DESCRIPTION
Early Winters Ditch is located approximately 15 miles northwest of Winthrop in Okanogan County. This irrigation ditch on Early Winters Creek, a tributary to the Methow River, had a head-gate structure and a double unit fish screen facility built in 1952 that did not meet current WDFW and NMFS criteria for fish protection. This facility was one of six Endangered Species Act Section 7d diversions prohibited by NMFS from diverting water in 1999 until mesh size and approach velocity criteria meet NMFS standards. The WDFW's Yakima Screen Shop replaced this screen with a screen of modern and approved design. This project will benefit bull trout, Chinook and steelhead.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used this funding to correct the fish screen facility on the Early Winter Ditch, located approximately 15 miles NW of Winthrop. The former facility consisted of a head-gate structure and a double unit fish screen built in 1952 that did not meet WDFW and NMFS criteria for fish protection. This facility is located on USFS property and was one of six ESA "Section 7d" diversions prohibited by NMFS from diverting water in 1999 until mesh size and approach velocity criteria were in compliance with the current screening criteria.
As a temporary fix, the two drums were covered, at owner expense, with stainless steel perforated plate with 3/32 in. diameter holes. The Early Winter Ditch Co. was required to reduce diversion flow to 14.5 cfs from the normal spring maximum of 20 cfs to comply with the 0.4 fps approach velocity criteria.
The WDFW’s Yakima Screen Shop (YSS) replaced this facility, based on RCW 75.20.061, after the Early Winter Ditch Co. and the Department of Ecology resolved diversion issues.
