To provide management and operational support for a capital construction program dedicated to the protection of anadromous fish from loss in water diversions, improve fish passage at diversions for juvenile and adult anadromous fish, and improve stream flow conditions where possible.  Staff will process environmental regulatory documents, provide oversight to archaeologists and consulting engineers, engage in scoping activities, and negotiate with private landowners for habitat projects.  All projects require compliance with State of Idaho and Federal regulations including, but not limited to, IDAPA Title 42, IDAPA Title 36, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Federal Land Management Policy Act, National Historical Preservation Act, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  

Additionally this project is to fund two fishery biologist positions (personnel only), one in the Salmon Region, and one in the Clearwater Region in order to accelerate the pace of implementation and completion of high priority, on-the-ground fish habitat improvement projects that will be funded from a variety of sources.  These sources may include (but are not limited to) Bonneville Power, Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund, Farm Bill, Snake River Basin Adjudication, Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act, National Fish Passage Program, Western Native Trout Initiative, NOAA, Landowner Incentive Program, Habitat Improvement Program, etc.  The primary responsibilities will be to identify potential fish habitat improvement projects, prepare proposals for funding, review and prioritize projects and proposals, coordinate activities with other public and private entities, and implement fish habitat improvement projects.

Project Coordination:  The Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) coordinates other funding sources with this Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) contract in order to maximize the potential for anadromous fish recovery efforts in the Salmon River and Clearwater River Basins.  

Background:   Since the 1800's, anadromous fish runs in the Columbia River have declined drastically.  Historically,  IDFG estimates that the Salmon River basin produced 39% of the spring Chinook salmon and 45% of the summer Chinook salmon in the Columbia River Basin (Idaho Department of Fish & Game, 1985).  Steelhead estimates for the Salmon River basin are not available but production was substantial.  Due to the low return of spring Chinook salmon to Idaho in 1974, all but treaty harvest was curtailed.  Since then,  harvest has been limited to a tribal fishery and occasional harvest of surplus hatchery stocks.  

Irrigation diversions date back to the 1860's in the Salmon River basin of the Snake River drainage and have impacted anadromous fish in a number of ways.  These impacts included loss of habitat, entrainment of smolts on their migration to the ocean,  and returning adults have been blocked by irrigation diversion wing dams.  Riparian corridors have been degraded by various management actions.

In 1938  the U.S. Congress passed the Mitchell Act in an attempt to partially mitigate for losses resulting from hydroelectric projects, logging, mining, and agricultural developments.  The Act provided a mechanism for conserving fishery resources of the Columbia River basin and created the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (CRFDP).  The CRFDP program was extended to include the upper basin (above McNary) in 1956.  Between 1958 and 1966, IDFG constructed more than 200 fish screens on the main stem Salmon River and tributaries.  Today about 265 screens are in operation in Idaho.  

Funding was first provided to the IDFG  by BPA in 1994 for anadromous fisheries projects falling outside the scope of the Mitchell Act.  These funds were used in non-traditional ways to eliminate or consolidate irrigation diversions, improve fish passage, conserve water and provide proper screening of water withdrawals.  These projects have been undertaken by IDFG on a tributary wide basis to maximize the potential for success.

Location of Project:  All portions of the project are located in the Salmon River drainage.  This contract provides funding to support the capitalization project 2007-399-00.   Legal descriptions for each capital improvement project are located in the companion project 2007-399-00.

Results Expected:  Preliminary capital projects will be identified.  Landowner agreements will be ratified.  Topographic surveys will be conducted.  Cultural resource surveys will be conducted.  Biological evaluations will be conducted in areas of interest,  monitoring and evaluations of past projects will be completed, and all scoping will be completed for NEPA compliance.  Funding will provide office operation support.  

BPA Furnished Property:   Following submittal by IDFG of NEPA checklists, biological assessments, and cultural resource documentations BPA will provide NEPA determinations as applicable by Federal regulation.  It is anticipated that many determinations will be in accordance with BPA's Fish & Wildlife Program Environmental Impact Statement.