This is one of three projects funded, in part, by BPA (matching funds from SRFB and USFWS) through the Upper Columbia Habitat Project for FFY 2011 (project # 2010-001-00). The costs associated with administering this contract are covered under the programmatic project contract # 50379 and the subsequent contract.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Technical Applications Program (TAPPS), proposes to initiate a voluntary cooperative compliance pump-screening program within the Columbia Cascade Providence.  This program will be administered similar to one developed by WDFW and the Walla Walla Conservation District for the Walla Walla basin. This on the ground, program will partner with local conservation districts, tribes, and fisheries enhancement groups for outreach and corrections. Initial diversion information will come from existing pump screen inventory information that resides with the WDFW TAPPS group. This information will be used to initiate contact and provide reassessment, design, and correction, (i.e. new screening devices that meet current state and federal fish screening criteria) in the Okanogan basin next year. The project objective is to provide 100 percent protection from mortality and/or injury for all species and life stages of anadromous and resident fish, including ESA listed Steelhead that come in contact with pump diversions.

The Okanogan Conservation District will implement a voluntary cooperative compliance pump screening program within the Okanogan River Basin. This program will use the inventory results generated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that identified noncompliant diversions on the Okanogan River. The WDFW currently has data consisting of diversion locations (GPS) on approximately eighty (80) pump diversions on the Okanogan
River. The Okanogan Conservation District will correlate these locations with the Washington State Department of Ecology water resources data to determine ownership of the screens and associated water rights so that the appropriate irrigators can be contacted. This program will partner with the Colville Confederated Tribes Fisheries Department, the Washington State Conservation Commission Irrigation Efficiencies Program, and the Washington State Department of Ecology Water Resources Program. The Okanogan Conservation District (OCD) will conduct landowner outreach activities—direct contact with willing landowners and assist with procurement and installation of pump screens. Individual projects within the basin will be prioritized by using existing inventory information through ground-truthing and by expressed willingness of individual landowners.

When subcontractor has identified the locations of all 14 screens that need replacement, following the prioritization matrix, the COTR and the contractor will amend this SOW to include 13 additional WE #69 (Install Fish Screens) that reflect the locations and metrics for each site.