Request for Proposals

Open Request for Proposals

FUELS RDXN PROJECT:
Upper Applegate All-Lands Wildfire Protection Project
Closes 8/22/25

PRELIM DESIGN RFP:
Iron Creek & Cheney Creek Fish Passage Projects
Closes 9/5/25

CONSTRUCTION RFP:
Cheney Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement
Project
Closes 8/22/25

COMING SOON:
Applegate River Mile 25 Side-channel Design Project

CHENEY CR. TRIB CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT
RFP Documents and Invitation to Bid

The APWC is requesting proposals for our Cheney Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement Project. The project will replace an undersized, perched culvert on BLM Road 37‑7‑13 with a 9‑foot corrugated metal pipe (APWC to supply new culvert) built to stream simulation design standards. This work will restore fish passage, improve flood resilience, and reconnect high‑quality spawning and rearing habitat for salmon, steelhead, and other aquatic species.

Proposal Opens: Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025

Optional Site Tour: Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 [Google Maps Pin]

Proposal Due By: Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 4pm

Questions & Electronic Submissions
Luke Wimmer, Aquatic Restoration Program Director
luke@apwc.info | 541-890-9765

Paper Submissions can be dropped off at our office:
60 Upper Applegate Rd
Jacksonville, OR 97530

Bid Package:

The Cheney Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement Project, led by APWC in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management- Grant Pass Field Office, will replace a failing, undersized culvert on a perennial tributary to Cheney Creek in Josephine County, Oregon. The existing 6.1‑foot‑wide, 4.6‑foot‑tall pipe arch culvert is perched above the streambed, blocking fish and aquatic organism passage and providing inadequate capacity for high‑flow events. The structure also fails to meet stream simulation design standards and 100‑year flood and debris passage requirements.

The replacement crossing will be constructed using an owner‑provided 9‑foot diameter corrugated metal pipe (CMP) designed to pass the 100‑year flood, bedload, and anticipated debris. The new structure will feature a natural streambed at the correct elevation and slope to meet stream simulation standards, restoring unimpeded passage for salmon, steelhead, and other aquatic species.

Project Description

 

Cheney Creek & Iron Creek Box Culvert Replacement Preliminary Designs
RFP Documents

APWC is soliciting proposals from qualified engineering firms for preliminary (30%) design services to improve fish passage at two culvert barriers in Josephine County, Oregon. The projects—Iron Creek at Southside Road and Cheney Creek at Fish Hatchery Road—aim to restore aquatic connectivity, enhance public safety, and support future construction funding.

Firms may submit proposals for one or both sites.

Proposal Opens: July 30, 2025

Proposal Due By: Friday, September 5, 2025, 5:00pm

Questions & Electronic Submissions
Luke Wimmer, Aquatic Restoration Program Director
luke@apwc.info | 541-890-9765

Paper Submissions can be dropped off at our office:
60 Upper Applegate Rd
Jacksonville, OR 97530

APWC is leading the development of preliminary designs for two high-priority fish passage improvement projects in Josephine County. Both sites—Iron Creek at Southside Road and Cheney Creek at Fish Hatchery Road—are identified as partial barriers to native fish migration on ODFW’s fish passage priority list.

The Iron Creek project will evaluate low-cost modifications or culvert replacement options to improve passage while maintaining road function. The Cheney Creek project involves replacing an aging box culvert with a bridge and realigning the roadway to improve both ecological and public safety outcomes. This site is also expected to pursue federal construction funding, requiring design compliance with state and federal transportation standards.

Each project is supported by an Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Technical Assistance Grant and will result in a 30% preliminary design package suitable for future funding and permitting.

Project Description

FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT:
Upper Applegate All-Lands Wildfire Protection Project
RFP Documents

APWC is currently requesting proposals for the Upper Applegate All-Lands Wildfire Resiliency Project (UAAWRP). This large-scale effort will reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health across private lands in the Upper Applegate watershed through strategic fuels reduction treatments. The initial contract aims to treat at least 250 acres in Year 1, with the potential for multi-year extensions to expand the work to 750 acres. The selected contractor will lead landowner engagement, develop treatment prescriptions, manage implementation, and ensure compliance with project goals and federal funding requirements.

Proposal Opens: July 25, 2025

Proposal Due By: Friday, August 22, 2025, 5:00pm

Questions & Electronic Submissions
Nathan Gehres, Habitat Restoration Project Manager
nathan@apwc.info | 541-890-9989

Paper Submissions can be dropped off at our office:
60 Upper Applegate Rd
Jacksonville, OR 97530

The UAAWRP is a multi-year, landscape-scale effort to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health across private lands in the Upper Applegate watershed. In Year 1, the project aims to treat at least 250 acres, with the potential to expand up to 750 acres over three years. APWC is seeking a primary contractor to lead on-the-ground implementation, including landowner outreach, prescription development, subcontractor management, treatment oversight, documentation, and compliance with federal funding requirements.

Treatments will follow a strategic, ecologically grounded approach focused on reducing hazardous fuels while promoting resilient, fire-adapted forests. Practices include variable density thinning, “thin and release” strategies, mosaic thinning around large, multi-aged trees, mastication, ladder fuel removal, and pile burning. The selected contractor must be capable of managing a large, geographically dispersed project area with minimal oversight, while maintaining regular communication and coordination with APWC staff.

Project Description

(CLOSED) PROVOLT RECREACTION SITE: LWD PROJECT
RFP Documents

The APWC is currently requesting proposals for our Williams Creek Aquatic Habitat Improvement Project at the Provolt Recreation Site. This project will enhance fish habitat in Williams Creek through the installation of 4-5 large wood structures (LWD) containing up to 100 logs. The structures will increase habitat complexity, provide essential shade and cover for aquatic species, and improve natural geomorphic processes in this reach of Williams Creek.

Proposal Opens: May 1, 2025

Pre-Bid Conference: Fri., May 16, 2025, 10:00am

Proposal Due By: Fri., May 30, 2025, 5:00pm

Questions & Electronic Submissions


Luke Wimmer, Project Manager
luke@apwc.info | 541-890-9765

Paper Submissions can be dropped off at our office:
60 Upper Applegate Rd
Jacksonville, OR 97530

 

Bid Files

This project will install multiple large woody debris (LWD) structures on Williams Creek at the Provolt Recreation Site. The project area spans approximately 500 linear feet of Williams Creek and will involve the installation of 4-5 large wood structures containing up to 100 logs to improve habitat. Each structure will consist of 5-7 buried logs with root wads installed vertically, with an additional 10-15 intertwined logs strategically placed for stability during high-flow events. Since there are no mature trees or bedrock anchor points available near the stream to secure the logs, approximately 50 boulders (2-4 ft diameter) will be incorporated as ballast within the structures to provide additional stability. The design utilizes a 'field fit' approach where exact placement and configuration of structures will be determined on-site in collaboration with project partners. All restoration actions will be implemented in cooperation with APWC and the BLM.

The project site is located on BLM-managed land at the Provolt Recreation Site in Josephine County, Oregon. This location provides public access to Williams Creek, an important tributary in the Applegate watershed. The APWC is implementing this project in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Grants Pass Field Office, with funding provided to improve aquatic habitat conditions for native fish species and overall watershed health in this reach of Williams Creek.

Project Description

(CLOSED) UPPER PHILLIPS DITCH EFFICIENCY PROJECT
General Information & Proposal Documents

The APWC will be requesting proposals for our Little Applegate Upper Phillips Ditch Efficiency Project. This project will improve the conveyance of irrigation water through the Upper Philips ditch while providing turn-outs for irrigation water to the local water users. This project is a partnership between the water users, Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District and the Applegate Partnership.

Proposal Opens: January 8, 2024

Pre-Bid Conference: Jan. 12, 2024, 1:30pm

Proposal Due By: Tues., Jan. 23, 2024, 2pm

Questions & Electronic Submissions

Final Date for Questions is 1/18/2024 by 2pm

Janelle Dunlevy, Executive Director
janelle@apwc.info | 541-899-9982

Paper Submissions can be dropped off at our project partner’s office:

Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District
In Care of: Paul DeMaggio, Upper Phillips Ditch Pipeline Project
89 Alder St. Central Point, OR 97502

 

Bid Files

The Little Applegate River Fish Passage and Irrigation Efficiency Project has improved fish passage by creating a bypass channel around the Upper Philips Dam, and installed a new fish screen. The completion of this project will improve irrigation efficiency with a water savings of over 85% through piping 1.8 miles of irrigation ditch with 12-inch diameter HDPE-pipe in order to provide water to 11 small-farms and residences in Jackson County within the Rogue River Basin. The project will improve irrigation infrastructure, improve agricultural production, allow production of additional acres, improve water quality, and enhance fish passage and instream flows for Endangered Species Act-listed and State-listed species including Coho salmon, Pacific lamprey, steelhead, and cutthroat trout. The project will dedicate conserved water instream for the benefit of aquatic species in a DEQ-listed flow-limited stream.  This project is the result of a decade-long partnership between the Upper Philips Ditch Association and the Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council (APWC) and was developed in consultation with the landowners, the water users, Jackson County Soil Water Conservation District, OWRD, Bureau of Land Management, ODFW Fish Biologists, ODFW Fish Screens & Passage Program, Middle Rogue Steelheaders, Pacific Power Blue Sky Funds, Trout Unlimited, NOAA Restoration and the Rogue Basin Partnership.

Project Description

(CLOSED) CHENEY CR. TRIB CULVERT PROJECT
General Information & Proposal Documents

The APWC is requesting proposals for our Cheney Creek Tributary Culvert Replacement Project. This project will replace a undersized, failing culvert on a perennial tributary of Cheney Creek. Proposals will be for design and build.

Proposal Opens: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Pre-proposal Site Tour: Mon., Oct. 23, 2023, 1pm

Proposal Due By: Thurs., Nov. 9, 2023, 5pm (CLOSED)

Questions & Submissions

Nathan Gehres, Project Manager
nathan@apwc.info | 541-890-9989

Proposal Documents (2 files)

Project Description

This project will replace a failing culvert on a perennial tributary to Cheney Creek. Currently, this culvert does not have a stream simulation design and is currently a barrier to aquatic organism passage. It is also undersized and is “perched” about the streambed, creating a fish passage barrier.. The current culvert is a 6.1-foot wide, 4.6-foot-tall pipe arch culvert and has an estimated capacity of 60 cfs with allowance for debris flow and is about 40 feet long. The proposed replacement crossing will be an open bottom structure, a bridge or embedded culvert, depending on the results of the final design effort. The proposed replacement crossing will be designed to pass the 100-year flood, including an allowance for bed load, and anticipated floatable debris.  A successful design will allow construct a stream bed at the correct elevation and slope to provide a stream simulation design through the structure and add to the habitat improvement investment on the mainstem of Cheney Creek.  All restoration actions will be in cooperation with APWC and the BLM.

The project site is located on BLM managed land on the south side of the stream. The culvert is located on BLM Road 37-7-13 and provides public access and potential access for timber hauling to at least 3 miles of road and 4 square miles of public land above the stream crossing. There are private lands located beyond the BLM culvert. The APWC is working on this project in partnership with the BLM Grants Pass Field Office.

 

(CLOSED) WATTS TOPPIN FISH PASSAGE PROJECT
General Information & Proposal Documents

The APWC is requesting proposals for our Watts Toppin Fish Passage & Irrigation Improvement Project on Williams Creek near Provolt. This project, when completed, will provide volitional fish passage while maintaining two irrigation points of diversion.

Proposal Opens: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Mandatory Pre-proposal Site Tour: Mon., Oct. 2, 2023, 2pm

Proposal Due By: Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, 5pm (CLOSED)

Questions & Submissions

Luke Wimmer, Project Manager
luke@apwc.info | 541-890-9765

Proposal Documents (4 files)

 

Project Description

The primary goal of this project is to provide year-round volitional fish passage to all life stages and species at the Watts Toppin Dam while providing irrigation water to the water users by constructing a roughened channel (engineered riffle). The dam currently is a major fish passage barrier that limits access to high quality habitat including 12 miles for Chinook, 23 miles for Coho, 35 miles for Steelhead, and 11 miles for Pacific Lamprey. A similar design was successfully constructed at Lower Bridgepoint Dam, a dam located a mile downstream in 2020.

Watts Toppin Dam is listed on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Statewide Fish Passage Priority List as the 4th highest priority in the Applegate Watershed. The 3 higher priorities are currently in varying stages of planning and/or design for removal or retrofit by APWC and/or other entities. The proposed project seeks to build upon the recently completed Lower Bridgepoint Fish Passage Project, located on BLM land approximately 1 mile downstream of Watts Toppin Dam. The successfully completed project at Lower Bridgepoint Diversion was similar in scale and design to the proposed project at Watts Toppin. Together, these projects will substantially improve access to valuable upstream spawning and rearing habitats of Williams Creek and its tributaries.