Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and Steelhead Acclimation Project Scoping
The following comments were submitted in response to the open comment period described below.
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BPA invites you to attend meetings to learn about and comment on the proposed development and use of fish rearing acclimation ponds for hatchery raised steelhead and Chinook salmon in the Methow and Wenatchee watersheds in Okanogan and Chelan counties Wash. The Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and Steelhead Acclimation Project would be implemented by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and would help improve acclimation and release of existing hatchery-bred juvenile steelhead and Chinook in a manner that more accurately mimics natural systems.
The project would involve expanding the use of seven existing acclimation ponds and constructing one new pond in Chelan County, Wash.
BPA will prepare an environmental impact statement to understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act. We would like to hear from you about what should be included in this analysis. What questions do you have? What resources and potential impacts should we analyze? Do you have information or concerns about specific areas?
We will host two public scoping meetings to hear your input and accept comments.
Wednesday April 22, 2015
6 to 8 p.m. Chelan County Fire District 3
228 Chumstick Hwy.
Leavenworth, WA 98826
Thursday, April 23, 2015
6 to 8 p.m. The Winthrop Barn Conference Room
51 N. Hwy 20
Winthrop, WA 98862
For More Information:
https://www.bpa.gov/goto/ChinookSteelheadAcclimation
Close of comment: 5/4/2015
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PaceBPA's environmental analysis should address the relationship between the proposed acclimation project for upper Columbia spring chinook and steelhead and the Methow Watershed Council's Final Detailed Implementation Plan for WRIA (Oct. 29, 2009), which is available online at the following: http://www.methowwatershed.com/WRIA_48_DIP_FINAL.pfd. You should also discuss the relationship between the proposed acclimation project and the restoration efforts led by the Methow Restoration Council. Included among the issues that need to be considered is the relationship between measures to increase the abundance and productivity of hatchery fish in the Methow watershed, which is a goal of the proposed project, and ongoing efforts to improve habitat for natural-origin salmon and steelhead and other "native" species. In particular, as the notice of the opportunity to comment suggests, the acclimation project will target areas where the abundance of natural-origin fish returning to spawn is depressed. Introduction of hatchery-reared fish that are acclimated to off-channel ponds prior to downstream migration might adversely impact the survival and recovery potential for already-depressed naturally spawning populations. This outcome could undermine investments in habitat projects that are part of a larger, long-term effort to benefit endangered and threatened species in the Methow River by creating better in-stream and riparian habitat for young salmon and steelhead during their critical first year, which also improves habitat for many other native species that benefit from restoration of natural river processes. It may be the case that a longer-term view would counsel against hatchery supplementation and the construction of acclimation ponds.
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Moura/Colville Confederated TribesPlease see attached for comment
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CramptonThank you for attention to improving the condition for the fish and watersheds "that more accurately mimics natural systems." Now do it/don't just talk about it/don't mistake that the words can be the mitigation. Don't try to fool yourselves or all of the rest of us that a little bit of less worse accomplishments are the solution. Rather just a step/keep your attention/keep moving/we've got a long way to go.
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Truscott/Confederated Tribes of the Colville ReservationPlease view the Attachment for Comments
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BakkePlease consider changing the name of the “Powerline” acclimation pond to “Merrit” or “Powerline pond at Merrit."
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O'HalloranPlease view attached comment.
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RadichPlease view attached comment.
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