Walla Walla Basin Spring Chinook Hatchery Program
The following comments were submitted in response to the open comment period described below.
Comments are numbered consecutively as they are received. Breaks in the number sequence result when comments are deleted because they
were submitted in error or have inappropriate content (such as SPAM). If you do not see your comment two business days after
you submit it, please contact (800) 622-4519.
Starting in March, 2013 The Bonneville Power Administration began preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Walla Walla Spring Chinook Hatchery Program. BPA is proposing to fund the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to construct and operate a hatchery for spring Chinook salmon in the Walla Walla River basin in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. The proposed Walla Walla Basin Spring Chinook Hatchery would be constructed at the CTUIR’s existing Adult Holding and Spawning Facility on the South Fork Walla Walla River near Milton-Freewater in Umatilla County, Oregon. The new hatchery facility would be designed to incubate and rear up to 500,000 yearling spring Chinook smolts.
During the process of analyzing the impacts of the proposal, it was discovered that the original design with traditional hatchery raceways was not feasible. To solve the problem, circular tanks for rearing juvenile fish that recirculate and reuse water were evaluated. The new design saves water and increases fish survival. In addition to changing the design of the proposed hatchery, the feasibility of transferring the production of 850,000 spring Chinook smolts from the Umatilla Hatchery to the proposed Walla Walla Basin Spring Chinook Hatchery is also being analyzed.
The original alternatives in the EIS have been expanded. We would like to hear from you about these new alternatives. To learn more about the project go to www.bpa.gov/goto/WallaWallaHatchery or contact Jay Marcotte at jgmarcotte@bpa.gov. You may also call toll free at 800-622-4519, please mention Walla Walla Basin Spring Chinook Hatchery Program.
For More Information:
http://www.bpa.gov/goto/WallaWallaHatchery
Close of comment: 7/1/2014
- WWSCH14 0001 -
TaxerMoving operations to the walla-walla facility would be an improvement for the economy in that area. Most importantly we just got to take care of those smolts and get them in the ocean. Portland Benefits Group supports salmon. We've posted our company fishing photos at http://www.portlandbenefitsgroup.com
- WWSCH14 0006 -
Jordan
I have a couple of questions regarding the "Hatchery proposal" that I hope you can answer:
l. It was not clear to me if the "new proposal" meant there would be a total of 850,000 smolts reared at WallaWalla Hatchery or if the total would be the 850,000 plus the original 500,000 proposed??????
2. Upon completion of this hatchery and release of some of these fish into the South Fork of the WallaWalla River, what will be the impact upon the landowners currently irrigating from the South Fork downriver from the hatchery???? Will there be an impact on the amount of water currently used for irrigation or on livestock access to the river?
3. I am seeing where there is an obvious conflict among various entities in regard to wild fish versus hatchery fish. When it looks like there could be closure of hatcheries in parts of Ore. due to this conflict, could you give me a quick justification of the reasoning behind building a larger hatchery on WallaWalla River when the future of other hatcheries in Ore. seems to be in jeopardy?????
Thanks for your attention.
- WWSCH14 0002 -
HillerPlease see attached document for comment
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- WWSCH14 0003 -
Boehm/Land Owner on the South Fork of the Walla Walla RiverAs a landowner on the South Fork of the Walla Walla River and future resident on that property, I'm happy to hear that re-establishment of the river and surrounding streams in the basin are slated to become Spring Chinook Salmon rivers. I do however think it a bit silly that we as tax payers propose to spend millions of dollars to raise both salmon and trout for introduction into these streams to feed the protected predator Bull Trout. Bull Trout being a protected species is just plain crazy and should be recinded. I hope that part of your study looks hard at the oversight of money flow from Bonneville to the Umatilla Tribe and you are sure you get what you are paying for. Waste and graft is what todays taxpayer dislikes most.Be sure the money is well spent.
- WWSCH14 0004 -
HansenPlease see attached document for comment
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- WWSCH14 0005 -
Fernandez/panther creek residentI look forward to enjoying seeing fish in panther creek again. Its my home and its a beautiful area! Good luck BPA! I for one support this proposal! I have a home on panther creek 1.8 miles down stream of the old Cobalt townsite.
- WWSCH14 0007 -
Wolcott/Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council
I have recently been getting asked questions about any potential water quality issues related to the proposed Walla Walla Salmon Hatchery. I know these same questions were raised at the public hearing in Milton-Freewater, but I have not been able to find a response document, or even the initial Plan for the hatchery so I could see how water returning from the hatchery to the South Fork Walla Walla River will be treated for things such as E. Coli, listeria, potential fish viruses, fungicides, antibacterial treatments, increased temperature, etc.
Do you know where I could learn more about that?
- WWSCH14 0008 -
Winderpos/South Fork Walla Walla River Landowerners Assoc.See attached for comment
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