To provide management and operational support for a capital construction program dedicated to the protection of anadromous fish from loss in water diversions, improve fish passage at diversions for juvenile and adult anadromous fish, and improve stream flow conditions where possible.  Staff will process environmental regulatory documents, provide oversight to archaeologists and consulting engineers, engage in scoping activities, and negotiate with private landowners for habitat projects.  All projects require compliance with State of Idaho and Federal regulations including, but not limited to, IDAPA Title 42, IDAPA Title 36, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Federal Land Management Policy Act, National Historical Preservation Act, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  

Project Coordination:  The Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) coordinates other funding sources with this Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) contract in order to maximize the potential for anadromous fish recovery efforts in the Salmon River basin.  

Background:   Since the 1800s, anadromous fish runs in the Columbia River have declined drastically.  Historically,  IDFG estimates that the Salmon River basin produced 39% of the spring Chinook salmon and 45% of the summer Chinook salmon in the Columbia River Basin (Idaho Department of Fish & Game, 1985).  Steelhead estimates for the Salmon River basin are not available but production was substantial.  Due to the low return of spring Chinook salmon to Idaho in 1974, all but treaty harvest was curtailed.  Since then,  harvest has been limited to a tribal fishery and occasional harvest of surplus hatchery stocks.  

Irrigation diversions date back to the 1860's in the Salmon River basin of the Snake River drainage and have impacted anadromous fish in a number of ways.  These impacts included loss of habitat, entrainment of smolts on their migration to the ocean,  and returning adults have been blocked by irrigation diversion wing dams.  Riparian corridors have been degraded by various management actions.

In 1938 the U.S. Congress passed the Mitchell Act in an attempt to partially mitigate for losses resulting from hydroelectric projects, logging, mining, and agricultural developments.  The Act provided a mechanism for conserving fishery resources of the Columbia River basin and created the Columbia River Fisheries Development Program (CRFDP).  The CRFDP program was extended to include the upper basin (above McNary) in 1956.  Between 1958 and 1966, IDFG constructed more than 200 screens on the main stem Salmon River and tributaries.  Today about 235 screens are in operation in Idaho.  

Funding was first provided to the IDFG  by BPA in 1994 for anadromous fisheries projects falling outside the scope of the Mitchell Act.  These funds were used in non-traditional ways to eliminate or consolidate irrigation diversions, improve fish passage, conserve water and provide proper screening of water withdrawals.  These projects have been undertaken by IDFG on a tributary wide basis to maximize the potential for success.