Omak Creek Summer Steelhead Habitat/Passage Project

All consultation and permitting requirements were completed. Preliminary evaluation for design work to develop instream structures required to restore fish passage in the Mission Falls area was completed. In October of 2003, a survey was conducted to develop a stream profile with cross-sections which will form the basis for design of the instream structures. The Colville Tribes will begin development of the final design in coordination with other Tribal departments during winter of 2004. Construction/installation is expected occur during the low water flow season in late 2004 (pending clarification of cultural resource questions). Once completed, these instream structures will compromise the lowest barriers in Mission Falls and restore access to upper reaches of this vital watershed. In addition to this work in late 2003 two damaged and undersized culverts on the Haley Creek road which were in eminent danger of washing out and thus destroying essential downstream spawning habitat used by endangered summer steelhead were successfully replaced with a bottomless culvert at approximately RM 9.0.

Objectives 1 and 2 are completed. Objective 3- The CCT F&W Department is continuing efforts to improve steelhead passage at the base of Mission Falls on Omak Creek. The process has involved the development of a probable cost opinion for completion of passage improvements. Based on the probable cost opinion, approximately $50,000 in addition to PCSRF were identified as necessary to complete the project. The Tribe is currently seeking additonal funding through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board small grant program. Additonally, the Tribe has submitted a request to the Bonneville Power Administration to cost share the additonal funding through conservation measures identified for the ESA listed steelhead.

The CCT was successful in securing additional funds through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to construct and install three instream structures at the base of Mission Falls. Construction of the structures started September 16, 2005 and was completed September 30, 2005. The three structures were constructed from a variety of diameters of iron pipe. The upstream front of each structure was lined with erosion control matting to prevent flow from seeping between each pipe. The purpose of the three structures are to develop a pool downstream of each impediment, which will allow adult steelhead to navigate over and through the obstacle. To evaluate the navigability of adult steelhead through Mission Falls gorge, redd and snorkel surveys will be conducted beginning in the spring of 2006. In addition, a picket-weir trap will be installed in Stapaloop Creek, a tributary of Omak Creek located upstream of Mission Falls, to evaluate passage of adult steelhead through Mission Falls.

Restore and make available approximately 16-miles of spawning and rearing habitat for summer steelhead.