Welcome to the SWISP Project Draft EIS Virtual Public Meeting

Reclamation released the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery (hereafter, LNFH or Hatchery) SWISP Project Draft EIS on November 20, 2020 for public review and comment. The Draft EIS contains the analysis of a No Action Alternative and three action alternatives for the proposal to rehabilitate, replace, and modernize the LNFH surface water intake and delivery system on Icicle Creek near Leavenworth, Washington.

The LNFH intake facility on Icicle Creek that supplies fresh water to the Hatchery is deteriorating due to age and needs to comply with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 2017 Biological Opinion requirements including meeting fish screening and fish passage criteria for anadromous fish passage facilities. The purpose of the SWISP Project is to minimize take of fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), provide fish passage that complies with current regulatory criteria, and ensure safe, efficient and reliable delivery of the Hatchery’s full surface water rights from Icicle Creek.

Reclamation prepared the SWISP Project Draft EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and gathered information during scoping from the public, cooperating and participating agencies, Tribes, and other interested parties on a range of possible alternatives to modernize the LNFH’s surface water intake, fish screening, fish passage, and water delivery systems. Input received during scoping helped in the development of alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS.

The public had another opportunity to participate in the public involvement process and provide input through this web-based virtual public meeting from November 20, 2020 to January 4, 2021.

Next Station: Project Overview

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).