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conducted in close concert with the Idaho Department of Water Resources 

 (IDWR). 



Current Status 



Reclamation is currently working on obtaining NEPA compliance for the 

 whole project. Sites for the three regulating reservoirs have been 

 identified (item 2) and work is being performed on the automation system 

 (item 3). 



Contact : Onni Perala. Activity Manager. Conservation Technical Team. Boise 

 Idaho. 208-378-5090. 



Tributary Enhancement 



Background 



Three tributary enhancement projects are being cooperatively developed within 

 Idaho. Oregon, and Washington to address the issue of habitat restoration for 

 weakened anadromous stocks in selected Northwest river basins. The primary 

 objective of these projects is to demonstrate the ability to enhance local 

 instream flow regimes to address problems of spawning, incubation, rearing and 

 passage on particular tributaries. While enhancement for spawning and 

 incubation purposes is one objective of the projects, flow limitations have 

 been found to be more restrictive on rearing and passage in many tributaries. 



The demonstration projects are expected to include some diversion 

 improvements, including consolidation of multiple small structures, and fish 

 passage facilities. Conversions of open lateral distribution systems to 

 pressurized pipelines, and automation and re-regulation of water delivery 

 systems may also be included. The three demonstration programs are described 

 below. 



Idaho--Lemhi River Basin (Tributary to the Salmon River) 



The Lemhi River Basin extends from Salmon. Idaho to the southeast 

 approximately 60 miles. The study area comprises the reach of river extending 

 from diversion L-3A at River Mile 5.50 upstream to diversion L-7A at River 

 Mile 8.32. 



This reach of the Lemhi River was identified a barrier to passage of salmon 

 and steelhead in a report entitled "Lemhi River Habitat Improvement Study" 

 made to BPA by Ott Water Engineers in December 1985. The local waterusers 

 have expressed a desire to follow up on certain of the recommendations made in 

 that report as a proactive approach to solving this problem along with other 

 water management problems in the same reach. When approached by Reclamation, 

 waterusers within the Lemhi County Soil Conservation District said they were 

 willing to curtail a portion of their diversion at critical passage times to 

 provide a "fish-flush". Water would be used to move juvenile fish out into 

 the Salmon River during the spring out migration and/or to move adult fish 

 upstream to spawning grounds. The timing of these flushes is to be determined 

 by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Irrigators have agreed, in writing. 



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