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

Umatilla, Morrow, and Multnomah counties, Oregon

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) proposes 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 collects broodstock and acclimates and releases up to 500,000 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Hatchery and most of its associated facilities have operated for over 30 years, hatchery infrastructure is currently outdated or deteriorating.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 prepared an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA considered BPA’s proposed funding to implement the ongoing Umatilla River Spring Chinook, the Umatilla River Fall Chinook, and the Umatilla River Coho hatchery programs, as well as a no-action alternative in which BPA would discontinue its funding and the programs could cease operations. The EA describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and identifies mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. 

BPA released the draft EA for public review and comment in February 2024, and received comments from one individual, one representative of CTUIR Fisheries, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bonneville signed the finding of no significant impact on April 29, 2024.

BPA’s environmental review schedule is:

Scoping comment period – October 2, 2023 – November 1, 2024

EA determination – February 1, 2024

Draft EA available for public - February 13, 2024

Final EA – April 29, 2024

Finding of No Significant Impact - April 29, 2024

If decision to implement, construction start – Summer 2024
 

CURRENT STATUS

BPA has decided to continue funding implementation of ongoing operations and maintenance of Umatilla River Spring Chinook, Fall Chinook, and Coho fish-production programs by CTUIR, ODFW, and WID. BPA has released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan that identifies actions to help avoid or lessen potential impacts. 

BPA’s continued funding decision based on the final EA and FONSI includes funding for hatchery and satellite-facility equipment replacement and improvements such as the construction of a new water-chilling system at Umatilla Hatchery, which is scheduled to begin in summer 2024.  If needed, BPA would complete future follow-on environmental compliance processes for site-specific evaluations of the other program elements (e.g., water supply) and satellite improvement activities described in the final EA.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Jeff Maslow         
Senior Environmental Protection Specialist        
Bonneville Power Administration – EC-4  
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-3928
Email: jjmaslow@bpa.gov

For project information, contact:
Eric McOmie
Fish and Wildlife Administrator
Bonneville Power Administration – EWU-4  
PO Box 3621 Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct line: 503-230-4964
Email: ermcomie@bpa.gov

DOCUMENTS

FINAL EA & FONSI:
Final EA    April 2024
Final EA (track changes) April 2024
FONSI/Mitigation Action Plan (04/29/2024)
Public Letter (05/02/2024)

DRAFT

Comments Received  
Public Letter                 (02/13/2024)
Comment Form            (02/13/2024)
Draft EA                        (02/13/2024)

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

EA Determination (02/01/2024)