The Nez Perce National Forest, in cooperation with the Nez Perce Tribe and Bonneville Power Administration, plans to solicit for the Upper Newsome Riparian Restoration Project in early 2006. At the basic level, the solicitation will consist of final designs for instream and riparian improvements along about four miles of Newsome Creek, upstream of the Newsome Townsite. Secondly, the solicitation may include the construction phase of the instream and riparian improvements. If solicited as a design and build contract, the contractor will also be responsible for securing necessary permits. Thirdly, the solicitation may include assessment and reconstruction of the Haysfork Placer Mine sediment trap, which is located within the Newsome Creek riparian area in the project reach. A draft EIS for the project is scheduled to be released in September, 2005 with a final EIS and Record of Decision planned for early 2006. The design phase of the contract will schedule field work in 2006, with a final design due in early 2007. The construction phase could begin as early as July, 2007 and is expected to continue for several years. A pre-solicitation field tour for prospective bidders is scheduled for October 4, 2005. The meeting location for the field tour is at the junction of State Highway 14 and the Newsome Creek Road #1858. This is located at Milepost 37 on Highway 14 and is about one hour east of Grangeville, Idaho or twenty minutes west of Elk City, Idaho. The starting time is 0900 PDT. Participants should be prepared to hike and ford the creek (several inches deep at riffles). For further information, please contact Nick Gerhardt at 208-983-1950.