The Walla Walla County Conservation District aims to provide technical assistance, designs and construction oversight for seven new fish screens at irrigation diversion points within the surface waters of the Walla Walla Basin Watershed (WRIA 32). The project objective is to protect and eliminate salmonid mortality caused by irrigation diversions in the Walla Walla Basin. The seven projects have signed landowner agreements and could be completed between 6 weeks to 5 months depending on the size of the project. WWCCD requires a 15% cost share to be provided by the landowner for fish screen projects. WWCCD also requires flow meters to be installed with fish screens. Meters are provided through an existing WA Dept. of Ecology grant.
Salmonid presence within the Walla Walla basin is common. So is diverting surface water to irrigate crops. Frequently, fish become sucked into pumping system or impinged on the surface of screens with the wrong mesh size or surface flow. Installing appropriate fish screens eliminates mortality of juvenile salmonids. These salmonids include Middle Columbia River Steelhead, Bull Trout, Lamprey, spring Chinook salmon, and other fish. Fish screens, passage obstructions and seasonal dry or low flow stream areas are three imminent threats to aquatic species (Walla Walla Subbasin Plan May 2004).