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Originally constructed between 1950 and 1954, the Klickitat Hatchery was funded under the federal Mitchell Act of 1938 as mitigation for effects of hydropower development and operation. It is the centerpiece of artificial propagation activities in the Klickitat subbasin, and is used at least in part to rear and release spring and fall Chinook and coho salmon. In addition, steelhead smolts are released annually directly into the lower Klickitat at several locations downstream of the Klickitat Hatchery. On June 2, 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was completed that describes the proposed transfer of ownership and operational responsibility of the Klickitat Hatchery and the Lyle Falls and Castile Falls fishways from the WDFW to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (YN). In May of 2006, the Yakama Nation officially assumed responsibility for the operation of the Klickitat Hatchery.
Proposed changes to the existing artificial production program that meet Hatchery Scientific Review Group reform criteria can be found in the Klickitat River Anadromous Fishery Master Plan. This master plan is currently in Step I of the NPCC 3-Step review process for major artificial production initiatives.
Klickitat
HatcheryKlickitat River Anadromous Fishery Master Plan
Improvements to the Castile Falls fishway were approved by NOAA Fisheries in 1999 under special appropriations to the Mitchell Act, and have been completed as of summer 2005, opening access, blocked for over 40 years, to over 50 miles of habitat in the upper Klickitat to salmon and steelhead.
Castile Falls, a severe natural obstruction consisting of multiple cascades and waterfalls, was an historic impediment to the upstream migration of the majority of anadromous fish into the upper Klickitat watershed. The fishway was first constructed in the early 1960s. Design flaws and improper maintenance contributed to the failure of the first attempt to provide passage over the falls. Recently, the Castile Falls Fishway was renovated to bring it into compliance with NOAA Fisheries' fish passage standards and facilitate anadromous fish passage to habitats in the upper subbasin. From 2003-2005, work was completed on the two fishway tunnels within the Castile Falls complex.
Design improvements consisted of conversion from a pool-weir style fishway to a vertical slot fishway to allow passage over a wider range of river flow conditions and to reduce maintenance needs. Project engineers and biologists have measured improved flow, attraction flow and energy dissipation factor (EDF) within the weir-all of which are consistent with industry standards and which meet criteria for fish passage. Funds were appropriated after the severe 1996 flood to perform major maintenance activities to this NOAA Fisheries/Mitchell Act-funded fishway.
Castile Falls Fishway #10/11 Counting Station Drawings
Castile Falls Fishway #10/11 Fishway Drawings
Lyle Falls Fishway and Adult Trap
Lyle Falls, also known as Klickitat Falls No. 5, is located on the Klickitat River above the confluence with the Columbia River at river mile (RM) 2.2. Klickitat Falls No. 5 is approximately 150 feet in length and is bypassed by the Lyle Falls fishway located on the right bank. Data on adult fish using the fish ladder is collected daily.
The Washington State Department of Fisheries (WSDF) began building the original reinforced concrete fishway at Lyle Falls in 1949. By 1955, more formal facilities were constructed. The facility is a vertical slot weir covered fishway, with a three-port entrance pool. Included in the fishway are trapping and sorting bays. A siphon was retrofitted above the fishway to provide attraction water in the 1960's. Despite these efforts by the WDF, fish passage at Lyle Falls met with only limited success. Bedload and debris accumulations continually entrain material into the fishway, minimizing exit pool depths and increasing operation and maintenance. The siphon auxiliary water system designed to increase attraction flows at the fishway entrance will not hold a charge due to bedload accumulation, nor is it properly screened and configured to eliminate impingement and entrainment of juvenile fish.
Passage for summer and winter steelhead at Lyle Falls can become difficult during low flow conditions. At low flows, minimal water passes through the fishway, whose exit channel is often shallow with exposed bedload, resulting in fish reluctant to enter and exit the fishway. New fish passage technology, improved since original construction, provides solutions to remedy problems with the fishway and facilitate increased passage through a wider range of flows, particularly during low flow conditions. Proper attraction flows is expected to increase ladder usage, improving escapement estimates as fish pass PIT-tag detectors and a video monitoring station. Increased passage through a properly functioning fishway will enable the collection of steelhead broodstock for the YKFP integrated hatchery program.
The Klickitat Field Office (KFO) is the regional fishery office for the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project in the Klickitat subbasin and Southern Ceded Area.
The KFO is located in Wahkiacus, WA at RM 17 of the Klickitat River, near the confluence of Swale Creek.
Staff at the KFO includes Fishery Biologist, Habitat Biologist, Data Manager, Watershed Planner, Forest Fisheries Biologist, and habitat and fisheries technicians.
Meet the staff. (Coming soon.)
Physical address: 1575 Horseshoe Bend Rd., Klickitat, WA 98628
Wahkiacus Hatchery Acclimation Facility (WHAF)
As identified in the Klickitat Anadromous Fishery Master Plan (KMP), transferring U.S. v. Oregon production stocks (coho and fall Chinook) to the WHAF accomplishes two primary objectives:
- it frees up critical water and space at the Klickitat Hatchery, ensuring that optimal rearing densities and protocols (YKFP and Hatchery Scientific Review Group [HSRG] guidelines) are met for the two endemic stocks (Klickitat spring Chinook and Klickitat summer steelhead)
- transferring coho and fall Chinook production 26 miles downriver minimizes the impacts of large-scale hatchery releases on wild spring Chinook and steelhead rearing between the two facilities.
The 26 miles of river between Klickitat Hatchery (RM 42.6) and WHAF (RM 17) lies within the 3 EDT reaches (Lower Klickitat, Middle Klickitat and Upper Middle Klickitat). EDT model output generated from physical habitat surveys identify these reaches as having the highest potential for restoration and preservation in the subbasin. Annual steelhead spawner surveys indicate that 60% of the mainstem spawning occurs in these reaches.
Additionally, release of well-acclimated coho and fall Chinook from WHAF imprinted to the local groundwater signature will concentrate spawning in the immediate proximity of the facility, concentrating natural production in the immediate vicinity.
Castile Falls Adult Enumeration Facility (CFEF)
The Castile Falls Enumeration Facility (CFEF) will provide the ability to enumerate escapement into the upper Klickitat subbasin, and assess recent improvements to the Castile Falls Fishway. A counting station will be placed in the upper CFEF. This structure will be installed at the fishway exit of the Castile Falls 10/11 Fishway tunnel and will include video monitoring and PIT-tag detection capabilities, as well as the ability to trap salmon and steelhead for biological and DNA assessment. The recounting structure will allow fisheries managers to:
- determine escapement of Klickitat spring Chinook and summer steelhead into headwater habitats
- assess stock status and future trends as needed to calculate natural production and adult-to-adult return rates, and to refine EDT and run forecasting models used to guide an integrated hatchery program and habitat restoration actions and set harvest objectives
- conduct video monitoring to gain critical biological data such as species, run timing, size, and sex ratio of returning adults; and
- collect age and DNA information on returning adults.
Castile Falls #10 & 11 Fishway Counting Station Drawings
Lyle Falls Fishway Passage Improvements
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has finalized the Environmental Impact Statement for the Lyle Falls Fish Passage Project on the lower Klickitat River in Klickitat County, Washington. The Final EIS consists of changes to the Draft EIS, copies of written comments and responses to these comments.The proposed action would modify the existing fishway and be designed to safely and more effectively allow adult fish to move through the existing Lyle Falls into spawning areas of the upper reaches of the Klickitat River. The project would facilitate collection of fish for broodstock purposes and monitoring of biological information for future fishery management. Improvements would include reconstructing and lengthening the fishway and trash racks, upgrading the adult trapping facility, and adding a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag detector and video monitor.
BPA's environmental review of the project was initiated in June 2006 with an open public invitation to help ensure relevant issues, concerns, and alternatives were incorporated into early project planning. Based on public comments and analysis in the Final EIS, BPA expects to make a decision on any action on the project in Dec. 2008. This record of decision will be made available to the public; activities could begin in Spring 2009.
PUBLIC MEETINGS: A public meeting was held on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in Lyle, WA. Earlier that day, BPA also invited all interested parties to visit the Lyle Falls Fishway. BPA hosted another public meeting on the draft EIS on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Lyle, WA. During the meeting, an overview of the draft EIS was presented, the project was discussed, questions answered and written comments received. Information on future public meetings will be made available on the BPA web site.
Lyle Falls Fish Passage Project Final EIS (November 2008)
KLICKITAT RIVER PROPOSED FISHWAY IMPROVEMENTS at Lyle Falls Hydraulic Conditions Report (January 2004)
Lyle Falls No. 5 Fishway Drawings
Castile Falls Fishway #10/11 Fishway Drawings
Preliminary Design Report for Klickitat River Fish Passage Improvements Technical Report 2001-2005 (YKFP and Harbor Engineering June 2006)
