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Upper Snake River BiOp
The Bureau of Reclamation operates 12 Federal dams in the Upper Snake River basin, collectively referred to as the Upper Snake River projects. These dams - Minidoka, Palisades, Ririe, Michaud Flats, Little Wood River, Boise, Lucky Peak, Mann Creek, Owyhee, Vale, Burnt River, and Baker. The primary purpose of these Federal projects is to store and release water for irrigation and flood control.
Reclamation’s operations in the Upper Snake also include delivering water for flow augmentation for listed salmon and steelhead. Although none of the 13 listed Columbia River salmon and steelhead stocks are found in the Upper Snake River basin, water operations above Brownlee Dam influence stream flows below Hells Canyon Dam, where the listed fish occur. The flow effects of the Upper Snake actions aggregate at Brownlee Reservoir.
The 2004 Nez Perce Water Rights Settlement, a milestone in a 20-year adjudication process, strengthens Reclamation’s ability to acquire flow augmentation water for listed fish, especially in dry years when it’s most needed. A remarkable collaboration to resolve tribal water rights claims, the settlement provides many benefits to fish, including financial support to the tribe for stream restoration and habitat improvement projects.
Federal and legislation was enacted to implement the provisions of the agreement, and it was also approved by the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Council and decreed in the Snake River Basin Water Rights Adjudication court. |
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