Chicken Creek Hawkes Fish Screen_SPA124_Decision Notice

Aug 15, 2023 4:05 PM

DECISION NOTICE

Hawkes Ditch Headgate and Fish Screen Replacement SPA 124 – Bitterroot National Forest; Darby, MT

The Bitterroot National Forest has applied for a Montana Stream Protection Act 124 permit to replace an existing headgate and passive fish screen on the Hawkes Ditch off of Chicken Creek, a tributary to the upper West Fork of the Bitterroot River above Painted Rocks Reservoir.

The purpose of this project is to replace an existing headgate and passive fish screen on the Hawkes Ditch off of Chicken Creek, a tributary to the upper West Fork of the Bitterroot River above Painted Rocks Reservoir. Monitoring by the Forest Service has found that the existing passive screen mounted to the front of the headgate is only partially effective at keeping fish from being entrained into the ditch. Chicken Creek contains low densities of bull trout, a species listed as “threatened” under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Bull trout have been found in the Hawkes Ditch on multiple occasions, which is what precipitated the need to improve the existing headgate and passive fish screen to reduce entrainment risk.

Based on the environmental review provided in the Draft EA, and, to the greatest extent possible, in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies, FWP determined the proposed action (Alternative 2), will not have significant adverse impacts on the human environment associated with the proposed action and constitutes a reasonable and appropriate strategy to achieve identified objectives. Therefore, preparation of an environmental impact statement or EIS is unnecessary.

FWP hereby adopts the Draft EA as final and approves Alternative 2, the Proposed Action.