PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has decided to fund the construction and operation of a spring Chinook hatchery on the South Fork Walla Walla River near Milton-Freewater in Umatilla County, Oregon. The hatchery will be located at the site of an existing adult holding and spawning facility managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), who will also operate the proposed hatchery. The hatchery will incubate and rear spring Chinook salmon, which were extirpated from the Walla Walla River basin in the early to mid-1900s. The  project would augment fish populations available for harvest and aid in establishing a naturally spawning spring Chinook population in the Walla Walla basin.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS analyzes two action alternatives and a no action alternative. The EIS describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources, as well as mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts

CURRENT STATUS:
BPA has prepared a Record of Decision, which explains the factors that were considered in reaching the decision to fund the Walla Walla Basin Spring Chinook Hatchery Program, and a Mitigation Action Plan that lists the measures that will be used to avoid or reduce environmental impacts. 

 PROJECT SCHEDULE:

  
CONTACT:

For environmental information, contact: Carolyn Sharp Environmental Protection Specialist Bonneville Power Administration - ECF-4 P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621

​ Toll-free:   800-622-4519 Direct line:   503-230-5206 Email:    casharp@bpa.gov

For project information, contact: Gerald McClintock Project Manager Bonneville Power Administration - EWB-4 ​P.O. Box 3621 Portland, OR​ 97208 - 3621

​ Toll-free:   800-622-4519 Direct line:   503-230-5375 Email:   gmcclintock@bpa.gov