[ODFW-News] Proposed Fish Passage Waiver Agreement

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife    
Contact: Ken Homolka (541) 440-3353, Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353  
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (541) 673-0372
 
For Immediate Release      
Friday, April 11, 2003

ODFW Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Waive Fish Passage at a Prospect Area Hydroelectric Project Dam
PacifiCorp proposes mitigation at Little Butte Creek Mill Dam near Eagle Point
 
ROSEBURG - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks public comment on a proposed Fish Passage Waiver Agreement (Agreement) between the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and PacifiCorp to waive fish passage requirements at the North Fork Diversion Dam. This dam is part of the Prospect Hydroelectric Project Nos. 1, 2 and 4 on the Rogue River near the town of Prospect. 
 
State law requires fish passage at artificial obstructions, but allows the Commission to waive requirements if the alternatives proposed provide a net benefit to native migratory fish. The Commission is the administrative rule-making body for ODFW. 
 
The Commission is considering the waiver request because PacifiCorp's federal hydropower license expires in July 2005. The relicensing process is considered a "fundamental change" in project status, which triggers a review of fish passage under state statute.
 
PacifiCorp is seeking a waiver for upstream fish passage at the North Fork Diversion Dam because passage would provide little biological value to native fish. A series of waterfalls about a mile downstream of the dam naturally prevent fish passage, and the area immediately below the dam has low quality fish habitat because it is dominated by bedrock with sparse amounts of potential spawning gravel. Native trout are already well distributed in the area above the dam.
 
PacifiCorp proposes to provide funding to the Rogue Basin Coordinating Council to improve fish passage at Little Butte Mill Dam on Little Butte Creek near the town of Eagle Point. The dam currently passes fish, but the existing fish ladder is inefficient and the notch in the middle of the dam creates a false attraction for upstream migrating salmon, preventing them from finding the ladder entrance. 
 
Providing improved fish passage at Little Butte Mill Dam will benefit fall and spring chinook salmon, coho salmon, summer and winter steelhead, Pacific lamprey, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout. The project, which meets the goals of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, would improve access to an additional 68 miles of habitat that is suitable for fish spawning and rearing. ODFW biologists consider Little Butte Creek one of the most significant salmonid production basins in the Rogue River Basin. However, it is currently below its potential because of poor fish passage.
 
If the Agreement is approved, the fish ladder would be reconstructed, the notch capped, and the existing channel deepened to create a higher level of water for easier fish passage. Weirs spanning the river also would be constructed to raise water flow. Habitat improvement projects would include pool construction and placing boulders to slow water flow.
 
A copy of the proposed Agreement will soon be available on the ODFW Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us or can be obtained by written request to ODFW, 4192 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg OR 97470.
 
ODFW and the Commission invite written public comments on the proposed Agreement addressed to Ken Homolka, ODFW, 4192 N. Umpqua Highway, Roseburg OR 97470. Comments must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2003.
 
Public testimony will be taken at the Commission's May 9 meeting in Portland. The Commission will be asked to make a decision regarding the proposed Agreement at that time and will consider all comments and testimony. 
 
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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528
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