DESCRIPTION
This project came about because the WDFT water rights to the Methow Wildlife Area's Big Valley North expired. The water right allowed pumping from of a ditch
connected to the Methow River. To restore irrigation capability to the 140-acre parcel of land, construction of an irrigation well and well pump became necessary.
The Rockview diversion is located on the Big Valley Ranch Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area in the upper Methow River sub-watershed. The diversion is situated below the Weeman Bridge at Methow River mile 60.6 approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Winthrop WA. Lack of functioning side channel habitat and woody debris are identified as limited factors for ESA listed fish in the Methow Sub-basin (WSCC 2000). In addition, the Rockview screen which was built in 1965 did not meet current NMFS or WDFW criteria for fish protection including criteria for approach velocities,sweeping velocities, screen orientation or bypass return.
The Rockview diversion is located on the Big Valley Ranch Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area in the upper Methow River sub-watershed. The diversion is situated below the Weeman Bridge at Methow River mile 60.6, approximately 8 miles northwest of the town of Winthrop, WA.
Lack of functioning side channel habitat and woody debris were identified as limited factors for ESA listed fish in the Methow Sub-basin (WSCC 2000). The Rockview screen, which was built in 1965, did not meet current NMFS or WDFW criteria for fish protection, including criteria for approach velocities, sweeping velocities, screen orientation or bypass return. The quantity of intact, and in some cases, nearly pristine habitat within the Methow sub-basin, in concert with the presence of six species of fish (spring Chinook - endangered, summer steelhead - endangered, bull trout - threatened, redband trout - species of concern, pacific lamprey - species of concern, and westslope cutthroat - species of concern), make the Methow sub-basin a regional priority for salmon restoration activities.
This project removeed the Rockview diversion and installed a groundwater well that replaced the 5.37 cfs of water withdrawn from the Methow River.
