[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42112-42113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20557]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Methow/Wenatchee Coho Supplementation Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's proposal to construct rearing/
acclimation ponds for coho salmon in floodplain and wetlands located in
Okanogan County, Washington. A total of three to five fish acclimation
sites will be developed in the Methow River basin on two tributaries,
the Twisp and
[[Page 42113]]
Chewuch rivers, and the Methow mainstem. The Methow is a tributary to
the Columbia River and is located in North Central Washington. It is
the intent of the BPA, the Yakama Indian Nation and Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore extirpated coho salmon to
the mid-Columbia River basin. By experimenting with releases at
different life stages and release locations using acclimation ponds,
more knowledge will be gained about the benefits of acclimation and the
rearing of hatchery-influenced fish in more natural environments. This
knowledge will help resource managers to make better decisions about
how best to implement supplementation to further the goal of rebuilding
coho salmon populations throughout the mid-Columbia River basin.
In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain
and wetlands environmental review requirements, BPA will prepare a
floodplain and wetlands assessment and will perform this proposed
action in a manner so as to avoid or minimize potential harm to or
within the affected floodplain and wetlands. After BPA issues the
assessment, a floodplain statement of findings will be published if
necessary, in the Federal Register.
DATES: Comments are due to the address below no later than August 20,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Communications, Bonneville Power
Administration--ACS-7, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon, 97212.
Internet address: comment@bpa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne E. Boss--ECP-4, Bonneville
Power Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621,
phone number 503-230-3596, fax number 503-230-5699.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because the experimental strategy is to
utilize acclimation sites that reflect a strong natural influence such
as river side channels, canals, and existing ponds, some sites may be
located in the floodplain and/or wetlands. The typical ponds
constructed at each site will have earthen bottoms with concrete inlet
and outlet structures and PVC water pipelines. Several sites on the
Methow mainstem between the town of Carlton and the Lost River, T33N,
R21E, Section 3 (approximately RM 20 to RM 60) are being considered.
Other potential sites in the floodplain are located on the Twisp River,
T33N, R21E, Section 10, T33N, R21E, Section 8 (RM 1 to RM 25) and the
Chewuch River, (RM 0 to RM 1). To provide rearing/acclimation space for
the coho salmon, as much as 35,700 cubic feet of earth may be removed
from each site to construct the ponds in accordance with biological
criteria.
Maps and further information are available from BPA at the address
above.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on July 28, 1997.
Thomas C. McKinney,
NEPA Compliance Office.
[FR Doc. 97-20557 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
