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Request for Qualifications and Proposals
Protected Instream Flow Studies
for the Cold and Warner Designated Rivers
December 27, 2018
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 2 of 14
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................... 3 I. PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS ....................................................................................................... 3 II. PROJECT TEAM AND LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION ............................................................ 4 III. SUMMARY OF TASKS FOR THE PROTECTED INSTREAM FLOW STUDY .................. 4 IV. PROJECT SCHEDULE.............................................................................................................. 5
V. SELECTION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................ 5 VI. CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT........................................................................................ 6 VII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT ............................................................................. 6
ATTACHMENT I - SCOPE OF WORK GUIDANCE .................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 7 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 7
Task I. Protected Entity Identification and River Survey ......................................................... 9
Task II. Protected Instream Flow Criteria Development .......................................................... 9 Task III. Protected Instream Flow Public Hearing and Final Report ..................................... 12
ATTACHMENT II - AVAILABLE REFERENCE MATERIALS ............................................... 14
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 3 of 14
Request for Qualifications and Proposals for a
Protected Instream Flow Study
for the
Cold and Warner Designated Rivers
December 27, 2018
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is seeking
qualification statements and proposals from environmental consulting firms for conducting a
Protected Instream Flow Study to develop protected instream flow criteria for both the Cold and
Warner Rivers. While parts of both projects may be conducted simultaneously, the Cold River
study is to be completed under this contract if both studies cannot be completed with the available
funding. NHDES expects that a protected instream flow study and report should take a year to 18
months, but recognizes that the occurrence of appropriate flow conditions will also play a role in
the timing and duration of the project. The designated extents of the Cold and Warner Rivers are
described in RSA 483:15 and in each river’s Target Fish Community (TFC) report. The Cold
Designated River segment is 23 miles long; the Warner Designated River segment is 20 miles
long. Funding is available for an immediate start upon approval of the contract. Proposals are due
by 4:00 PM, on Thursday, January 31, 2019.
The project requires a consultant to determine protected instream flow criteria for the Cold
Designated River and to conduct all or part of the determination of protected instream flow
criteria for the Warner Designated River. The key elements of instream flow protection are a
combination of statistics, fisheries biology, river hydrology and hydraulic-habitat modeling
methods. The consultant will develop protected instream flow criteria using at a minimum
assessment methods similar to those used during the Lamprey and Souhegan Rivers’ Protected
Instream Flow Studies. The consultant will describe the results in separate Proposed Protected
Instream Flow Reports. The consultant will present the report at a public information meeting and
then at a public hearing. NHDES will receive comments. The consultant, in consultation with
NHDES, will address the comments and incorporate any changes into a final Protected Instream
Flow Report. Before completion of the project, the consultant will provide NHDES with
electronic copies of all data used to determine the protected instream flows. NHDES expects
periodic update meetings at appropriate times, roughly on a quarterly basis.
I. PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
Complete and timely submittal of all proposal parts is required for NHDES to consider the
proposal. Consultants will submit a proposal package to the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services (NHDES) that includes the following components:
The project team, including a project team organization, team member
qualifications and the anticipated level of involvement of key team members in
each phase of the project as described in the project approach and scope of work.
A technical proposal that describes the scope of work.
An itemized cost breakdown by river for activities within each task.
A proposed project schedule.
A confidentiality statement.
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 4 of 14
A conflict of interest statement.
This request for proposals and the references provided are designed to guide the consultant in
developing a proposal that meets NHDES’ goals for: 1) conducting a protected instream flow study;
2) demonstrating its statistical validity; and 3) presenting the proposed protected instream flows to
the public for comment in preparation for NHDES’ establishment of flow criteria. If clarifications of
proposal requirements are needed, NHDES will accept questions until 8 AM, January 14, 2019.
NHDES will record the questions and distribute a written, final response document to all interested
consultants by the end of the week. To receive this document, notify Wayne Ives at
[email protected] or at the address below.
Each consultant will submit two (2) paper copies of the proposal plus one copy in electronic
format by 4:00 PM on Thursday, January 31, 2019 to:
Instream Flow Study Proposal Package
Attn: Wayne Ives, Instream Flow Specialist
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-0095
II. PROJECT TEAM AND LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION
Included in the proposal, the consultant will identify the staff members responsible for
managing and conducting project tasks. The consultant will describe the relevant experience of
the staff member to the role they will play. The consultant will also estimate each staff member’s
expected level of participation in the project tasks and in the overall project. An organization chart
showing lines of communication and decision-making hierarchy will be included in the proposal.
III. SUMMARY OF TASKS FOR THE PROTECTED INSTREAM FLOW STUDY
The project tasks are summarized below and described in detail in Attachment I - Scope of
Work Guidance. The consultant will clearly describe in their proposal their plans for completing
these tasks and the expected duration and timing for activities within each task. The consultant
should provide itemized costs for activities within each task in the proposal package.
Reference materials to assist in understanding the project tasks are listed in Attachment II.
NHDES recommends the consultant thoroughly familiarize themselves with the Pilot Program
reports describing the Lamprey and Souhegan Rivers’ Protected Instream Flow Studies and
especially with the 2010 Summary of the Instream Flow Council’s Review of the Souhegan and
Lamprey Rivers’ Instream Flow Pilot Studies, which gives many insights into developing a
scientifically-defensible protected instream flow study.
Task I. Protected Entity Identification and River Survey
Identify flow-dependent, instream public uses and Clean Water Act designated uses to be
evaluated for instream flow protection, and identify field locations where the assessments will be
made.
Task II. Protected Instream Flow Criteria Development
Evaluate the protected instream flow needs for the flow-dependent entities and integrate the
flow needs into protected flow criteria that define the natural pattern of stream flows. Develop a
Proposed Protected Instream Flow Report.
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 5 of 14
Task III. Protected Instream Flow Public Hearing and Final Report
Attend and present the Proposed Protected Instream Flow Report at a public information
meeting and at a public hearing. Address comments in coordination with NHDES, revise and
submit a final Protected Instream Flow Report.
IV. PROJECT SCHEDULE
The consultant will provide a project schedule. Project activities for each task will be laid out
in a flow chart identifying the duration and anticipated start and completion dates.
The consultant may conduct the two projects simultaneously or sequentially. The Cold River
will be completed in its entirety under this contract: The Warner River, if not completed, is to be
completed to the extent of the available funds. During contract development, NHDES may
eliminate proposed activities under a task on the Warner River at a logical break point. NHDES
expects that a protected instream flow study and report may take a year to 18 months, but
recognizes that the occurrence of appropriate flow conditions will also play a role in the timing
and duration of the project. NHDES and the consultant will determine the most effective means of
completing the project tasks given the budget, flow and staffing conditions during final contract
negotiations.
V. SELECTION CRITERIA
Consultants will be ranked based on: 1) demonstration of suitable qualifications comprised of
the experience and involvement of project members; 2) on the appropriateness and clarity of the
proposed methods of completing the tasks; 3) on the consultant’s ability to communicate complex
concepts; and 4) on cost. Rankings will be based on the following evaluation criteria and
weightings.
1. Specialized Experience of the Project Team (40 Percent)
NHDES will rate the consultant on their experience and knowledge of statistics, fisheries
biology, river hydrology and hydraulic-habitat modeling methods directly related to
assessment of protected instream flows. Consultants should demonstrate knowledge of the
applicable state and federal laws and rules, and demonstrate the extensive professional
experience of the staff to be assigned to this project in hydrology, fisheries biology,
hydraulic and fish habitat modeling, statistics, and data management. NHDES will
consider the team member’s role and participation level, the qualifications and experience
of project personnel, and communication abilities. Higher scores will go to consultants
who commit staff that have technical expertise at levels appropriate to the tasks; and who
submit both a clear, concise, and cohesive proposal and are able to articulate their plan
during an interview.
2. Project Approach and Cost (60 Percent)
NHDES will rate the consultant on their descriptions of the activities required to complete
the project tasks and their grasp of how the components of the tasks fit together to define
comprehensive protected instream flows. NHDES will consider whether the proposal’s
proposed methods and procedures will provide data-driven, and scientifically-defensible
protected instream flow criteria. NHDES will consider whether the results expected from
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 6 of 14
these methods will be representative of the river segment and will be demonstrably valid
and reproducible. Key elements will be the sources of the data to be applied, the
assessment methods, and quality assurance. Proposals should show a clear path from data
collection through the determination of protected instream flow criteria. NHDES will
evaluate the costs proposed for activities within each task. Selection will not be
determined by lowest cost: NHDES will select the best-qualified firm with the best plan
at a reasonable price.
After reviewing the proposals, NHDES choose consultants to continue for interviews.
Interviews will be scheduled during February 11 through 22, 2019 at NHDES offices in Concord,
NH. Higher scores will go to consultants demonstrating an ability to complete the work on
schedule and budget, a robust quality control/assurance programs, and an ability to clearly
communicate scientific concepts to both scientific and public audiences in writing and orally.
NHDES will rank the candidates based on a structured review of proposals, cost, schedule,
and interviews, and notify the highest-ranked consultant that NHDES intends to negotiate the
contract with them. NHDES will negotiate with this consultant to determine final project scope
and cost based on fair and reasonable compensation for the services required. If no agreement is
reached on scope of services and price, NHDES will terminate negotiations and begin
negotiations with the next-highest ranked consultant until a contract has been successfully
negotiated.
VI. CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
Each proposal will include a confidentiality statement covering all firms and individuals
involved in this project. The confidentiality statement will prohibit the use, distribution or
discussion of collected information for any purpose other than development and documentation of
the protected instream flows.
VII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
Each candidate will submit a statement describing any potential conflicts of interest, such as,
for example, a relationship with a water user or parties related to an affected dam in the
watershed.
VIII. DISCLAIMER
This RFP does not commit NHDES to award a contract or pay any costs incurred during the
preparation of the proposal. NHDES reserves the right to reject any or all of the proposals for
completing this work. NHDES reserves the right to reduce the scope of work to meet its budget or
to ensure continuity of the overall project. NHDES also reserves the right to eliminate the need
for the selected consultant to complete one or more tasks, pending the outcome of preceding
activities or tasks.
Attachment I - SCOPE OF WORK GUIDANCE
Attachment II – REFERENCE MATERIALS
Attachment III - NHDES PUBLICATION GUIDELINES
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 7 of 14
ATTACHMENT I - SCOPE OF WORK GUIDANCE
Request for Proposals
Protected Instream Flow Studies
for the
Cold and Warner Designated Rivers
INTRODUCTION
The NHDES Instream Flow Program (Program) is seeking a qualified consulting firm to
conduct an assessment of protected instream flows for the Cold and the Warner Designated
Rivers and to recommend protected instream flow criteria for each of them. This attachment to the
proposal provides additional details describing the expected scope of work. The key elements of
the protected instream flow study are a combination of statistics, fisheries biology, river
hydrology and hydraulic-habitat (incremental flow) modeling methods. Protected instream flows
are numerical translators of state and federal water quality standards for stream flow. The
documentation that follows provides descriptions of three tasks to be completed during an
instream flow study.
The consultant will determine protected instream flows for the Cold and Warner Designated
Rivers. These protected instream flows will be based upon scientific analyses incorporating the
methods described in the 2015 final Report of the Instream Flow Pilot Program. NHDES intends
that the process be conducted using similar methods to those developed during the Pilot Program
and the resulting protected instream flow criteria be expressed in comparable terms.
In brief, under the project tasks, the consultant will conduct a survey to identify the flow-
dependent, instream public uses and identify stations for instream flow assessments. The
consultant will apply scientific assessment methods for determining protected instream flows. The
consultant will present a Proposed Protected Instream Flow report in a public information meeting
and in a public hearing. The consultant will make revisions, in consultation with NHDES in
response to comments received during the comment period, and submit a final Protected Instream
Flow report to NHDES.
BACKGROUND
This project is intended to dovetail with the pilot projects and to form a template for future
instream flow studies. Applicants should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the Instream
Flow Pilot Program and with the relevant rules and legislation governing establishment of
protected instream flows.
There are several sources of information describing and providing insight to the earlier
studies.
Instream Flow Council - In 2009, NHDES contracted with the Instream Flow Council to
review the final Souhegan River Protected Instream Flow report and the draft report for the
Lamprey Designated River. NHDES provided a summary of the Instream Flow Council’s review
with additional discussion by NHDES. The summary and NHDES’s discussion will provide
insight significant to this project into the Pilot Program’s application of methods and the
improvements that were suggested.
Final Protected Instream Flow Studies - In 2013, NHDES completed the Pilot Program to
test methods for determining protected instream flows on two Designated Rivers. NHDES has
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 8 of 14
concluded that these methods are effective and appropriate for applying to the other Designated
Rivers of the State. The Lamprey River and Souhegan River pilot reports are available on the
Department’s website.
Final Report of the Instream Flow Pilot Program - NHDES also evaluated the instream
flow pilot in a December 2015 report. NHDES intends that this contract be conducted under the
practices described in the pilot reports and the lessons learned during the pilot program described
in the 2015 report.
RECENT ADVANCES
There are several recent program advances affecting how Instream Flow studies will be
conducted. The Target Fish Community assessments broke the rivers into smaller segments of
similar character. The QPPQ development provides a way to calculate daily stream flows where
gages are not available.
Target Fish Community assessments
In 2018, NHDES conducted Target Fish Community assessments describing the fish
communities that are expected to exist in the Designated Rivers. As part of this assessment, the
Designated Rivers were divided into segments having a distinct character and fish community.
NHDES expects separate protected instream flow criteria to be developed for each segment
defined during the Target Fish Community assessments, and that the Target Fish Community for
that segment will be the basis for incremental hydraulic-habitat modeling. The segments and the
Target Fish Communities are described in each Designated River’s Target Fish Community report
available on the website. https://www4.des.state.nh.us/blogs/rmac/?page_id=3429
Daily stream flow calculation method - QPPQ
In 2018, NHDES had the 1994 QPPQ Transform method (Fennessey 1994) updated by its
author, Dr. Neil Fennessey. Some of the Designated Rivers have data gaps in the USGS stream
flow records and some rivers have no USGS gages at all. The QPPQ Transform method calculates
daily stream flow records at ungaged locations. The 1994 QPPQ method is used by USGS, the
State of Massachusetts, and other states’ water resource analysts. Studies have demonstrated that
the 1994 QPPQ method is the most accurate means for estimating daily stream flows in the
northeastern United States. However, NHDES contracted with Dr. Fennessey to update the
regression parameters used in the QPPQ calculations, with a focus on improving accuracy at low
flows.
NHDES will provide a minimum 30-year daily stream flow record tied to an existing USGS
gage for use in the incremental hydraulic-habitat models. This gage will represent an index gage
for determining the protected instream flows and for tracking conditions versus the criteria. The
consultant will use USGS stream flow records, augmented, where necessary, with QPPQ-derived
records to conduct the protected instream flow studies.
DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this contract is to conduct a protected instream flow study and develop
protected instream flow criteria for one or more designated rivers. The sections below describe
the expected tasks for this project. The descriptions include bulleted points intended to highlight
important concepts that may elicit further discussion of specific details within the consultant’s
proposal.
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 9 of 14
Task I. Protected Entity Identification and River Survey
The consultant will identify flow-dependent, instream public uses applicable to the
Designated River segment. The consultant will conduct an on-stream survey of the Designated
River to locate and verify specific flow-dependent instream public uses and Clean Water Act
designated uses.
NHDES considers flow-dependent instream public uses to include aquatic species, mainly
fish, and their habitat; riparian vegetation and wildlife; and recreational boating. Flow-dependent
Clean Water Act designated uses include components similar to the flow-dependent instream
public uses. These uses are Aquatic Life and Wildlife, which are defined in the NH Consolidated
Assessment and Listing Methodology, as follows.
Aquatic Life - Waters that provide suitable chemical and physical
conditions for supporting a balanced, integrated and adaptive
community of aquatic organisms.
Wildlife - Waters that provide suitable physical and chemical
conditions in the water and the riparian corridor to support wildlife as
well as aquatic life.
The consultant should discuss how to identify and select:
Fish species to be assessed in the hydraulic-habitat model.
Representative reaches for the hydraulic-habitat model.
Transects to assess flow-dependent rare, threatened, or endangered (RTE) wildlife, RTE
vegetation, and natural/ecological communities.
Boating use and access points.
The on-stream survey is not intended to be an exhaustive identification and cataloging of
these entities, but rather a targeted verification of their existence and occurrence, and a
reconnaissance to prepare for the field investigations by selecting assessment stations.
The consultant should:
Explain how the number and placement of assessment locations will be determined so as
to adequately represent the Designated River segment (considering the distribution and
types of habitat).
Describe how the representativeness of the selected assessment stations will be determined
to ensure the statistical validity of the assessment locations chosen to represent the
Designated River segment.
Task II. Protected Instream Flow Criteria Development
The consultant will determine and propose scientifically-based, quantitative protected
instream flow criteria for the flow-dependent, instream public uses identified in Task 1. The
protected instream flow criteria developed must be a data-driven result. The ability of others to
reach the similar results will be a consideration. The results will be documented in a Proposed
Protected Instream Flow Report
The protected instream flows are to be developed using methods and processes similar to
those applied in the Pilot Program to the Lamprey and Souhegan Designated Rivers. The Pilot
Program reported its findings in the 2015 Report of the Instream Flow Pilot Program (NHDES
report R-WD-15-1.) This report encapsulates the Pilot Program’s methods and describes lessons
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 10 of 14
learned. The consultant should consider the findings of these reports that apply to conducting a
protected instream flow study and as described in the Task descriptions below. The consultant
should detail proposed differences in approach from the Pilot methods, if any.
At a minimum, the consultant will develop protected instream flow criteria using 1) site-
specific, reference-quality stream flow records, habitat data, and habitat preferences in an
incremental hydraulic-habitat model for aquatic species; 2) floodplain transect methods for
riparian vegetation and wildlife; and 3) surveys of recreational-use preferences of stream
conditions for recreational boating or navigation. The consultant will describe the methods
proposed to develop the protected instream flow criteria.
The consultant should describe the hydraulic-habitat model to be used for aquatic species
assessment, explain why the particular model was selected, and how it will be applied to
calculate protected instream flow for aquatic species. If the consultant wishes to propose
an alternative methodology that is consistent with the pilot studies in the Lamprey and
Souhegan rivers, the approach should be described in detail along with its potential merits.
Hydraulic-habitat (incremental flow) models for aquatic species assessment
Hydraulic-habitat models require daily stream flow records as input data. NHDES will
identify or provide a minimum 30-year, up to a 50-year, period of daily stream flows that the
consultant will use to assess protected instream flows. Daily stream flow data records are
available from existing USGS gages. Where USGS records are limited, NHDES has extended the
daily flow records using the updated QPPQ methods described earlier. Records are expected to
include the 30 to 50 years prior to 2000.
The consultant may wish to discuss whether a daily flow record longer than 30 years, if it
is available, should be used in the fish hydraulic-habitat model modeling.
Reference stream flow record
The consultant will determine whether the flow record reflects disturbed conditions and, if
necessary and if suitable data exist, correct the record to a reference stream flow record. If the
measured flow record is strongly affected by water withdrawals, returns, or dam operations, a
reference stream flow record more closely representing unmanaged stream flow conditions will
need to be developed for use in the hydraulic-habitat model. Reference flows are the flows that
would occur without human disturbance.
The consultant should discuss whether corrections for defining reference flow records are
needed for either the Cold or the Warner rivers.
Reference daily flow conditions will be calculated, if necessary, by adding or removing any
significant and measurable withdrawals or returns from the daily stream flow record. An example
of this process occurred during the Lamprey Pilot Program where daily flows were corrected for
large withdrawals and dam storage and release operations to create the reference flow record.
Corrections will use only measured or readily quantifiable values. The corrections will be
limited to measurable flow changes, such as measured water withdrawals or quantifiable dam
refills or releases. Corrections for land use changes, impervious surfaces, etc., which require
assumptions and estimates, are not expected.
If reference flows are required to address significant flow manipulation, the consultant
should briefly describe their plan for determining reference flow records.
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 11 of 14
Habitat use data
Habitat use data describe preferred conditions where aquatic species conduct life-stage-
specific activities. These data identify habitat conditions these species prefer or avoid, and are
also part of the input data to a hydraulic-habitat model. Habitat Suitability Index literature is
available for many fish and other aquatic species. The consultant is encouraged to develop river-
specific habitat suitability criteria.
The consultant should describe how Habitat Suitability Criteria will be obtained for the
fish to be used in the habitat flow model.
Evaluation of hydraulic-habitat model results
The consultant will determine protected instream flow thresholds as flow magnitude, duration
and frequency within each bioperiod. The consultant will describe how critical flow conditions
will be identified for protection. For example, during the Pilot Program, the consultants applied a
frequency-duration analysis to time-series data, known as uniform continuous under threshold
(UCUT), to the hydraulic-habitat model results. That analysis demonstrated the critical thresholds
for defining the protected instream flow criteria. The consultant also will describe how the
protected instream flows will be articulated. The consultant should:
Describe how species from the Target Fish Community will be selected for inclusion in
the hydraulic-habitat model.
Describe how the results of a hydraulic-habitat model will be assessed to determine
protected instream flows.
Riparian vegetation and wildlife flow assessments
Plant communities and wildlife occupy positions on the stream bank to take advantage of or
avoid certain flow conditions. During the Pilot Program, for example, the floodplain transect
method was applied to compare lifecycle needs of riparian plant and animal species with the
flows that occur where surveys showed that these species live. Identification of the locations
where RTE species or exemplary communities exist is required during Task 1. Elevation surveys
of species occurrences will be conducted and flow-elevation relationships developed. The
consultant will then link historical flows and life cycle needs of species to determine flow
requirements defined in terms of magnitude, timing, frequency, and duration.
The consultant should describe how instream protected flows for riparian vegetation and
wildlife will be determined.
Recreational assessment
The consultant will describe how boating preferences will be determined. During the Pilot
Program, opinion surveys were conducted to determine preferences for recreational uses of the
rivers. The protected flow was determined by assessing the river use at various flows and
surveying boaters’ preferences for using the river.
The consultant should explain how a protected instream flows for recreation or
navigational boating will be determined.
Proposed Protected Instream Flow Report
The consultant will prepare a draft Proposed Protected Instream Flow Report describing their
evaluation methods, results, and the proposed protected instream flow criteria. The protected
instream flow criteria will be described in terms of flow magnitudes, durations, timing and
frequency. For applicable species or habitat, the consultant also will describe rates of change of
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 12 of 14
flow. The consultant will integrate the protected instream flow criteria for the various flow-
dependent, instream public uses into protected instream flow criteria that define a natural pattern
of stream flows. The report will describe how the proposed protected instream flow criteria will
support the Commissioner’s decision to establish the protected instream flows based on the
requirements under Env-Wq 1904.05.
The consultant will present the draft Proposed Protected Instream Flow report to NHDES for
review and comment. The consultant will submit four paper copies and electronic copies in both
word and pdf formats. The consultant will revise the draft Proposed Protected Instream Flow
report in consultation with NHDES to create a Proposed Protected Instream Flow report.
ADA compliance
Note: For the proposed and the final reports, NHDES will provide the consultant with an
NHDES report number and electronic NHDES logo to be incorporated into the report. All draft
and final documents submitted for this project must follow the NHDES publications guidelines
provided by NHDES. All draft and final reports must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) 508 requirements and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AAA standards.
Data transfer to NHDES The consultant will provide NHDES with data files containing all measurements collected and
data used in these assessments. NHDES may need to reevaluate a river’s protected instream flow
criteria in the future. The consultant will submit to NHDES all data used to make determinations
of the protected instream flow criteria. The data will be in commonly used formats approved by
NHDES. The consultant should:
Describe the expected data sets and proposed method for submitting these files.
Describe how data quality is ensured.
Describe the system for data management.
Note: NHDES is in possession of System for Environmental Flow Analysis (SEFA) software.
http://sefa.co.nz/
Task III. Protected Instream Flow Public Hearing and Final Report
Public information meeting and public hearing
NHDES will hold a public information meeting followed at least 15 days later by a public
hearing as described in Env-Wq 1904.04. NHDES will provide and prepare facilities for the
meeting and the hearing. NHDES will publish the Proposed Protected Instream Flow report on its
website, and provide notices for and publicize and conduct the information meeting and the public
hearing. The public hearing will be held in a community through or past which the DR flows to
receive comments on the proposed protected instream flow criteria.
The consultant will make the proposed Protected Instream Flow report available to NHDES as
four paper copies and electronic versions at least 30 days prior to the date of the information
meeting. NHDES will distribute the report. The consultant will participate in the public
information meeting and the public hearing by giving a presentation describing the proposed
protected instream flow criteria and its development, and by answering questions.
Comment response and final report submittal
NHDES will compile comments received during the 30-day comment period following the
public hearing. NHDES will provide the comments received during the public hearing and the
public comment period to the consultant. NHDES and the consultant will review and determine
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 13 of 14
responses to the comments. Coordinating with NHDES, the consultant will make any necessary
revisions to the Proposed Protected Instream Flow report and document the responses to the
comments.
The consultant will submit a final report for approval by NHDES describing the
recommended protected instream flows and comment responses for NHDES to establish the
protected instream flow criteria. The consultant will submit four paper copies and electronic
copies in both word and pdf formats. NHDES will send written notice of receipt of a complete
data package and acceptance of the report to the consultant.
The consultant will be expected to communicate effectively with NHDES, including routine
and concise communication as the work progresses. The results must be scientifically robust
assessments. The consultant will be expected to have the ability to communicate these
assessments to the public at the public hearing.
Cold River and Warner River Request for Proposal Page 14 of 14
ATTACHMENT II - AVAILABLE REFERENCE MATERIALS
Summary of the Instream Flow Council's Review of the Souhegan and Lamprey Instream Flow
Pilot Studies - April 2010 https://www4.des.state.nh.us/blogs/rmac/wp-
content/uploads/20100409_des_summary.pdf
Report of the Instream Flow Pilot Program - December 1, 2015
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/rivers/instream/report.htm
TARGET FISH COMMUNITY Reports – July 2018
https://www4.des.state.nh.us/blogs/rmac/?page_id=3429
2009 Lamprey River Protected Instream Flow Study Report
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/rivers/instream/lamprey/study.htm
2008 Souhegan River Protected Instream Flow Study Report
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/rivers/instream/souhegan/study.htm
RSA 483:9-c Establishment of Protected Instream Flows – part of the New Hampshire Rivers
Management and Protection Program Act
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/nhtoc/NHTOC-L-483.htm
Env-Wq 1900 Instream Flow Rules
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/legal/rulemaking/index.htm#pwaterq