Herald and News: Irrigation screens to help fish

Irrigation screens to help fish

Fish screen proposal would benefit suckers

By STEVE KADEL

H&N Staff Writer
November 11, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation proposes that fish screens be placed on private landowners’ irrigation diversions to reduce mortality of endangered suckers.

The Klamath Falls office will accept comments about the program through Nov. 30 from individuals, tribes, organizations and agencies. The effort is aimed at irrigation diversions off Upper Klamath and Agency lakes.

Landowners would pay about 10 percent of screening costs, said Chuck Korson, Reclamation’s fish passage manager. The remaining cost would be split between Reclamation and another agency such as Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife or a resource conservation district.

Reclamation has identified between 20 and 30 private diversions in the area. They range from large gravity diversions carrying up to 60 cubic feet of water per second to small pump diversions with less than five cubic feet per second.

Cindy Williams, chief of natural resources for Reclamation, said landowners are encouraged to take part “because it’s the right thing to do.”

She added it may be an opportunity to screen diversions before such action is mandated — possibly without funding help.

“At some point, we believe, the state will ask irrigation districts to start screening their diversions,” Williams said.

ODFW program

The new program will complement an existing Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife screening program operating in the area.

Reclamation’s scoping notice says efforts will be focused “where endangered sucker populations are most abundant and widely distributed.”

The screening project requires scoping, and an environmental document to be prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act. Scoping is used to identify significant issues surrounding the project, to identify environmental impacts and to begin forming alternatives.

Comments on the proposal may be sent to Chuck Korson, Fish Passage Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Klamath Basin Area Office, 6600 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603. They also may be faxed to him at (541) 884-9053, or emailed to ckorson @mp.usbr.gov