Umatilla Hatchery Programs (Umatilla River Spring Chinook, Fall Chinook, and Coho)

Umatilla, Morrow, and Multnomah counties, Oregon

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is proposing to continue funding the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and Westland Irrigation District (WID) to implement the ongoing Umatilla River Spring Chinook, the Umatilla River Fall Chinook, and the Umatilla River Coho hatchery programs. The Umatilla Summer Steelhead Program was previously assessed in an environmental assessment completed in 2022, and no changes are proposed as part of this environmental review.

BPA would fund activities such as broodstock collection, egg incubation, juvenile rearing, and release to support the three programs. Umatilla Hatchery Programs currently target the production and release of up to 810,000 spring Chinook smolts and 600,000 juvenile Umatilla fall Chinook. The Umatilla Coho Program acclimates and releases up to 1 million Umatilla coho salmon. BPA has provided funding to these programs since the Umatilla Hatchery began operations in 1991 and proposes to continue funding within current production limits.

Other elements under consideration for BPA funding related to the ongoing operations of these hatchery programs include the development of new long-term hatchery water sources at the Umatilla Hatchery; routine facility maintenance; equipment upgrades; and research, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Because the Umatilla Hatchery and most of its associated facilities have operated for over 30 years, hatchery infrastructure is currently outdated or deteriorating. For this reason, the hatchery and some satellite facilities need non-recurring maintenance actions to maintain, repair, or replace equipment. Equipment identified for replacement includes a water-chilling system, water-intake system, components of adult holding and sorting facilities, upgrades to support buildings and electrical systems, and other similar components. In addition, the Umatilla Hatchery uses a water-supply system originally designed and constructed to produce 15,000 gallons per minute, which has declined in volume over time. This has limited the ability to meet fish-production goals. Therefore, this proposal for continued BPA funding also considers additional options to remedy the declining water supply, including potential development of new wells, hatchery water-reuse systems, or improvements at acclimation sites to reduce water use.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA may prepare an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If BPA determines that an EA should be prepared, the EA would analyze the proposed action, as well as a no-action alternative in which BPA would not fund ODFW, CTUIR, and the Westland Irrigation District for production of Umatilla River spring Chinook, fall Chinook, or coho or the associated facility repair and replacement work in the next five years. The EA would also describe anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and would identify mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. During this process, BPA will work with landowners, tribes, federal, state and local agencies, and interest groups.

The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:

Scoping comment period        October 2 – November 1, 2023
Draft EA comment period (if warranted) Fall 2023
Final EA (if warranted) Winter 2023–2024
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) Spring 2024

CURRENT STATUS

BPA has concluded scoping and the comment period closed on November 1, 2023. BPA is now considering comments to help determine if an Environmental Assessment is warranted and the issues that should be addressed in the environmental review. 

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Jeff Maslow         Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Senior Environmental Protection Specialist         Direct line: 503-230-3928
Bonneville Power Administration – EC-4 Email: jjmaslow@bpa.gov 
PO Box 3621
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621


For project information, contact:
Eric McOmie Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Fish and Wildlife Administrator Direct line: 503-230-4964
Bonneville Power Administration – EWU-4 Email: ermcomie@bpa.gov 
PO Box 3621
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS


SCOPING
Scoping comments received
Public Letter (10/02/2023)
Project Map (10/02/2023)
Comment Form (10/02/2023)