), and biological requirements (such as timing, behavior, and survival of migrating fish). Reclamation notes that evaluation of fish passage opportunities at the other three dams (Kachess, Keechelus, and Tieton) is planned to follow. A draft planning report covering Cle Elum and Bumping Lake was completed in 2008, reflecting a progression from early concept work toward more detailed planning and testing.
A major component of the Cle Elum work has been hands-on testing of downstream juvenile passage. During the winter of 2004-2005, an interim wooden flume was installed on the Cle Elum Dam spillway to test whether juvenile salmon (smolts) could locate an exit from the reservoir and move downstream on their own. Annual operational reports were produced for 2005 through 2009 documenting how that interim passage system performed. The initial phase of the study, conducted from 2005 to 2008, evaluated the flume as a juvenile passage method and concluded that anadromous smolts were able to find the entrance and travel down the flume with high survival, providing an important proof-of-concept for downstream passage at least under test conditions.
The grant description also lays out a longer-term biological reintroduction effort tied to the feasibility work. Beginning in 2009, the study entered a second phase that reintroduced adult sockeye and hatchery spring Chinook into Cle Elum Reservoir to enable natural spawning, with sockeye spawning in the reservoir environment and Chinook spawning in tributaries flowing into the reservoir. Adult sockeye are collected at Priest Rapids Dam and then transported and released into Cle Elum Reservoir, with annual release numbers ranging roughly from 1,000 to 10,000 fish. In addition, up to about 500 Cle Elum adult hatchery spring Chinook are released into the reservoir. This phase is described as ongoing "for the foreseeable future," reflecting that rebuilding runs and evaluating outcomes is a multi-year undertaking rather than a one-season experiment.
A key applicant and participant described in the opportunity is "The Nation" (a federally recognized Native American tribal government), which has been involved in cooperative planning activities for the Yakima Dams Fish Passage Feasibility Study since July 1, 2008. Under this financial assistance agreement, the Nation is expected to continue participating in study implementation and coordination, including working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop and refine a Master Plan for reintroducing anadromous fish above the reservoirs. This emphasizes that the funding is not only for fieldwork and data collection, but also for structured planning, intergovernmental coordination, and adaptive management as new results come in.
The proposed third phase builds on the reintroduction work and adds expanded monitoring and scientific data collection. It continues the Phase 2 activities while focusing more heavily on limnological monitoring (reservoir conditions such as temperature profiles, dissolved oxygen, productivity, and other water-quality and ecosystem indicators that influence fish survival and growth) and sockeye population structure information (data that can help distinguish run timing, spawning distribution, genetic composition, and other characteristics important for long-term recovery planning). The tasks highlighted include continued monitoring and evaluation of juvenile passage at Cle Elum Dam using the interim spillway flume, continued adult salmon reintroductions (including sockeye, spring Chinook, and coho) along with the monitoring and evaluation necessary to measure outcomes, and the additional limnological and population-structure work needed to understand whether the reservoir and tributary habitats can support self-sustaining populations.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant issued by the Bureau of Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region under CFDA 15.517. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The opportunity number is BOR PN 18 N028, with an award ceiling of $1,025,000 and an expectation of one award. The notice was created on August 17, 2018, and originally closed on August 31, 2018. Overall, the grant is designed to fund continued tribal participation and on-the-ground technical work that supports feasibility decisions about fish passage at Yakima Project storage dams, using Cle Elum and Bumping Lake as the current focal points while setting the stage for broader basin-wide passage evaluation.Apply for BOR PN 18 N028
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation - Pacific Northwest Region in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Storage Dam Fish Passage Feasibility Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,025,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Storage Dam Fish Passage Feasibility Study grant opportunity?
This is a Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) discretionary grant opportunity supporting a cooperative, multi-agency effort to determine whether and how fish passage could be added to five major Yakima Project storage dams in Washington State.
Which dams are included in this feasibility study?
The opportunity covers five Yakima Project storage dams: Bumping Lake, Kachess, Keechelus, Cle Elum, and Tieton.
Why is fish passage being studied at these dams?
These dams were built without fish passage facilities. Four of the reservoirs were originally natural lakes that historically supported important Native American fisheries, including sockeye salmon and other anadromous and resident species. The study is focused on what it would take to restore connectivity to historical habitat above the dams.
What is the overall purpose of the funded work?
The purpose is to assess, at a feasibility level, whether and how upstream and downstream fish passage could be implemented in a way that is biologically effective, operationally workable, and engineering-feasible.
What kinds of benefits does Reclamation associate with adding fish passage (if ultimately implemented)?
Anticipated outcomes described include boosting upper-basin populations of steelhead and coho and Chinook salmon, restoring salmon life history strategies and genetic diversity, reintroducing sockeye salmon into portions of the watershed where they were historically present, and reconnecting isolated bull trout populations.
Is this study focused on only one species?
No. The opportunity describes benefits and work related to multiple species, including steelhead, coho salmon, Chinook salmon, sockeye salmon, and bull trout, and frames the effort as restoring basin-wide connectivity rather than addressing a single species or a single structure.
What has already been done prior to this opportunity?
Reclamation notes that feasibility work has been underway for years, including a key set of detailed evaluations completed in fiscal year 2004. A draft planning report covering Cle Elum and Bumping Lake was completed in 2008, reflecting progress from early concepts toward more detailed planning and testing.
Which dams are the current focal points for feasibility-grade investigations?
The current emphasis described is on feasibility-grade investigations at Cle Elum Dam and Bumping Lake Dam, including engineering design needs, operational constraints, and biological requirements.
Are the other dams planned to be evaluated later?
Yes. Evaluation of fish passage opportunities at Kachess, Keechelus, and Tieton is described as planned to follow.
What is the interim wooden flume at Cle Elum Dam?
An interim wooden flume was installed on the Cle Elum Dam spillway during winter 2004-2005 to test downstream juvenile passage. The goal was to see whether juvenile salmon (smolts) could locate an exit from the reservoir and move downstream on their own.
What did the Cle Elum juvenile passage testing show?
The initial phase of the study (2005-2008) evaluated the flume as a juvenile passage method and concluded that anadromous smolts were able to find the entrance and travel down the flume with high survival under test conditions, supporting a proof-of-concept for downstream passage.
Were results from the interim flume documented?
Yes. Annual operational reports were produced for 2005 through 2009 documenting how the interim passage system performed.
What is Phase 2 of the work described in the opportunity?
Beginning in 2009, Phase 2 reintroduced adult sockeye and hatchery spring Chinook into Cle Elum Reservoir to enable natural spawning. Sockeye spawning is described as occurring in the reservoir environment, while Chinook spawning is described as occurring in tributaries flowing into the reservoir.
Where are adult sockeye collected for reintroduction?
Adult sockeye are collected at Priest Rapids Dam, then transported and released into Cle Elum Reservoir.
How many adult sockeye are released into Cle Elum Reservoir?
The opportunity describes annual release numbers ranging roughly from 1,000 to 10,000 adult sockeye.
How many hatchery spring Chinook are released into the reservoir?
The opportunity states that up to about 500 Cle Elum adult hatchery spring Chinook are released into the reservoir.
How long is the reintroduction effort expected to continue?
Phase 2 is described as ongoing "for the foreseeable future," reflecting that rebuilding runs and evaluating outcomes is a multi-year effort.
What is the proposed Phase 3 described in the grant?
The proposed third phase continues Phase 2 activities and adds expanded monitoring and scientific data collection, with added emphasis on limnological monitoring and sockeye population structure information.
What does limnological monitoring mean in the context of this opportunity?
It refers to monitoring reservoir conditions such as temperature profiles, dissolved oxygen, productivity, and other water-quality and ecosystem indicators that can influence fish survival and growth.
What is meant by sockeye population structure information?
The opportunity describes collecting data that can help distinguish run timing, spawning distribution, genetic composition, and other characteristics needed for long-term recovery planning.
What specific tasks are highlighted for the proposed work?
The tasks highlighted include continued monitoring and evaluation of juvenile passage at Cle Elum Dam using the interim spillway flume; continued adult salmon reintroductions (including sockeye, spring Chinook, and coho) along with monitoring and evaluation to measure outcomes; and added limnological and population-structure work to understand whether reservoir and tributary habitats can support self-sustaining populations.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Which federal agency is offering and administering the grant?
The opportunity is issued by the Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, within the Department of the Interior.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.517.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is BOR PN 18 N028.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,025,000.
How many awards does Reclamation expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award.
When was the notice created and when did it close?
The notice was created on August 17, 2018, and it originally closed on August 31, 2018.
What role does "The Nation" play in this opportunity?
"The Nation" (a federally recognized tribal government) is described as a key applicant and participant that has been involved in cooperative planning activities for the Yakima Dams Fish Passage Feasibility Study since July 1, 2008, and is expected to continue participating in study implementation and coordination under the financial assistance agreement.
Does the opportunity involve coordination with other agencies?
Yes. The work is described as cooperative and multi-agency, and it specifically notes coordination with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop and refine a Master Plan for reintroducing anadromous fish above the reservoirs.
Is the funding only for fieldwork and monitoring?
No. The description emphasizes that the funding supports both on-the-ground technical work and structured planning, intergovernmental coordination, and adaptive management as new results become available.
Does this grant directly implement permanent fish passage facilities?
The opportunity, as described, is focused on feasibility-level assessment and supporting studies, testing, reintroduction, monitoring, and planning to inform feasibility decisions about fish passage. It does not describe construction of permanent passage facilities as the purpose of this grant.
What geographic area does the opportunity focus on?
The focus is Washington State's Yakima Project, with specific work described at Cle Elum Reservoir/Cle Elum Dam and Bumping Lake/Bumping Lake Dam, and future evaluation planned for Kachess, Keechelus, and Tieton.
How does dam operations factor into the feasibility evaluation?
The opportunity explicitly notes that feasibility-grade investigations consider operational constraints, including how dam operations and water management would interact with fish passage.
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