[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 74 (Friday, April 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 20639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8627]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Operational Changes in Support of Lake Cascade Fishery 
Restoration, Boise Project, Payette Division, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is canceling work on 
the environmental impact statement (EIS) for proposed operational 
changes at Lake Cascade, on the North Fork Payette River near Cascade, 
Idaho. Because of a potential for irrigation shortages, and a high 
probability of a reduction in salmon flow augmentation water as a 
result of the proposal, both Reclamation and Idaho Department of Fish 
and Game (IDFG) decided that the draining of Lake Cascade is not a 
viable option for sport fish restoration. The notice of intent was 
published in the Federal Register (68 FR 41842, July 15, 2003).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Dunn, Snake River Area 
Office at telephone 208-334-9844, or e-mail [email protected]. TTY 
users may call 208-334-9844 by dialing 711 to obtain a toll free TTY 
relay.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In early 2003, IDFG requested that 
Reclamation consider draining Lake Cascade to assist in a fishery 
restoration project to help rebuild the Lake Cascade sport fishery. 
IDFG had determined that the presence of large numbers of northern 
pikeminnow and largescale suckers in the lake were a major cause of the 
decline of the important yellow perch and trout fishery and would 
prevent recovery of the fishery unless their number were significantly 
reduced. IDFG had analyzed different methods to remove and/or reduce 
the numbers of northern pikeminnow and largescale suckers. They 
concluded the most economical method, with the highest probability for 
success, would entail lowering the reservoir's water level as much as 
possible and utilizing a fish toxicant (rotenone) to kill any remaining 
fish. The reservoir would then be restocked with yellow perch, trout 
and other gamefish.
    Preliminary analysis of the draining proposal identified the 
potential for significant environmental and socioeconomic effects, and 
Reclamation concluded that an EIS, because draining the lake would be 
considered a Federal action, would need to be prepared to comply with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. In July 2003, 
Reclamation published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the 
Federal Register and to conduct public scoping meetings. Scoping 
meetings were held in southwest Idaho in early August 2003, and written 
comments were accepted into September. Over 340 distinct comments were 
received and reviewed.
    The first analysis needed for the proposal was a complete 
understanding of the physical and logistical aspects of draining Lake 
Cascade and the reservoir's subsequent refill. Information was needed 
on how the project would affect irrigation deliveries, salmon flow 
augmentation supplies, the reservoir conservation pool, river flows and 
other uses of the Payette River drainage. Reclamation water operations 
experts conducted reservoir drawdown and refill studies in the fall of 
2003 and recently presented their findings. Major findings of the water 
studies concluded that the reservoir could be drained to accommodate 
the fishery renovation proposed by IDFG, but with varying impacts to 
irrigation deliveries and salmon flow augmentation, depending on 
hydrologic conditions in the months and years following the drawdown.
    The water studies indicated that under one of the drawdown 
scenarios studied, irrigation deliveries would have little chance of 
being impaired. Another drawdown scenario identified possible 
irrigation impacts in the first irrigation season following the 
drawdown if it was a very dry year, and possibly for more than one year 
in successive dry years.
    However, salmon flow augmentation supplies were likely to be 
affected by all of the drawdown scenarios analyzed. Impacts would occur 
in the first augmentation season following the drawdown and potentially 
for several years afterward. Reclamation has committed to provide up to 
427,000 acre-feet of flows, as a result of consultation under the 
Endangered Species Act, to aid in juvenile salmon migration in the 
Snake and Columbia Rivers. The Payette River annually supplies 
approximately one-third of the salmon flow augmentation from Idaho and 
provides irrigation water to more than 100,000 acres of farmland.

    Dated: March 1, 2004.
J. William McDonald,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 04-8627 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]
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