2005 Walla Walla Fish Passage Evaluation Project
Under a modification to Contract Number 00000652-19
JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2005

This project was established to provide an evaluation of fish passage facilities recently constructed and operated in the Walla Walla River Basin, in Oregon and Washington.  The evaluations are guided by provisions of Council Measure 7.11 (NPPC 1994) which follows from previous Council Measures [Section 800 (NPPC 1987) and Section 900 (NPPC 1984)].  The evaluations are funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to ensure fish passage facilities "correct structural problems at irrigation diversion dams, canals and ditches that interfere with the passage of anadromous fish" [Council Measure 7.11 (NPPC 1994)].  In addition to site specific evaluations, this project may be used to evaluate proposed operational or design changes that might enhance the protection of juvenile salmonids.

This statement of work for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) technical assistance to BPA during 2005 is a continuation of the existing passage evaluation task in the Walla Walla River Basin.  The task title, task manager, task duration, background information, approach, reporting requirements, coordination activities, technical references, schedule and milestones, key personnel, and estimated costs are discussed for each task.

CONTRACT GOAL: The goal of this contract is to determine whether new fish passage facilities in the Walla Walla River basin are designed, operated and maintained to be in compliance with NOAA Fisheries fish protection criteria.  In addition, we would like our work to contribute to fish restoration/protection efforts by assisting the fish managers in the Walla Walla basin in identifying problems (and subsequent solutions) that may impact fish passage within the basin.

KEY PERSONNEL:  Mickie Chamness will manage this task.  The key field and laboratory staff are Jessica Vucelick, Abby Capetillo, and Corey Duberstein.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  A large number of fish screen facilities in the Columbia Basin have been constructed with funding from the BPA.  To ensure that the investments in construction and maintenance of fish screening facilities are providing adequate protection for migrating fishes, PNNL has been evaluating fish passage facilities to determine if they are adequately protecting fish and in compliance with fish protection criteria established by the NOAA Fisheries. While a large effort has been underway to monitor the effectiveness of these important fish protection facilities in the Yakima River Basin, similar efforts have just recently been initiated in the Walla Walla Basin (McMichael et al. 2001).

In our work in the Yakima River Basin, we streamlined the evaluation process and documented the performance of 9 Phase I fish screen facilities in Washington and dozens more in Idaho.  Twenty-three Phase II fish screen facilities have been evaluated annually in Washington between 1997and 2003.  We also were able to identify fish species, monitor fish behavior, document sedimentation and debris buildup, and document aberrant flow patterns in the screen forebay by observing particle drift and eddies.  Although the techniques provide the groundwork for monitoring and documenting screening facility performance, data collection procedures must be further refined and improved in order to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) process to "certify" or "audit" fish screen facilities.

A new task was added this year to allow more flexibility in this M&E program to provide better support to the action agencies responsible for the fish restoration and protection efforts within the Walla Walla basin.  This task will provide ‘on-demand' evaluation services for situations that are perceived by WWFPO project biologists to pose a risk to safe fish passage.

APPROACH:  The approach to evaluating fish screens and ladders includes two types of tasks: in-field, on-site evaluation of operating screen facilities; and to evaluate a fish ladder system relative to general fish passage criteria.  

COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES:  For the field evaluation task we will work primarily with the Umatilla Tribe, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Our work will also require coordination with irrigation districts.  

TECHNICAL REFERENCES:
McMichael, G. A., J. A. Carter, and M. A. Chamness. 2001. Walla Walla River Basin Fish Screen Evaluations, 2001; Burlingame and Little Walla Walla Sites. PNNL-13665. Prepared for the Bonneville Power Administration by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC). 1984.  Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.  Northwest Power Planning Council, Portland, Oregon.

Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC). 1987.  Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.  Northwest Power Planning Council, Portland, Oregon.

Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC). 1994.  Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.  Northwest Power Planning Council, Portland, Oregon.

Vucelick, J.A., and G.A. McMichael.  2003.  Walla Walla River Basin Fish Screen Evaluations, 2003:  Nursery Bridge Fishway and Garden City/Lowden II.  PNNL-14472. Prepared for the Bonneville Power Administration by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington.

Vucelick, J.A., and G.A. McMichael.  2004.  Walla Walla River Basin Fish Screen Evaluations, 2003:  Nursery Bridge Fishway, Garden City/Lowden II, and Little Walla Walla.  PNNL-14936. Prepared for the Bonneville Power Administration by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington.