[ospreysteelhead]

Icicle Creek, one of the Wenatchee's most pristine tributaries has long been hindered by irresponsible practices at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery diversion denies fish access to over 150 miles of high quality habitat, dewaters a large portion of lower Icicle, and releases toxins into lower Icicle. These practices demonstrate a blatant disregard for the well-being of the ESA listed species in the basin and were they corrected Icicle would be capable of supporting good numbers of steelhead, bull trout and chinook.

Now the Washington Department of Ecology is set to "certify" that the hatchery practices jibe with the Clean Water Act. The Wild Fish Conservancy is coordinating an effort to get these problems corrected but your voice is needed. If you fish the Wenatchee or if you just love wild fish, and support commonsense measures which support their recovery write a letter today. Public comments are due December 18th.

More info on the Osprey Blog

 

[Freestone]

The hatchery also just got approval for some the Federal Stimulus money and they are trying to rush through a huge project to re-do the intake. The problem is that there isn't time for an EIS (time limits on the stimulus $), so they are trying to speed through the process and use a 7 yr old EIS from another project and just do an EA, due out in a couple of weeks. It seems pretty lame especially, as I understand it, this project will do nothing to help native spawners nor will it restore more and/or year-round flow to the de-watered section of the river nor will it bring the hatchery operations into compliance. Plus, it won't eliminate or upgrade the current illegal intake that they share with a local irrigation company as that company will still have to use it. Seems like a real boondoggle. If you live in the valley, read and comment on the Intake Project EA and watch for more public meetings.

 

[BDD]

Who attended the public meeting two nights ago where they were discussing this issue? Anyone?

 

[Freestone]

I went to the National Hatchery meeting as well as the meeting last night about the revised hatchery/acclimation ponds on the White River. Let me know if you have questions.