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Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for River Restoration Services

Posted on April 30, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for River Restoration Services
Proposals due May 30, 2008

American Rivers seeks qualified vendors to provide services on projects within the eastern U.S. that restore rivers and streams. Our primary interest is in ecosystem-based riverine restoration, mainly using dam removal as a restoration tool. We may also pursue river and floodplain restoration through bypass channel fishways, rock ramp fishways, culvert replacement/retrofits, stream daylighting, natural channel design or other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity and dynamic functions of rivers and enhance movement of fish, wildlife and other aquatic life.

River restoration services may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Site reconnaissance/conceptual design
Feasibility studies
Engineering analysis/modeling
Engineering design
Permitting and regulatory coordination
Public education and outreach
Bid document preparation
Construction oversight
Restoration of riparian corridors
Pre- and post-project monitoring

This RFQ will result in Master Service Agreements (MSA) with up to ten (10) vendors or vendor teams. American Rivers will enter into MSAs with the selected vendors for a term of three (3) years. Projects will be allocated to the selected vendors based on a rotation with adjustments made for location, specific skills needed and quality of past work. In some cases, projects will be allocated based upon a Request for Proposals to be solicited from all or a subset of the vendors with MSAs established under this RFQ.

Download Complete Request for Qualifications

Important Dates

April 30, 2008 — RFQ Release

May 9, 2008 — Deadline for submittal of questions on RFQ (5:00pm ET)

May 14, 2008 — Deadline for subscribing to Q&A Digest (5:00pm ET)

May 16, 2008 — Q&A Digest emailed to respondents that have requested a copy. Q&A Digest posted on this website.

May 30, 2008 — Deadline for receipt of proposals to RFQ (5:00pm ET)

July 2, 2008 — Final selection. Begin development of MSAs

Questions?

American Rivers staff will not respond to telephone questions about the RFQ. Questions concerning this RFQ must be received in writing via email by 5:00pm ET on May 9, 2008 to slindloff@americanrivers.org. See complete RFQ for more detail. Questions via email should have the Subject Line: “RFQ Question.�? Respondents wishing to obtain a digest version of all questions and answers should send their email address to slindloff@americanrivers.org (Subject: “RFQ Digest Request�?) by May 14, 2008. American Rivers shall distribute the Q&A Digest via email and post it on this website by May 16, 2008.

Community Tree Planting Event is Great Success

Posted on April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Mid-Atlantic, River Renewal

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

I think most will agree, one of the more exciting aspects of river conservation work is simply getting your hands dirty.

Grant it, it’s not for all, but for many picking up trash alongside a favorite river ensures measurable results (insert shameless plug for National River Cleanup). And, that kind of immediate satisfaction does indeed help to sustain those longer, and equally important, legislative battles.

As you know, a lot of our work is grounded – and enabled – by your participation. For example, some of those longer legislative battles are powered by our activists who travel to DC (insert second shameless plug for River Action Day).

But for greater localized action, we are fortunate to have many inspired field staff committed to community projects.

For example, last month Sara Deuling from our Pennsylvania Field office coordinated a “Mohnton Tree Planting Event�?. Sara recaps the successful effort (and slide show below):

When we arrived at the site before 10am, Larry Lloyd had already planted about 20 trees and had laid out a planting pattern with stakes for the trees. I provided an informational packet with photos of the evolution of the dam removal site.

The work started by planting the trees, which were segregated by the wetness desires: streamside, mid-bank, and upland. Once the trees were planted, about 20 feet on center, Larry identified all of the shrubs and directed the volunteers where to distribute them. Particular care was given to their wetness desires, shade preferences, mature heights and distribution across the site.

The shrubs were filled in between the tree species, with a final planting density of approximately 5’ on center. The group planted 365 trees and shrubs in total.

Once the site was cleaned up, the volunteers agreed that the site had undergone a major improvement and everyone headed home after a long day of hard work.

The site looks very natural and will provide substantial habitat benefits to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms. Some of the species planted included, Swamp white oak, Pin oak, Silver maple, Tulip poplar American sycamore, and 10 others.

A great deal of thanks and appreciation go out to Larry Lloyd, Berks Conservancy, Andrew Strassman, PA Natural Heritage Program, John Buzzar, PA Fish & Boat Commission, Fay & Molly, friends of John Buzzar, Jeremy Trexel, URS Corp., John Pittenger, URS Corp., and Chase Kelch, friend of John Pittenger.

NW dam removal update, and the breach of Montana’s Milltown Dam!

Posted on April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

An article I wrote for Open Spaces magazine about dam removal in the Northwest, “Ringing in new life for rivers” is now posted on their web site. Enjoy!

In recent dam removal news, the coffer dam at Montana’s Milltown Dam site was breached last Friday.

Check out the Milltown Dam Cam on the Clark Fork Coalition’s web site. American Whitewater also has a little video about the event.

A $1.2 million week

Posted on March 20, 2008 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Northwest, River Renewal

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

Did you ever have a really good week and just want to share it with others?

On Tuesday of last week we learned that we were awarded $700,000 to continue our NOAA Rivergrants program in FY09. Since 2001, we’ve provided both financial and technical assistance to more than 100 restoration projects across the country, and have reunited many communities with healthier rivers and streams.

Then, just three days later, we were awarded $500,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Grant Program to continue our work removing dams and restoring rivers statewide. In close partnership with PA DEP and the PA Fish and Boat Commission, our Free-Flowing Pennsylvania program has assisted in the design and construction of more than 60 dam removals since 2003.

The wonderful thing about having a week this good is that we really will be literally sharing it with others. There are just 11 days left to apply for the latest round of American Rivers Rivergrants funding! Check out our guidelines to figure out if your project might be eligible and download the application without delay!

Politics makes strange bedfellows

Posted on March 11, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Government Affairs, Northeast, Quotes, River Renewal

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

But, you know, it doesn’t make sense to guard a dam against a terrorist attack if it crumbles because no one has repaired it for the last 50 years. And this is my big lesson from Katrina, which is not a FEMA issue, but it is: If you let infrastructure go for 30, 40 or 50 years because you’re spending money on earmarks or other things, then in the end you’re going to have something that is going to cost you a hell of a lot more money, and worse, probably cost you some human lives.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff

Last week Laura Wildman, our resident engineer and Director of River Science, left her post restoring rivers of the Northeast to fly down to D.C. and participate in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) lobby day.

American Rivers hasn’t always been known to jump into bed with ASCE. However, for the past two years, we have been working toward seeing the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act (S. 2238) become law. The bill, if passed, will provide states with funding to remove or repair high hazard dams.

With extreme weather events only expected to become more common and our nation’s dam infrastructure continuing to age, now is the time to heed the advice of our Secretary for Homeland Security. Let’s arm people not with weapons but with funding that could mean the difference between another Kaloko or a community who is able to restore their river and remove the threat of a deficient dam.

Sunset magazine feature on western rivers

Posted on February 25, 2008 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Global Warming, Northwest, River Heritage, River Renewal, Southwest, Water Conservation, Water Supply

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

The March 2008 issue of Sunset Magazine includes a story on the West’s rivers, featuring yours truly, and water experts from around the region.

It started back in the fall with a western water roundtable at Sunset’s office in California. They recorded the lively conversation and the magazine includes exerpts. To listen to the roundtable conversation in its entirety, click here.

The magazine also features three essays from writers Tobias Wolff (on the Skagit), Susan Orlean (on the Willamette) and Pam Houston (on the Colorado).

Kudos to Sunset for taking on such a big topic and handling it so well. I like how they include both information and inspiration, balancing the roundtable conversation with the three essays.

I hope the article helps readers appreciate our rivers a little more, and spurs some of them to take action.

Learn more: Read our Principles for Evaluating New Water Supply Projects (PDF)

National conservation leaders speak out on Columbia-Snake salmon

Posted on February 21, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Endangered Rivers, Global Warming, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

The leaders of nine national conservation organizations sent a letter (PDF) to President Bush today, calling for a stronger salmon plan in the Columbia-Snake basin.

Here are some key excerpts:

The draft plan’s failure is particularly glaring when it comes to Snake River salmon populations and is best illustrated by the plight of Snake River sockeye. Only four of these fish, which spawn in the Rocky Mountains 900 miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean and nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, returned last year.

The draft also fails to adequately analyze, let alone address, the likely effects of global warming on ocean and river conditions, and hence salmon. Information on the likely effects of global warming on ocean conditions and river runoff and temperature is readily available but the draft plan fails – inexplicably – to analyze or address this information.

With proper planning, lower Snake River dam removal can be a “win-win�? for salmon, local communities, and the climate. The dams can be removed in an economically and environmentally responsible manner. Their energy can be replaced by cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy with no carbon emissions. The navigation afforded by these dams can be replaced with upgraded rail and Columbia River barge facilities, and the irrigation provided from one of the reservoirs can continue by extending intake pipes to the free-flowing river.

American Rivers, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Greenpeace USA, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and Trout Unlimited signed the letter.

Klamath salmon ad banned from Portland buses

Posted on February 21, 2008 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Endangered Rivers, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

Portland’s bus system TriMet is refusing to run this ad created by Friends of the River and the Karuk Tribe. As the Oregonian reports, TriMet claims the ad is too political, and now the ACLU is suing.

The ad is targeted at PacficiCorp customers — A study by the California Energy Commission and the Department of the Interior shows that removing PacifiCorp’s Klamath River dams and replacing their power would save PacifiCorp ratepayers up to $285 million over 30 years.

Learn more about the Klamath River and watch our new film, Healthy River, Healthy Communities: the Klamath Opportunity.

Great USGS video of Marmot Dam removal

Posted on February 20, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

This timelapse video from USGS is from back in October, but I just found it and wanted to share. It is a great perspective on the Sandy River cutting through the coffer dam and flowing free.

Here’s a quick re-cap of our other posts tracking the Marmot Dam removal in Oregon -

Marmot Dam removal begins (July 2007)
Dam removal progress (Aug 2007)
Sandy River film (Sept 2007)
The Sandy flows free (Oct 19, 2007)
Pics of the free-flowing Sandy (Nov 2007)

Watch our new Klamath River film

Posted on February 20, 2008 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Endangered Rivers, Northwest, River Renewal

Amy Kober
Northwest Outreach & Communications Director

We are at a historic moment in the Klamath Basin, where we have a chance to restore the river and help the basin’s farming and fishing communities create a better future. American Rivers and 25 other parties recently announced a proposed agreement to restore salmon runs, revitalize tribal and commercial fishing, and provide security to farmers. Now we need an agreement from dam owner PacifiCorp to remove four outdated dams.

Our short film, Healthy River, Healthy Communities: the Klamath Opportunity, features diverse voices calling for dam removal and river restoration, and captures the hope and urgency of this opportunity.

keep looking »

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