The Scott Ditch is located on a irrigation side channel of the Naches River a tributary to the Yakima River. This facility was originally constructed in 1936 as a cooperative project by the then Washington Department of Fish and the Scott irrigators.  Fish passage problems in the Yakima basin and the physical means to correct these problems were identified at a general level in the 1970's and were included in the Northwest Power Planning Council's Fish and Wildlife Program.  Pre-design studies identified the needs at each potential site and prioritized them based on the need for fish protection. The Scott facility was scheduled for replacement as part of the BPA funded Fish Passage and Protective Facilities Phase II Program started in 1992.  Unfortunately this facility was not completed under the Phase II Program because of right of way issues.  Currently WDFW  in cooperation with the Yakama Nation, BPA, and the Scott Ditch Company are proceeding with the replacement of this antiquated site that has documented reports of fish entrainment and death.

An FCA screen was selected for this site based on a number of factors that include; there is a large diversion downstream that will ensure the minimum flow for the one foot depth over the screen throughout the irrigation season, a critical operation component; this type of screen provides positive exclusion for all types of fish; there are no moving parts , thus reducing operational costs; the success of similar size FCA screens at six sites in Oregon; and the acceptance of this low profile style of screening by the third party landowner.  But the final determining factor was that this type of screening has been through various evaluations by state and federal agencies and is now considered "conventional screening" by the NMFS and as such adopted by WDFW.  This type of screening requires a number pf specific site conditions which are all met at this diversion.  Although there have never been any 100% guarantees for fish screen facilities (of any type) that they will not experience some level of operational difficulties , we are confident based on our knowledge of these screens that there is a very low level probability of failure.

Farmers Conservation District (FCA) is a nonprofit social enterprise organization responsible for educating the public about the need for fish screens; refining, marketing, and selling the Farmers Screen; and using the profits to invest in other solutions that benefit both the environment and agriculture.  FCA will stand behind their screen and ensure that it works as designed provided that it is operated within all of the design parameters.  Obviously they cannot be responsible for issues that are related to an act of nature such as floods or debris torrents.  They have fix problems with the screens in the past without expecting  additional compensation and will do the same for this project.  The screening world is small and FCA knows all to well the cost of having a a project that does not function properly, they have assure the proponents that this  is not an option for them.

As part of this joint effort the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), the Technical Applications Program in conjunction with the Yakima Construction Shop has agreed to participate in this fish screen facility replacement.   WDFW will perform the following duties for this project; secure necessary permitting associated with the facility replacement; secure a landowner agreement that allows for construction easement and a permanent bypass easement; make access road and bridge  improvements as needed; purchase a Farmers Conservation Alliance horizontal fish screen; construct the civil works structure to house the fish screen; install the FCA screen and associated components such as walkways, hand rails, security fencing;  revegetate facility after construction.

This screen design is considered experimental by BPA.  BPA agrees to fund the installation of this screen.  If this screen fails, BPA will not provide additional funds to replace or modify the screen to address deficiencies.