Westland-Ramos Fish Passage and Habitat

Restoration ProjectBPA Project No. 2002-057-00

September 23, 2004

Westland Irrigation District

Project Area

Project Objectives

Improve upstream passage for ESA-listed steelhead trout and bull trout

Increase sediment transport through reach which will improve channel stability (reduce erosion)

Enhance BPA fish passage investments at Westland Dam

Improve fish habitat and riparian habitat in Westland Ramos project reach.

Retain and improve diversion capacity

Progress to-date

Bedload and hydraulic studies have been completed. 30% design drawings are complete. Have had series of meetings with technical work

group and stakeholders to refine project. Original concept of improvements to Feed Dam have

changed significantly to ensure the project does not change existing operations and increase O&M costs.

Drafted BE and HIP documents.

Fish Passage at Feed Dam

Factors limiting fish passage Fishway HydraulicsFull crest spill at all flowsFalse attraction

Feed Dam Fishway

Hydraulic Drop at inlet to fishway is approx. 4 feet at low flows (160 cfs). Agency criteria is 1 foot.

Feed Dam Fishway

“(The Feed Dam is) the only significant barrier to upstream migrants…under adequate flow conditions.”

“Reconstruction in the form of a full channel fishway or dam removal are likely the best options for upstream migrants at this facility.”

[Contor et al., CTUIR 1997]

100

80

60

40

20

0

1995-96

1994-95

1993-94

Summer Steelhead Mean Passage Times

Spring Chinook Mean Passage Times

1996

1995

1994

Westland

Feed

Stanfield

Bedload Transport Issues Current bedload transport regime

impairs fish habitat through Poor channel form Poor channel stability Degraded riparian area

Findings of Bedload Study

Flows approaching the bankfull stage are required to transport sediment in the study reach.

Modifications to the Westland Dam will increase sediment transport capacity, particularly important for the range of flows within the bankfull, or channel-forming flows.

Findings of Bedload Study

Dam notching will not influence the erosion and deposition characteristics of the river for flows exceeding about 10,000 cfs (6-yr event).

Modifications to Westland Dam are not likely to adversely affect channel form downstream of the dam.

Modifications to Westland Dam will have favorable effects in the reach between the dams by improving capacity to transport sediment within the range of channel-forming flows.

Instream Gravel Maintenance at

Westland Dam

Project Proposal to Enhance Fish Passage at

Feed Dam

Submerge existing fishway using rock weirs downstream of dam

Plan View of Feed Dam Improvements

Example Rock Weir

Example of Rock Weir

Plan View of Westland Dam Improvements

Project Proposal for Westland Dam

Two rubber bladder dams are proposed at Westland Dam to facilitate bedload transport past dam

Project Schedule

Plan and select preferred alternative April 1999 Engineering feasibility January 2000 Sub-basin stakeholder consensus December 2000 Final design and permitting Nov 2003 - October 2004 Implementation July - September 2005 Develop and implement monitoring plan 2004 - ongoing

Expected Results Enhance Fish Passage Eliminate barriers to passage at all flows Minimize migration delays

Improve Bedload Transport Substantially reduce in-channel

maintenance Initiate conditions for channel stability Facilitate riparian recovery Maintain irrigation diversion capacities

Q & A