Chief Joseph Hatchery Program (DOE/EIS-0384/SA-01)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council recommended that Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) fund a program sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation that would assist in the conservation and recovery of summer/fall Chinook salmon in the Okanogan subbasin and the Columbia River between the Okanogan River and Chief Joseph Dam. The Chief Joseph Hatchery Program (CJHP) includes construction, operation, and maintenance of a hatchery adjacent to the base of the Chief Joseph Dam and a few acclimation ponds throughout the Okanogan subbasin. Adult fish broodstock collection for gathering eggs would occur throughout the project area by various means. Egg incubation and early rearing would occur at the new hatchery. Final rearing and release of juvenile fish would occur at new and existing acclimation ponds. While the focus of the CJHP is on the propagation of summer/fall Chinook salmon, the environmental impact statement (EIS) also considers the use of the proposed facilities to reintroduce extirpated spring Chinook salmon to their historical habitats in the Okanogan subbasin.

CURRENT STATUS:

BPA issued the Chief Joseph Hatchery Program's draft EIS in April 2007 seeking public comment on potential effects of the construction and operation of the CJHP. Public comments were used by project partners to refine the environmental analysis and decide whether to implement the CJHP. A final EIS was published in November 2009; and a Record of Decision (ROD) to implement the project followed in March 2010. The US Army Corps of Engineers is a cooperating agency in the analysis. A Supplemental Analyses (SA) was issued September 2012.

CONTACT:

For environmental information, contact:
Ted Gresh
Environmental Protection Specialist
Bonneville Power Administration – ECF-4
PO Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-5756
Email: esgresh@bpa.gov

 

DOCUMENTS 

SUPPLEMENTAL ANALYSIS:
SA-01 Chief Joseph Hatchery Program Excess Excavated Material Removal    (09/04/2012)

RECORD of DECISION:
ROD Notice of Availability - Federal Register March 29, 2010      (03/29/2010)
ROD Public Letter                                                                (03/22/2010)
ROD with Mitigation Action Plan                                              (03/18/2010)
Letter to United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on 'Independent
Utility' among CJHP and the Okanogan Weir (03/15/2010)
Letter from EPA - Final Response to FEIS Concerns                (02/18/2010)
Letter of Response to EPA on FEIS Concerns                          (02/04/2010)
Letter of Response to City of Bridgeport WA on FEIS Concerns    (01/19/2010)
Letter from EPA on FEIS Concerns                                        (12/23/2009)
Letter from City of Bridgeport WA on FEIS Concerns                  (12/11/2009)

FINAL EIS:
Federal Register Notice of Availability of FEIS  (11/27/2009)
Public Letter                                                    (11/13/2009)
Final EIS Summary                                          (November 2009)
Final EIS                                                          (November 2009)
Letter to NMFS Accepting EFH Measures              (08/05/2008)
NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion                  (07/28/2008)
NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion Cover Letter (07/25/2008)
Final EIS Figure 2-2 Proposed Hatchery Site Plan (06/25/2007)

DRAFT EIS:
Public Letter                                      (04/25/2007)
Draft EIS        (04/25/2007)
USFWS ESA Concurrence Letter            (06/09/2006)
Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consult Letter - US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) (05/05/2006)
ESA Consult Letter - NOAA Fisheries      (05/05/2006)
Biological Assessment (BA) for Chief Joseph Hatchery Program (05/03/2006)

SCOPING:
Public Scoping Letter #2                            (08/17/2005)
Public Scoping Letter #2 to Tribal Representatives (08/16/2005)
Public Scoping Letter                                            (08/02/2005)
Project Scoping Letter to Tribal Representatives (08/02/2005)

NOTICE of INTENT:
Notice of Intent    (07/27/2005)
Comment Form    (07/27/2005)
Project Map          (07/27/2005)