PROJECT PURPOSE:
The Klickitat Fishery YKFP Capital Project (Step 3) will carry forward engineering designs plans from the 61% stage to completion, manage, and fund project infrastructure construction.  Construction elements are identified in the Klickitat River Anadromous Fisheries Master Plan (KMP) pages 113 - 132 and are listed below.  As identified in the KMP (March, 2008) infrastructure upgrades are critical to meet the project goal of increasing the number and distribution of steelhead (ESA listed - Threatened), spring Chinook, fall Chinook, and coho within the Klickitat Subbasin, through hatchery reform. The KMP identifies established biological goals and objectives that will contribute to the accomplishment of the overall goal of increasing natural production, and harvest and distribution within the Klickitat Subbasin.  The biological goals, which are consistent with the NPCC Fish and Wildlife Program (NPCC 2000), are designed to achieve both the biological performance of the target species and improve environmental conditions to allow sustainable populations.

This project addresses Step 3 requirements for construction improvements, related final design work, and final NEPA requirements for Lyle Falls Fishway, Castile Falls Monitoring Facility, and the Klickitat Hatchery Vehicle Bridge.  

Per the 2008 Fish Accord agreement, BPA anticipates a new capital contract in the near future to include upgrades to the Klickitat Hatchery (currently in Step 2 with NEPA review, preliminary designs and permitting underway).  If funds become available, a new capital contract will be developed to include the construction of the Wahkiacus Hatchery & Acclimation Facility.    


Klickitat Capital Construction Project Outline, with Work Element Title letter designations;

H, T       Lyle Falls Fishway Improvements;
L.           Castile Falls Monitoring Facility Construction;
O.           Klickitat Hatchery Vehicle Bridge;
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BACKGROUND:
The Yakama Nation has actively managed fish and wildlife on their Tribal lands for more than 50 years.  During this time, wild and artificially produced spring Chinook (Onchorynchus tshawytscha), fall Chinook (O . tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), and steelhead (O. mykiss) in the Klickitat Subbasin have been managed to ensure their long-term existence and provide fishing opportunities in an effort to mitigate for the loss of fisheries due to construction of the Columbia River hydroelectric dams.

The Klickitat Hatchery, Lyle Falls Fishway, and Castile Falls Fishway were built and are operated as part of an effort to mitigate for lost fishing opportunities under NOAA's Mitchell Act.  The operation of the three facilities, which was previously operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife {Mitchell Act Funding}, was transferred to the Yakama Nation in December 2005.  They are operated under the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Program (YKFP). The YKFP uses artificial production to re-establish, supplement, and/or increase natural production of anadromous salmonids and harvest opportunities while maintaining long-term fitness of the target populations and minimizing or avoiding impacts on non-target species.