The project improves survival of native fish species through the implementation of fish screen, passage, and habitat projects (irrigation diversions, dams, culverts, habitat structures, etc.) on both public and private land. Thousands of water diversions exist in the Columbia Basin in waters home to anadromous fish, including many listed on the Endangered Species Act.  ODFW works with water users to install fish screens to prevent fish injury and mortality associated with the diversion of water.  Fish screens operate in challenging environments that include extreme cold temperatures to extreme heat.  Fish screens are also exposed to floating debris ranging from sediment to large trees that damage screens resulting in fish loss.  Proper fish screen installation is required for fish screens to prevent fish injury and mortality associated with water diversions. Along with funds from BPA, the program uses cost share from PCSRF, OWEB, Oregon General Fund, and ODFW Surcharge funds for implementation.  The project also partners with local and regional cooperators (USFS, SWCD's, etc.) and may receive some funding from those partnerships to implement mutual, high priority projects.  

The project is housed at the John Day Screen Shop in John Day, Oregon, but supports projects in most of Eastern Oregon.  Prioritization of projects is primarily focused by the Mid-Columbia Steelhead Plan, but Oregon Sub-basin plans and other regional plans help determine best use of money on the ground, while maximizing partnership projects throughout the entire area.    

The prioritization of projects (screening, habitat, and passage) is tracked on a spreadsheet that we place all potential projects on once the location is determined to be a priority in the Conservation and Recovery Plan for Oregon Steelhead Populations in the Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (MCR, February 2010). We meet with our district fish biologists to ensure that anadromous species are present, were there historically, or are found by the district biologists through a presence survey. The district fish biologist also determines if high quality habitat is contained at these locations to determine if the project is a high priority for implementation.

The district fish biologist utilizes Altas as a starting point for projects based on it's sub-basin priority system, but streams often don't align with the Atlas priority, because it still doesn't provide stream level data.  An actual Basin level assessment/inventory of potential projects has not been performed.  The Program will provide an over-arching potential project list and perform some level of assessment as time allows.  

Once the district fish biologist approves the project (based on available data), the project location is entered into the Fish Screening and Passage database for approval to complete engineering and design by the statewide screening or passage coordinators in Salem.

Other conservation and recovery plans are utilized in addition to the MCR, February 2010 steelhead plan such as the bull trout plan for project prioritization depending on geographic location.
  
The project will solicit a subcontractor to complete cultural resource surveys on ground disturbance projects (through the supplemental Cultural Expense Contract) if BPA cultural staff are not available to do the work.  Once the subcontractor has completed all surveys for the contract year, the report will be reviewed by ODFW and then submitted to BPA for final compliance review and approval.  Work on ground disturbance projects will not begin until BPA has provided approval.