BPA Fish and Wildlife FY 1998 Proposal
Section 1. Summary
Section 2. Goals
Section 3. Background
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Section 5. Planned activities
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
Section 7. Relationships
Section 8. Costs and FTE
see CBFWA and BPA funding recommendations
Section 1. Summary
Title of project
Upper Salmon River Diversion Consolidation Program
BPA project number 9600700
Short description
Consolidate diversions at four (4) upper Salmon River sites (S-14, S-13, S-12, S-11), pump 15 cfs Salmon River water into L-6 canal during periods of Lemhi River low flow for salmon passage and construct a new fish screen at S-28 to accommodate the additional flow from the S-26, S-29, Chester pump consolidation (in progress FY97).
Business name of agency, institution or organization requesting funding
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
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Sub-contractors |
Section 2. Goals
General
Supports a healthy Columbia basin; maintains biological diversity; maintains genetic integrity; increases run sizes or populations; provides needed habitat protection
| Target stock | Life stage | Mgmt code (see below) |
| Spring/Summer chinook | Juvenile/Adult | (L) W |
| Sockeye | Juvenile/Adult | (L) W |
| Steelhead | Juvenile/Adult | (P) W |
| Affected stock | Benefit or detriment |
| Bull trout | Beneficial |
| Rainbow trout | Beneficial |
Section 3. Background
Stream area affected
Stream name Salmon
Stream miles affected All
Hydro project N/A. This project does not mitigate for a specific hydroelectric project.
Land ownership Private
Habitat types N/A. This project deals with fish passage issues, not fish habitat.
History
The first phase of the project (S-32 diversion consolidation) is complete. S-28 consolidation (Phase II) is underway. S-14 consolidation and S-28 fish screen construction (Phase III) will start late fall of 1997. The Bureau of Reclamation has provided canal surveys, archaeological surveys, NEPA, and structure designs for Phase I & II and will provide the same for Phase III work.
Biological results achieved
The diversion consolidation at S-32 is complete and resulted in three (3) gravity diversions eliminated from the Salmon River near Challis, Id. Several irrigators provided cost sharing and converted to sprinkler irrigation which results in less water being diverted from the Salmon River. Three fish screens were eliminated as well as three "push-up" gravel berms.
Adaptive management implications
The successful completion of the S-32 consolidation project improved the "trust" level of many local ranchers in working on current and future projects with the many state, federal, and tribal people involved.
Section 4. Purpose and methods
Specific measureable objectives
Phase III project (FY98) will consolidate four (4) gravity diversions into a single diversion near Salmon, Id. Additionally, Salmon River water (up to 15 cfs) will be pumped into the L-6 canal during periods of low flow in the Lemhi River to provide for salmon passage as needed. A new fish screen will be constructed on the S-28 canal near Challis, Id. S-28 consolidation project currently underway.
Critical uncertainties
None
Biological need
Irrigation diversions can be detrimental to migrating fish in several ways. Juvenile fish can be diverted into the irrigation canal causing migration delays or usually death. Gravel berms constructed in the river to divert water can act as passage impediments to adult fish and may result in dewatering downstream sections. Operation of heavy equipment to construct the gravel berms causes streambed disturbance releasing sediment into the stream. In addition, any time equipment is operated in a stream there is a risk of spills of petroleum or other toxic substances. Pumping up to 15 cfs of Salmon River water into the L-6 canal will therefore allow 15 cfs to remain "instream" in the often totally dewatered lower portion of the Lemhi River for salmon passage as needed.
Hypothesis to be tested
None
Alternative approaches
N/A. There are no acceptable alternatives.
Justification for planning
N/A. This project is an implementation project.
Methods
The canals of the diversions to be retained (S-14 and S-28) will need to be enlarged to accomodate water from the eliminated diversions. Delivery systems to transport water from the retained diversion canal to the new irrigators will be built. The newly enlarged canals (including S-32) will also need new fish screens to accomodate additional amounts of water. Financial assistance in purchasing on-farm sprinkler systems will be provided. Long term O&M will be the responsibility of the project recipient (IDF&G & irrigators) with the exception of the Salmon River pump plant.
Section 5. Planned activities
| Phase Planning | Start October 1,1999 | End 2000 | Subcontractor No |
| FY00 Identifying and prioritizing in-river berms for stabilization. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start October 1,1998 | End Feb 1, 1999 | Subcontractor No |
| FY99 S-32 fish screen design. | |||
| Phase Planning | Start October 1,1997 | End Feb 1, 1998 | Subcontractor No |
| FY98 S-14 fish screen design. | |||
| Phase Implementation | Start 2000 | End 2001 | Subcontractor Yes |
| Stabilization of in-river gravel berms. | |||
| Phase Implementation | Start 1999 | End 2000 | Subcontractor Yes |
| S-32 fish screen construction. | |||
| Phase Implementation | Start 1998 | End 1999 | Subcontractor Yes |
| S-14 fish screen construction. | |||
| Phase Implementation | Start October 1, 1997 | End September 30, 1998 | Subcontractor Yes |
| S-14 canal enlargement/consolidation, headgate & bifurcation structure construction, Salmon River to L-6 pump station. S-28 fish screen construction. | |||
| Phase O&M | Start 1999 | End Ongoing | Subcontractor No. |
| Operate and maintain Salmon River pump to L-6 canal. | |||
Constraints or factors that may cause schedule or budget changes
None
Section 6. Outcomes, monitoring and evaluation
SUMMARY OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Expected performance of target population or quality change in land area affected
Several benefits are gained by implementation of the project. Immediate benefits for fish include reducing points of diversion that entrain juveniles in irrigation canals, eliminating gravel berms which act as passage impediments to adults, and increasing instream flows (through conversion from flood to sprinkler irrigation). Several of the fish screens on the diversions do not currently meet the latest National Marine Fisheries Service criteria. By eliminating diversions, fish screen construction, operation, and maintenance costs will be substantially reduced. The affected irrigators will realize reduced canal maintenance costs, reduced time and money to construct gravel berms, and, for those irrigators converting to sprinkler, improved crop production.
Contribution toward long-term goal
Increase survival of both juvenile and adult anadromous fish by providing better fish passageconditions and increased instream flow.
Physical products
Canal enlargement, fish screens, bifurcation structures, head gate and pump station.
Environmental attributes affected by the project
Improved passage conditions for both juveniles and adult plus improved instream flows are the major benefits of the ongoing project.
Information products
NR
MONITORING APPROACH
The canals of the diversions to be retained (S-14 and S-28) will need to be enlarged to accomodate water from the eliminated diversions. Delivery systems to transport water from the retained diversion canal to the new irrigators will be built. The newly enlarged canals (including S-32) will also need new fish screens to accomodate additional amounts of water. Financial assistance in purchasing on-farm sprinkler systems will be provided.
Section 7. Relationships
| Related BPA project | Relationship |
| 9401500 Idaho Fish Screening Program | Augments IDFG existing fish screening program. |
| 9306200 Lemhi Model Watershed - Fish Passage Enhancement | Augments Model Watershed fish passage program. |
| 9401700 Lemhi Model Watershed - Habitat | Enhances efforts of the Model Watershed Habitat program by consolidating diversions and removing artificial instream structures. |
| Related non-BPA project | Relationship |
| Bureau of Reclamation | Lemhi River Water Conservation Demonstration Project |
| Fish passage/instream flow |
Opportunities for cooperation
This project will require irrigators' approval, NEPA compliance, 404 permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, consultation with NMFS, and archaeological clearance.Cooperators include: Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Bureau of Reclamation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Custer Soil and Water Conservation District, Lemhi Soil and Water Conservation District, individual irrigators.
Section 8. Costs and FTE
1997 Planned $645,000
| Future funding needs | Past obligations (incl. 1997 if done) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FY | Other funding source | Amount | In-kind value |
| 1998 | BOR, NRCS | $50,000 | |
| 1999 | BOR, NRCS, IDFG | $35,000 | |
| 2000 | BOR, NRCS, IDFG | $50,000 | |
| 2001 | BOR, NRCS | $35,000 | |
| 2002 | BOR, NRCS | $35,000 |
Other non-financial supporters
NMFS, CoE, BLM, USFS, IDWR, Custer and Lemhi Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Lemhi Model Watershed.
Continued project implementation $100,000 annually
How does percentage apply to direct costs
Portion of direct cost. No overhead to be charged to projects from assisting agencies.
Subcontractor FTE As many as 25 construction people will be needed to complete fish screen, canal enlargement, & other associated construction activities in FY-98.