Watts Toppin Dam Fish Passage Project

The Watts Toppin Fish Passage Project addresses the need for fish passage improvement at the Watts Toppin Irrigation Dam located at RM 2.1 on Williams Creek - a large tributary to the Applegate River near Provolt, Oregon. Williams Creek and tributaries are among the most important producers of salmon and steelhead in the Applegate River Basin. Watts Toppin Dam is listed on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Statewide Fish Passage Priority List as the 4th highest priority in the Applegate Watershed. The 3 higher priorities are currently in varying stages of planning and/or design for removal or retrofit by APWC and/or other entities. This proposed project will improve fish passage conditions at Watts Toppin Dam through construction of a roughened channel and will benefit ESA-listed Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout (summer and winter runs), Coastal Cutthroat Trout, and Pacific Lamprey.

The proposed project seeks to build upon the recently completed Lower Bridgepoint Fish Passage Project (OWEB grants 219-2014, 220-2015), located on BLM land approximately 1 mile downstream of Watts Toppin Dam. Once the project is implemented, over 20 miles of upstream habitat will be made available. Project partners include water users, Rogue Basin Partnership, BLM, Paul Allen Family Foundation through American Rivers, OWRD, Williams Cr WC, Trout Unlimited, and Middle Rogue Steelheaders.

Williams Creek and tributaries are among the most important producers of salmon and steelhead in the Applegate River Basin making them a significant contributors to Applegate and Rogue River fisheries for Summer and Winter Steelhead, Coho Salmon and Fall Chinook Salmon. Both adult and juvenile fishes require quality habitat throughout the Williams Creek Watershed as these species exhibit migratory behaviors throughout their life histories. This predicated on stream habitats free of fish passage barriers. APWC is working to make Williams Creek a barrier free watershed.
Barriers that limit access to summer and winter rearing habitat and water withdrawals are key limiting factors to all life stages of salmon and steelhead. Summer water temperatures in lower Williams Creek and the Applegate River are often unsuitable for juvenile rearing. In most western Oregon stream systems, upstream reaches of a stream system are usually colder, thus making access to colder stream reaches upstream of Watts Toppin Dam essential. Equally important is winter rearing habitat. For those juvenile salmonids that can survive summer conditions in Williams Creek and/or Applegate River mainstem, upstream passage at Watts Toppin is still important for winter rearing habitat access. Juvenile fishes need refuge from high flow events and tributaries upstream of Watts Toppin can provide that. In order to access these high flow refuge areas, passage for juvenile fishes must be provided at Watts Toppin Dam.
APWC staff has observed both adult and juvenile salmonids unsuccessfully attempting to pass Watts Toppin Dam. Those that make the 3.5 foot jump have done so only after repeated attempts. This is energy costly, can lead to delay and injury and reduce spawning success. Watts Toppin Dam is listed on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Statewide Fish Passage Priority List as the 4th highest priority in the Applegate Watershed.
The proposed project will benefit salmon and steelhead by providing volitional fish passage for adult and juvenile native migratory fishes year round. Additionally, APWC has been coordinating with water users, has completed surveys of both ditches during winter of 2020-1. APWC is also applying for an OWEB TA grant aiming to support development of the water conservation/instream flow restoration. This project will capitalize on downstream passage improvements completed in 2020 at Lower Bridgepoint Dam.