SR Sockeye RFLC Weir-Phase II, Final Design/Construction

Salmonid Hatcheries and Harvest Management

Project ID	007 15 SA
Recovery Domains	Snake River
Start Date	02/23/2016
End Date	12/31/2018
Year	2015
Status	Completed
Last Edited	01/25/2024

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Description

This project was contracted and carried out to replace an ageing fish weir and to improve site infrastructure at a site on Redfish Lake Creek, approximately 1.4 km downstream of the outlet of Redfish Lake near Stanley, Idaho. The existing fish weir was constructed in 1955, was nearing the term of its useful life and would be undersized to manage production increases planned for the IDFG Sockeye Salmon Recovery Program. Phase I of the project addressed the conceptual design and biological components of the project. Phase II of the project included final design, environmental compliance and construction. Environmental compliance addressed NEPA, ESA and cultural requirements.

Construction activities included mobilization, modifications and construction/completion of the weir and necessary road/infrastructure improvements in the project area. The completed weir is a none-bay structure capable of fishing for upstream migrating as well as downstream migrating juvenile Sockeye Salmon. All weir infrastructure is adjustable to accommodate trapping over a variety of streamflow regimes. Adult holding space for 400 Sockeye Salmon was incorporated into the design of the facility. In addition to the weir structure, a dormitory/wet lab and vault toilet restroom were specified and constructed. The new weir was operated in the summer of 2018 to trap returning adult Sockeye Salmon. The weir will trap out-migrating Sockeye Salmon smolts for the first time in the spring of 2019.

Matching funds were provided by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Project Benefit

The overall goal is to replace the current aged and insufficient weir/trap facilities at Redfish Lake Creek approximately 1.4 km downstream of the outlet to Redfish Lake in Valley County (Stanley, Idaho). The current facilities were constructed in 1955 and a new facility is needed to accommodate larger adult returns of Snake River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) to the upper Salmon to support the 2008 FCRPS Biological Opinion-directed production levels for Snake River Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), 2009 Adaptive Management Implementation Plan, 2014 Supplemental FCRPS Biological Opinion; Bonneville Power Administration - 2008 Idaho Fish Accord Project #69491, and the 2015 ESA Recovery Plan for Snake River Sockeye Salmon.

Replacement of the current facility with a modern and larger capacity facility will prevent accidental take of sockeye salmon during the April through October trapping season. Returns estimated for 2019 indicate the existing trap capacity will be exceeded and the potential for taking of an ESA-listed animal high.

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$2,200,000

Other

$764,666

Report Total:

$2,964,666

Worksites

40967301

Worksite Identifier: 40967301
Start Date: 03/01/2016
End Date: 03/31/2018

Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

Basin: Salmon (170602)
Subbasin:
Watershed:
Subwatershed:

State: Idaho
Recovery Domain: Snake River
Latitude: 44.150308
Longitude: -114.914025

ESU

Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
Snake River Sockeye Salmon ESU
Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

D.0 Salmonid Hatcheries and Harvest ManagementY (Y/N)

. . D.0.a Hatchery and harvest mgmt. funding 2,964,666.00
. . D.0.b
Complement habitat restoration project
. . D.0.c
Project Identified in a plan or watershed assessment.

. . D.1 Hatchery Production ProjectY (Y/N)

. . . . D.1.a Hatchery Production Funding 2,964,666.00

. . . . D.1.c.1 Hatchery operations - facility or equipmentY (Y/N)

. . . . . . D.1.c.2

Description of the facility modification and/or equipment purchase

Adult/Juvenile Trap/Weir facility: Smolt collection boxes were designed and fabricated using these contract funds. Boxes were installed at trap facility and designed to be raised and lowered into position along the upstream side of the trapping facility bridge structure spanning Red Fish Lake Creek at a diagonal; adult pickets were installed into mounting brackets on the downstream side of the bridge structure. The sill below the bridge and the addition of damboards along the upstream side of the weir structure creates a hydraulic drop of approximately 18 inches to aid in driving water into the holding pool. This drop will occur at the upstream edge of the bridge alignment. The adult holding pool was sized for 400 adult sockeye salmon at an average weight of 4 pounds per fish and the pool was sized for short term holding (24 hours) 15 feet long by 10 feet wide by 6 feet deep. The entrance to the holding pool has a vee trap to direct adults into the trap and prevent adults from exiting. The vee trap entrance was modified to reduce the opening size to prevent trapped adults from backing out of the trap. The creek wall of the holding pool contains screens to allow water to flow into the holding pool and out the trap entrance. These screen sills were set approximately 6 inches below the low water level during the fish collection period. The screens are roughly 4 feet by 10 feet to allow approximately 0.75 cfs to flow into the holding pool and out the entrance. Approach velocities to the screen will be maintained at less than 0.2 feet per second. Two broodstock holding compartments were developed using screens at the upstream end of the adult holding pool, roughly 4 feet by 5 feet and 6 feet deep. Concrete abutments with a mounted track system were constructed to support the bridge and the adult holding pool.