Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Diversion Fish Screening and Fish Passage EIS, WA

CLIENT: Bureau of Reclamation Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region

FAST FACTS:

• Prepared 12 resource reports for the EIS, as well as a biological assessment to determine potential impacts on Bull Trout and gray wolf

• Conducted public scoping and public outreach for the draft EIS, including the use of virtual public meetings and websites

• Facilitated alternatives development through interagency and Tribal coordination

• Prepared the Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA) for Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401 review and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklist

The Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery in Washington mitigates anadromous fish losses above the Grand Coulee Dam by rearing and releasing about 1.2 million spring-run Chinook salmon. The current diversion and water delivery system on Icicle Creek is older and not in compliance National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) criteria for anadromous salmonids.

EMPSi partnered with Reclamation to publish an EIS analyzing options for modernizing the hatchery. In support of Section 7 consultation for the Endangered Species Act, EMPSi prepared a BA for Bull Trout and gray wolf.

We also prepared documentation to enable consultation with the NMFS on the upper Columbia River spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead and its critical habitat, and Essential Fish Habitat for Coho and Chinook salmon under a programmatic biological opinion for fish passage and restoration actions in Washington State. Additional permitting was completed to comply with the Clean Water Act Sections 401 and 404, and Washington State Environmental Policy Act.

Excellent work! You are leading the way for the Region and have established a framework for us to follow. Thanks to all of you for your hard work.

— Scott Hoeffer, Environmental Services Manager, Bureau of Reclamation Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region