Project 2007-396-00:Walla Walla Basinwide Tributary Passage and Flow, Contract 86499:2007-396-00 EXP WALLA WALLA BASINWIDE TRIB PASSAGE

Project 2007-396-00:

https://www.cbfish.org/Project.mvc/Display/2007-396-00



Capital piping and passage projects in the Walla Walla. Combination of 2002-036-00 (WWBWC and 2007-330-00 (GFID). (C267994).

(CTUIRs 1996-011-00 had also been combined but has since been separated back out after Fish Accords signed.)



Contract 86499:

https://www.cbfish.org/Contract.mvc/Summary/86499



This contract will work to improve stream flows and reduce fish passage barriers in the Walla Walla Basin for the migration and rearing of summer steelhead, spring Chinook salmon, and bull trout. Limited stream flows and fish passage barriers are two primary limiting factors for aquatic species in the Walla Walla Basin. Under this contract the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council (WWBWC) will address several fish passage issues with the construction of the North Fork Walla Walla River Switch to Well Fish Passage at NF7 project, a final design and permitting for the Upper Couse Creek Fish Passage at Blue Mountain Stations issue, Baker Harvey Diversion Consolidation Fish Passage South Fork Walla Walla River, the final designs for North Fork Walla Walla River NF8 and an initial design for the fish passage issue at North Fork Walla Walla River NF6. The South Fork Walla Walla Base Flow Assessment will be conducted to help WWBWC and basin partners quantify the Upper and Middle South Fork Walla Walla River base flow which is critical to bull trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon. Additionally, to maximize the effectiveness of the previously completed Lampson Side Channel Habitat and Couse Creek Confluence Fish Passage projects, the WWBWC will establish, monitor, and maintain optimal riparian growth which is essential in meeting long term objectives of both of these projects.



The WWBWC identified these projects through staff conversations with basin partners, working with property owners, and referring to fish recovery plans. WWBWC held a basin-wide meeting which included representatives from BPA, CTUIR, ODFW, WDFW, USFWS, NOAA, OWRD, local irrigation districts, and other interested parties to review identified projects. These projects were identified as priorities and selected for BPA funded implementation.



WWBWC and the partners mentioned above will begin adding their most current, summarized empirical biological and physical habitat data sets to a GIS platform, such as Arc GIS Online, to determine prioritiy areas and actions at the watershed level. Areas that contain focal fish species and life stages will be the highest priority. Specific habitat improvement actions will be prioritized based on their ability to meet the life stage specific needs of the fish species, such as holding, spawning, summer rearing, winter rearing, and juvenile emigration.



The FY 2021 contract will include a structured approach, based on the available empirical biological and physical habitat data, to collaboratively analyze the data to determine priority areas and actions. This evidence based prioritization approach will be attached to the contract and modified over time as new data become available and as projects are implemented.