AUTHORIZATION:
US vs. OR, Production Advisory Committee, supported and directed the construction and operation of acclimation and release facilities for Snake River fall Chinook from Lyons Ferry Hatchery at three sites above Lower Granite Dam.  These projects were constructed as part of a funding package ($5.0 million add-on) provided by the Corps of Engineer's headquarters to the Walla Walla District to comply with the language in a Senate conference report (Senate Report, 103-672, P7) describing desired work to be accomplished under the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan.

The conference report specified that:
"Only projects which will protect, maintain, and enhance biological diversity of existing wild stocks should be pursued."
A portion of the conference report language provides for final rearing and/or acclimation facilities for fall Chinook on the Snake River.  Snake River fall Chinook have been listed as a threatened species by NMFS under the Endangered Species Act.  The progeny of fish released by the project will be listed fish, thus the project will directly contribute to recovery of a listed species.
Funding for planning, engineering, conceptual design, NEPA, and construction has been secured from the COE.

FACILITIES:
The project is located in the Blue Mountain Province and the Snake Hells Canyon Sub Basin.  Two acclimation facilities, Capt. John Rapids and Pittsburg Landing are located on the Snake River between Asotin, WA. and Hells Canyon Dam and one facility is located on the Clearwater River at Big Canyon.  The Capt. John Rapids facility is a single pond while Pittsburg Landing and Big Canyon sites consist of portable fish rearing tanks assembled and disassembled each year.  Acclimation of 450,000 smolts (150,000 each facility) begins in March and ends 6 weeks later.  Acclimate up to 1.6 million sub-yearlings for 3 weeks following the yearling release.

PROJECT GOALS:
This is a supplementation project; in that hatchery produced fish will be released into the natural spawning habitat in an effort to return a greater number of spawners and enhance natural production.  The stock selected for release is the only Snake River basin origin hatchery stock in the Pacific Northwest and the hatchery propagating the stock has been designated as a gene bank for Snake River fall Chinook.  This is a long-term project, and will ultimately work towards achieving de-listing goals established by NMFS.

RPA'S
The Snake River Fall Chinook Acclimation Project is an existing safety-net project and is addressed in the 2000 Biological Opinion Action 177:                    

"This action funds the actual implementation and operation of safety-net projects.  Depending on the planning results, specific measures may include funding modifications  of existing facilities, or construction and operation of new facilities.  The obligation to fund the safety-net program, including O&M, monitoring, and evaluation, will continue indefinitely, as circumstances warrant."

Deliverables for this project include:    
                                     Acclimate and release 450,000 yearling smolts
                                     Acclimate and release 1,600,000 sub-yearling smolts