Mill Creek has experienced seasonal low flow conditions which lead to reduced fish survival, and reduced migration capacity. Low flow conditions are caused by diversion rates exceeding flow. Efforts to reduce the impacts of divisions on fish populations have led to the On-Farm Efficiency project conducted as part of this project. The project involved the conversion of inefficient flood irrigation to a pivots and the placement of two miles of open ditch to piped supply. The water saved in this process was placed in trust with the State of Washington to be left instream. In total 1.5 cfs were placed in trust as part of this project for a term of twenty-five years. In addition to water saved as part of this project the diversion works were converted to a fish friendly pump system.

Location of the Project' The project is located in Secs. 28 & 29, T7N, R36E. The new pumping station is in the SW1/4 of Sec. 28 on Mill Creek, approximately 1.5 miles upstream from its confluence with the Walla Walla River (3 miles west of Walla Walla, WA along Hwy. 12).
Was it fish passage, screening, or both' The project involved elimination of a push-up dam (fish passage barrier), a fish screen & pumping station, a delivery pipeline replacing 7,500 feet of open (and very inefficient) delivery ditch, the installation of a center pivot irrigation system servicing 127.6 acres, and the replacement of inefficient portable mainlines with PVC serving the pivot and the remaining 172.4 of irrigated cropland. The total volume of water saved annually by the project was documented to be 2,618.8 acre-feet of which 376.2 acre-feet could be trusted.
What was the total cost'
o Stiller Irrigation Efficiencies Project: This project was funded 85% by Irrigation Efficiencies Funding through the WA State Conservation Commission. The 15% match was paid by Quentin Schwenke, Landowner. Cost - $277,508.00.
o Stiller Barrier Removal & Pumping Station: This project was 85% funded by '. The 15% match was paid by Quentin Schwenke, Landowner. The initial screen project was funded by WA-DOE at $3,291.00. Due to problems with the pumping site, the fix-it grant was used to develop a new portable pumping station, screen installation and barrier removal. This was done in 2008 and cost $13,362.00.