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

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

DOCUMENTS

SCOPING
comments received
Public Letter  (07/22/2019)
Project Map  (07/22/2019)
Comment Form  (07/22/2019)