Entiat Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Coordination and Monitoring | Apply Online

Entiat Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW) Coordination and Monitoring (R14AS00040) - FAQs

What is the Entiat IMW Coordination and Monitoring opportunity (R14AS00040)?

It is a Bureau of Reclamation discretionary funding action to support coordination and long-term monitoring work in Washington State's Entiat watershed, which has been designated as an Intensively Monitored Watershed (IMW). The focus is on organizing and carrying out structured monitoring and implementation coordination to track watershed restoration progress and inform future habitat decisions, especially those tied to salmon and steelhead recovery.

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The core purpose is to ensure habitat improvement actions and their outcomes are guided by established, locally driven planning and recovery frameworks and paired with a rigorous, long-term monitoring effort. In practical terms, it supports the coordination needed to connect planning, implementation, and monitoring so the watershed can show measurable habitat and biological responses to restoration over time.

Where does the work take place?

The work is specific to the Entiat watershed in Washington State.

Why is the Entiat watershed described as an "Intensively Monitored Watershed" (IMW)?

The watershed has been designated as an IMW, which comes with a major monitoring commitment. The announcement highlights significant resources from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for an exhaustive monitoring program, reinforcing that monitoring is a central feature of the overall effort.

How does this opportunity relate to habitat restoration and fish recovery?

The grant is intended to help align habitat improvement actions with long-term monitoring so results can be measured and used to guide future decisions. The broader context described in the notice is salmon and steelhead recovery, with monitoring and coordination structured to support adaptive management based on observed outcomes.

Which planning or recovery frameworks does Reclamation tie this work to?

Reclamation explicitly anchors habitat improvement actions to two guiding efforts: (1) Washington Department of Ecology's Watershed Planning Process (created in 1999) and (2) the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (signed in August 2007). These frameworks are described as providing the local and regional roadmap for identifying priorities and designing projects.

What kinds of activities does the funding support?

Based on the notice, the funding supports coordination and monitoring activities needed to keep watershed restoration planning and implementation aligned with an intensive, long-term monitoring effort. It emphasizes integrating monitoring with restoration actions and managing the timing and sequencing of projects to match a tightly managed implementation schedule.

Is the funding focused only on collecting monitoring data?

No. The notice makes clear that the coordination role goes beyond data collection. It includes making sure monitoring is integrated with restoration actions and ensuring projects are timed and sequenced in line with the implementation schedule so the watershed can demonstrate measurable responses to restoration.

How does the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) relate to this effort?

The announcement states that the IMW designation comes with a major monitoring commitment from BPA, described as significant resources for an exhaustive monitoring program. The coordination effort supported by Reclamation is meant to work in a context where intensive monitoring is already a major component of the overall watershed strategy.

Which organization is identified as central to coordination in the Entiat watershed IMW structure?

The Cascadia Conservation District (CCD) is identified as central to the structure because it holds multiple leadership roles that connect planning, implementation, and monitoring in a consistent way.

What leadership roles does the Cascadia Conservation District (CCD) hold in this effort?

The notice lists CCD as: the Watershed Planning Lead; the lead for the Recovery Plan Watershed Action Team (described as the main forums for identifying, prioritizing, and planning habitat projects); and the designated IMW Coordinator. These roles position CCD to connect planning forums, recovery-plan priorities, and monitoring.

What federal agency offered this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity was offered by the Bureau of Reclamation.

What type of award was this?

The opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The notice identifies the activity category as Natural Resources.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed in the notice is 15.517 (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act).

How much funding was anticipated, and how many awards were expected?

Reclamation anticipated making one award with an estimated total funding amount of $864,945. The award ceiling was also $864,945, and the award floor was listed as $1.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was indicated in the notice.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to special district governments, which aligns with the intended recipient being a conservation district-type entity.

Was this a competitive grant solicitation?

No. The notice states it was not a request for applications. It served as public notice of Reclamation's intention to fund specific project activities without full and open competition, indicating a planned, directed award rather than a typical competitive solicitation.

What does "not a request for applications" mean in the context of this opportunity?

It means the posting was not inviting broad, competitive submissions. Instead, it was a public notice that Reclamation intended to fund specific project activities without full and open competition.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on June 10, 2014, with a closing date of July 10, 2014. It was archived on June 10, 2015.

Where could someone find the full announcement?

A grants.gov link was provided in the notice for the full announcement and related materials.

Who was the point of contact listed for assistance with this opportunity?

The listed point of contact was Melinda Ritacco, Financial Assistance Specialist and Grants Officer. The notice provides the phone number 208-378-5103 and email mritacco@usbr.gov for assistance accessing the materials.

How should this opportunity be understood overall?

It is best understood as targeted federal support for a single, locally designated coordinating entity to keep the Entiat IMW effort functioning as intended by aligning watershed planning forums, recovery-plan priorities, and federal habitat obligations with an intensive monitoring program capable of demonstrating results and guiding future habitat decisions.