The Yakima Phase II fish screening program was initiated in 1992 to reduce the injury, entrainment, and mortality of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed, and all native, fish in the Yakima basin by effectively screening surface water diversions.  These fish screen facilities are mandated to meet National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fish screening requirements which are based on best available science.  This contract proposal’s scope of work supports the compliant operation of these twenty-eight BPA-owned facilities by performing basic routine operations and maintenance (O&M) inspections, communicating with water users, and performing basic seasonal inspections, repairs, and fish salvage after irrigation season end.  This contract does not support capital improvements or refurbishment needs.

The execution of O&M activities is conceptually divided into four parts during the contract year.  The contract start date is July 1, 2023.  At this time O&M crews will be in the middle of the irrigation season and will perform weekly visits to Phase II sites.  During these visits the screen facilities are inspected for cleanliness and proper function.  Logbooks are updated and any necessary modifications to the site are made and recorded.  The goal of each visit is to assure fish are being adequately protected and the correct amount of water is being screened.  WDFW O&M staff will advise water users of any problems and any threat to fish life will be dealt with immediately.

The second part of the contract year is site shutdown.  Water rights dictate when sites shutdown occurs.  WDFW proactively sends out letters to irrigators explaining how to appropriately shut their individual screen sites down for the winter.  Some of these sites pose a stranding risk to fish that may be caught between the headgate and fish screens when water stops coming into the site.  In these cases, Yakima Construction Shop (YCS) staff performs fish rescue with backpack electrofishers to safely return fish to natural waters.

The third part of the contract year is annual inspections.  With no water coming into sites the screens can be thoroughly inspected and basic maintenance like seal rubber replacement conducted.  Needs at each site are documented and the screens are prepped for the winter months.  The annual work plan meeting will follow in the winter months so that WDFW and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) can coordinate on their operation of Phase II sites with BPA.

Lastly, spring will bring start up activities as a new irrigation season begins in early 2024.  As with the shutdown letters, YCS staff provide ample notice to irrigators with instruction for starting to take their water as per the right.  Some sites require cleaning and other maintenance as screens are set before water comes through the site again.  It should be noted that this description is a course, general, overview and the actual detail of tasks performed to keep each screen site functional is quite detailed.

Seven irrigation districts have the ability to submit invoices with receipts for reimbursement by BPA, through the WDFW Phase II contract, as outlined in the original 1992-009-00 agreement.  These reimbursements are intended to cover costs above and beyond what historic diversion operating costs were prior to their respective Phase II screen installations.  Utility bills are the most commonly documented item invoiced.  These seven districts are Acheson Ranch, Bull Canal, Gleed water users, Mill Ditch, Naches-Selah Irrigation District, South Naches Irrigation District, and Yakima Valley Canal Company.

Other Contract Details:

There are other tasks associated with the scope of work besides O&M.  Environmental compliance documentation, contract management, reporting, and effective communication with the USBOR are a few of these tasks.  The Gleed facility continues to operate outside of state and federal compliance standards and communication efforts will proceed toward a goal of long term site upgrades on a responsible manner.  Gleed can pose a serious risk to human life as debris accumulates in mass some years at the site.  The end goal is to better pass woody materials, require less maintenance, and be compliant for fish screening and passage.  Other needs for Yakima Phase II sites are detailed below.

In 2017 WDFW provided the first version of our Phase II inventory list at BPA's request which assessed the current condition of Phase II fish screen facilities in Washington.  This list along with all cost estimates and  prioritization methods were not funded by BPA but WDFW saw the necessity for the action and utilized state funds to complete the action. Beginning April 1, 2020 funds were made available to WDFW through contract 74314 REL 99 (Delayed Maintenance contract) and two of those work elements address more completely documenting the Phase II sites.  This was a tremendous funding opportunity and supplements this contract's limited financial capacity.  WDFW requests that a contract value increase be considered for Phase II O&M in future years while we continue to work with out supportive partners at BPA to most effectively maintain the fish screening facilities identified in this contract.

One particular note to mention is the problems WDFW O&M staff are observing with the ball reverser assemblies which facilitate automated cleaning a the Younger and Packwood sites.  These difficult to obtain parts (utilized primarily by fixed-wing aircraft) have required excess attention which this contract does not have the capacity to absorb in recent years.  New R&D may be necessary to identify a more consistent cleaning mechanism for the future. These are present at the Packwood and Younger sites.

WDFW O&M Phase II Site List:
Anderson
Chapman/Nelson
Clark
Congdon
Ellensburg Mill
Emeric
Fogarty
Fruitvale
Gleed
Huntsville Mill
Kelly/Lowry
Lewis
Lindsey
Mason/Hayes
Naches/Cowiche
Naches/Selah
New Cascade
Old Union
Packwood
Powell/LaFortune
Scott
Selah/Moxee
Snipes & Allen
Stevens
Taylor
Union Gap
Wilson/Bull
Younger


CCR-49901 of contract REL 46 adds $187,250 for WDFW's YCS to refurbish two phase II screen sites, the Wilson/Bull (45 CFS) and Taylor (11.5 CFS) drum screen facilities. This non-recurring maintenance need will be a benefit to fish life and help ensure compliant fish screen operation for well into the future at these facilities.