ODFW Fish Screening & Passage Restoration Projects - Mid Columbia River 2017-19 Biennium

This project reports fish screening and passage projects implemented in the Mid-Columbia River domain. These projects were cost-shared with PCSRF funds through a 2017-2019 Biennium OWEB/ODFW agreement. The ODFW Fish Screens and Passage Program cost share program: 1) assists water users to implement projects that protect fish from impacts associated with the diversion of water, and 2) assists fish passage barrier owners to address artificial obstructions toward an approved fish passage solution. The project was comprised of 23 worksites. Actions included: a) improved fish screens at 19 worksites - 12 new screens were installed and 7 existing screen were replaced/modified, screening 27 cfs; and b) fish passage was improved at 4 worksites – 1 diversion dam was modified and 3 concrete dams were replaced, thereby improving passage to 13.71 miles of stream. Additionally, the project also installed deflectors/barbs in 0.1 mile of stream at one worksite.

PCSRF FFY2014, FFY2017, and FFY2018 funds were expended on project costs incurred during the corresponding PCSRF FFY contract award period.

Unscreened or poorly screened diversions create a direct take on fish migrating or rearing near the diversion intake. By installing or replacing poorly functioning screens this ODFW program prevents the loss of fish at unscreened or poorly functioning screes at diversions, directly increasing fish survival during the freshwater stage of their lifecycle. In addition, voluntary fish passage projects are implemented to address all types of artificial obstructions toward an approved fish passage solution.