DESCRIPTION
The diversion is located 1/4 mile upstream from the Twisp River and was causing mortality of steelhead rainbow trout and bull trout and juvenile spring chinook salmon. There was no return flow back to Buttermilk Creek or the Twisp River so the fish that strayed down the ditch would perish. The ditch begins on National Forest lands and then crosses onto private land. The USFS does not have jurisdiction on the water rights for the ditch but a special use permit is required for the conveyance of water across public lands. Water from the ditch is used for stock to irrigate 80 acres of pasture 40 acres of commercial tree farm and residential use. The ditch takes 4 cfs from Buttermilk Creek about 15% of the baseflow. USFS is currently working on granting a permanent easement which would remove the need for future permitting and reduce USFS involvement. NMFS and USFWS allowed the ditch to operate in 1998 because plans were in place to install a screen on the ditch. To continue ditch operations a fish screen had to be installed.
The project is to install a fish screen at the headgate of Buttermilk ditch. This project was originally planned to be funded & implemented by WDFW Screen Shop in 1998, but was halted due to lack of funding. The diversion is located 1/4 mile upstream from the Twisp River and is presently causing mortality of steelhead, rainbow trout and bull trout and low numbers of juvenile spring chinook salmon. There is no return flow back to Buttermilk Creek or the Twisp River and fish that stray down the ditch perish. The ditch begins on National Forest lands and uses about 600? of USFS land before crossing onto private land. The USFS does not have jurisdiction on the water rights for the ditch, but a special use permit is required for the conveyance of water across public lands. USFS is currently working on granting a permanent easement which would remove the need for future permitting and reduce USFS involvement. NMFS and USFWS allowed the ditch to operate in 1998 because plans were in place to install a screen on the ditch. To continue ditch operations and avoid "take" issues, a fish screen must be installed. NMFS and USFWS will likely issue an incidental take permit that will allow the ditch to operate w/out a screen in 1999 if there is positive movement toward screening. Water from the ditch is used for stock, to irrigate 80 acres of pasture, 40 acres of commercial tree farm, and residential use. The ditch takes 4 cfs from Buttermilk Creek, about 15% of the baseflow.
