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Methow Valley News August 12, 1999 Endangered Species Fish funds flow by Lee Hicks The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Okanogan County have announced appropriations for fish recovery projects in the Methow basin totaling nearly $1 million in combined state grants plus matching funds. Many of the projects include new installation or replacement of fish screens, as well as piping, ditch lining, fish bypass systems and diversions. Altogether the Methow basin projects include $683,077 in state appropriations under the "interagency review team" for salmon recovery program, and matching funds of $294,650. Among "early action" projects approved by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and sponsored by Okanogan County are improvements for these ditches (includes type of improvement, grant allocation, matching funds and total): Fulton--lining, $12,000 grant, $6,000 match, $18,000 total; Aspen Meadows--ditch piping, $64,007 grant, $6,250 match, $70,327 total; Tourangea--(project not listed), $6,000 grant, $500 match, $6,500 total; Eagle--fish screen, $12,000 grant, $500 match, $12,500 total. Skyline--piping, $100,000 grant, $45,000 match, $145,000 total; Early Winters--new diversion structure, $100,000 grant, $17,400 match, $117,400 total. Other projects sponsored by state Fish and Wildlife include: Buttermilk Creek--fish screen, $9,000 grant, $29,000 match, $38,000 total; Wolf Creek Reclamation District--fish screen, $90,000 grant, $50,000 match, $140,000 total; Fulton--fish screen, $100,000 grant, $50,000 match, $150,000 total; Twisp-Power--fish screen, $90,000 grant, $40,000 match, $130,000 total. Statewide, the salmon recovery funding involved more than 100 projects and $6.7 million in state funding. About $4.1 million is for habitat restoration and the other $2.6 million for fish passage improvements. The IRT includes representatives of the state departments of Fish and Wildlife, Transportation, Ecology and Natural Resources and the state Conservation Commission. The Okanogan County water resources department also announced that a meeting of the departments "technical advisory group" will meet Monday (Aug. 16) at 2 p. m. in the Twisp Forest Service office to consider salmon recovery project proposals. Information is available from Spence Higby, watershed planner, at 509-422-7239. Opinion | Sports |
Local Interest |