The project provides immediate and long-term protection for anadromous and resident fish species in the Hood River, Deschutes, Grande Ronde, Imnaha, John Day, Umatilla, and Walla Walla, Willamette River, North Coast (lower Columbia tributaries), and other Columbia River subbasins by ensuring proper operation and maintenance of protection and passage devices on diversions and dam structures. Thousands of water diversions exist in the Columbia Basin in waters home to anadromous fish, including many listed on the Endangered Species Act. ODFW works with water users to install fish screens to prevent fish injury and mortality associated with the diversion of water. Fish screens operate in challenging environments that include extreme cold temperatures to extreme heat. Fish screens are also exposed to floating debris ranging from sediment to large trees that damage screens resulting in fish loss. Proper fish screen maintenance is required for fish screens to prevent fish injury and mortality associated with water diversions. BPA funds are critical to ODFWs’ fish screen program. The program also uses cost share from PCSRF, ODFW License Surcharge, ODFW General Fund, and BPA for implementation. These funds are used to adjust and maintain fish screens as necessary to keep them operational and in service to protect ESA listed and resident fish. This contract will administer the fish screen program, provide operation and maintenance of existing screen and passage structures, design new or replacement structures, and maintain program facilities.  

The scope of the 2025 contract includes non-reoccurring maintenance funds for projects which been scoped in Line-Item Budget (LIB) and defined in discrete Work Elements. The LIB also includes capital improvements to increase maintenance capabilities for specific regional O & M needs.

The BPA COR will continue to engage ODFW staff with modernizing geodatabase and mapping to ensure this program's accomplishments are communicated to the broader community and future reporting needs with the NPCC. Maintenance activities reporting was added for each Work Element; this will facilitate the annual program reporting.