Photograph of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery surface water intake site on Icicle Creek
Project Alternatives
The Draft EIS assesses the potential impacts of the four alternatives under consideration: the No Action Alternative and three action alternatives. Summaries and maps are provided for each alternative below. For more information on project components and existing features, please see Chapter 2, Proposed Action and Alternatives of the SWISP Project Draft EIS.
Alternative A - No Action
The No Action Alternative represents continuation of current operation and maintenance of the existing LNFH surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek. The existing intake and delivery system, constructed in 1939 and 1940, would remain in its current degraded condition. Under the No Action Alternative, all existing features shown in Map 2-1 and 2-2 below, would remain in place and would not be modified, improved, or rehabilitated.
Alternative A includes the existing LNFH surface water intake and delivery system and conveyance pipeline. Features shown on the map include: Hatchery production facilities, sand settling basin, spillway pool, structures in the historical channel, conveyance pipeline, surface water intake facilities, Snow Lakes Trailhead, and the Forest Service Wilderness Area kiosk.
Aerial view of the existing surface water intake area off Icicle Creek Road. The existing access road, gatehouse, intake channel, intake trash rack structure, low-head diversion dam, fish ladder/sediment sluice, and outlet channel are shown on the map.
Existing Conditions
Photos of Existing Conditions
Low-head diversion dam and intake channel (above intake trashrack structure)
Intake channel (below intake trashrack structure) and gatehouse
Existing Intake Facility features, from right to left: Low-head diversion dam and intake channel, fish ladder/sediment sluice, intake trashrack structure, intake channel, and gatehouse
Alternative B (Proposed Action) and Alternative D
Alternative B rehabilitates the LNFH surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek by constructing new headworks and a creek-width roughened channel and replacing and lining the surface water conveyance pipeline to the Hatchery (see Map 2-3 at bottom of page). In addition, the current access road would be modified and extended to provide better entry to an expanded Intake Operations and Maintenance Area (IO&MA) (see Maps 2-4 and 2-5, below). Phase I construction activities would occur up to 24 hours per day, up to 7 days per week and would include an in-water work window would be from July 1 to November 15 each year over two construction seasons. Phase II construction activities would be limited to workday hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., up to 6 days per week and would not involve in-water work.
Alternative D rehabilitates the LNFH surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek as described under Alternative B but with the following differences. Phase I construction activities would be the same as Alternative B but would be limited to workday hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., up to 6 days per week. In addition, the in-water work window would be limited to July 1 to October 31 each year, but would occur over four construction seasons (see Map 2-3, 2-4, and 2-5, below).
The map provides an overview of the project components and elements for Alternatives B and D. The segments of the conveyance pipeline that would be replaced (2,180 feet) and the associated construction areas are shown, along with the segment of conveyance pipeline that would be lined with cure-in-place pipe (CIPP) (approximately 4,000 feet) under both alternatives. Additional features shown associated with Phase I and Phase II construction include: temporary pump and pipeline, staging and storage sites for construction equipment and staff administration, spillway pool, access routes, conveyance pipeline lined with CIPP, pipeline replacement, construction vehicle turnaround and vehicle parking area, LNFH Production facilities and associated structures, and LNFH sand settling basin and inside and outside screen chambers.
Aerial view of the proposed intake construction area on Icicle Creek, off Icicle Creek Road, and the conveyance pipeline for Alternatives B and D. The gravity bypass pipeline and outlet, temporary access route, conveyance pipeline construction area associated with pipeline replacement, and Contractor Use Area 1 are also shown.
Alternative C (Preferred Alternative)
Under Alternative C, Reclamation would rehabilitate the LNFH surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek as described under Alternative B. However, under Alternative C, Reclamation would line the entire upper segment (520 ft) of the conveyance pipeline on USFWS property with CIPP, instead of replacing it (see Maps 2-3, 2-6, and 2-7, below).
Overview of the project components and elements for Alternative C. The segments of the conveyance pipeline that would be replaced and the associated construction areas are shown, along with the segment of conveyance pipeline that would be lined with CIPP (approximately 4,520 feet). The surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek would be constructed as described under Alternative B.
Aerial view of the proposed intake construction area on Icicle Creek, off Icicle Creek Road, and the conveyance pipeline for Alternative C. The gravity bypass pipeline and outlet, and temporary access route are also shown.
Conceptual Drawing of the Proposed Intake Facilities for all Action Alternatives
This drawing illustrates proposed changes to the surface water intake facilities under all action alternatives, including the intake access road, Intake Operations and Management Area (IO&MA), intake pipeline, Pipeline Intake and Sediment Management Area (PISMA), conveyance pipeline to Hatchery, fish screens, low-flow boulder weir fishway, and roughened channel.
For more information on the SWISP EIS, please contact Jason Sutter (208-378-5390, BOR-SHA-PNRLSWISP@usbr.gov).
To be added or removed from the mailing list, please contact Megan Stone (303-447-7160, megan.stone@empsi.com).