Big Bear Falls Fish Passage Project (DOE/EA-2120)

Latah County, ID

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) had proposed to fund Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) to enhance passage for steelhead past Big Bear Falls, a natural bedrock waterfall on private land within the Potlatch Watershed in Idaho. Studies conducted by IDFG provide evidence that steelhead historically accessed the entire Big Bear Creek drainage. Over the last century, human-induced changes within the watershed have reduced the watershed’s ability to store water, making spring runoff more intense over shorter windows and limiting adult steelhead migration and passage around the falls. IDFG had proposed to modify the vertical profile of Big Bear Falls to create a series of jump pools that would provide access to 20 kilometers of habitat above the falls that were historically accessible.

CURRENT STATUS

In 2021, IDFG decided to no longer pursue the proposed project and BPA considers its NEPA review process complete.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact:
Carolyn Sharp        
Environmental Protection Specialist
Bonneville Power Administration - ECF-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct Line: 503-230-5206
Email:casharp@bpa.gov

For project information, contact:
Matthew Schwartz
Project Manager         
Bonneville Power Administration - EWM-4
PO Box 3621 Portland, OR 97208-3621
Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Direct Line: 503-230-4225
Email:mdschwartz@bpa.gov

DOCUMENTS

SCOPING
Comments Received
Public Letter  July 22, 2019
Project Map   July 2019
Comment Form  July 22, 2019