Response for project 199604200: Restore Salmon Cr Anad Fish
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
Requesting a budget to continue evaluation of a modified alternative for steelhead and complete the Environmental Impact Statement. Completion of EIS: $150,000 Project management: $24,000 Okanogan Irrigation District Participation: $2,000 Design for stream channel construction: $150,000 Total: $326,000 This budget would be contigent on a favorable review of the 1 step of the Master Plan. Project management would include conducting meetings with the Irrigation District Joint Committee, local stakeholder and local governments partiucularly in regards to lower channel construction. Okanogan Irrigation District Participation would include discussions and updates regarding Master Plan and again based upon the review of the first step developing a progessional plan to proceed. If a favorable outcome from the 1 step Master Plan and discussion with the aforementioned groups then an RFP would be developed for channel design, a firm would be selected and engineer drawings (design plan) would be provided for construction during 2007.
Accomplishments since the last review
| Produce Environmental Compliance Documentation | FY 2003 Initiated NEPA process FY 2004 Completed DRaft EIS | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Controlled water release of 25cfs to evaluate steelhead passage conditions in the lower 4.3 miles of Salmon Creek and to identify impediments to adult migration. |
Complete Final EIS. During the spring of 2003, 620 acre ft of water was released downstream of the Okanogan Irrigation District's diversion. The objective of this water release program was to evaluate fish passage conditions for steelhead at a controlled release level (25 cfs) to identify selected spawning sights and associated production. The lower reach was considered passable by for 9 days (April 3 through April 12). In that time period 5 redds were constructed downstream of the irrigation diversion and one upstream of the diversion. Due to limited access we were only able to survey approximately 1/4 mile upstream of the diversion dam, thus there could be substantially more redds constructed upstream of the diversion dam. The redds downstream of the diversion dam were constructed in the presence of hyporheic flows. Although surface flow was terminated in mid-April, all redds were succesful in fry production as evident by surveys conducted during late May. Further inverstigations (snorkel) conducted during the fall of 2003, spring and fall of 2004 and spring of 2005, revealed survival of steelhead. Due to extreme drought conditions the Tribe deferred the option to release the remaining 580 acre feet from the water lease program to flush these steelhead smolts from Salmon Creek. Instead a rescue effort in cooperation with the USFWS was conducted in late-April. Over 400 steelhead smolts were removed from the reach downstream of the irrigation diversion. A draft EIS was developed for the evaluation of 3 action alternatives to ensure water to the Irrigation District and provide instream flows for anadromous salmonid production. The record of decision is contigent upon the outcome of the Master plan.
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Coordination | Coordinate channel rehabilitation efforts with Irrigation District, local stake holders, city and county. Continue dialogue with Irrigation District on water leasing program and project updates | |
| Produce Design and/or Specifications | Develop RFP to design a low flow channel in lower Salmon Creek pending outcome of Master Plan and discussions with local stakeholders and governments (city & county). Firm would be selected and contracted to survey and provide a design. |
Complete Final EIS. Based upon a favorable review of the first step of the Master Plan by the Independent Scientific Review Panel, the goals would be to intiate discussions with local stakeholders and local government to discuss opportunities for channel reconstruction. Based upon discussions with local entities, a request for proposal would be developed for engineered design drawings for channel construction. Likely an environmental engineering firm would be selected and a design would be developed which would be used as the basis for construction of a low flow channel in the lower reach. Again, contingent upon a favorable review by the ISRP and local entities, construction of the lower channel could possibly begin as soon as the summer of 2007.
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
On table 2, page 14 primary limiting factors in lower salmon creek include flow and channel stability. This shouldn't come as any surprise since continuous flow in lower salmon creek has not existed for over 80 years. Consequently, riparian vegetation which would provide bank stability is virtually non-existant. During above average water years, such as occurred during 1996/1997, an estimated 600 cfs was spilling over the Conconully Reservoir Dam, and further channel widening in the lower reach of Salmon Creek. This project, again contigent upon a favorable review of the step 1 of the Master Plan, would dramatically increase bank stability and provide flow on a regular basis and greater duration.
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
Again contingent upon a favorable review of the step 1 Master Plan, the project would be directed in constructing a low flow channel and provide flow in the lower channel of Salmon Creek. Channel stability and lack of flow are two of the five primary limiting factors identified in Table 2., page 14 of the Sub-basin plan. If flow is provided continuously in lower Salmon Creek than the other 3 primary limiting factors (habitat diversity, key habitat quantity, and obstructions) will be addressed.