Project abstractnevada feasibility study for the bunkerville irrigation systemthis project involves a feasibility study for redesign of the bunkerville irrigation system and related fish-habitat…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657) provides $220,000 to fund a feasibility study for redesigning the Bunkerville Irrigation System along the lower Virgin River in Arizona and Nevada. The project aims to improve the efficiency of the 100-year-old irrigation system in order to maintain surface water flow and enhance habitat for the endangered Virgin River chub and woundfin. The Virgin River Coalition, a non-profit organization, will contract with hydrological engineers to develop a 30% design for an updated water delivery system. Additionally, the funding will support the Virgin River Coalition's watershed coordinator position and the use of biological consultants to establish baseline conditions for the fish species and their habitat.

Project abstractnevada feasibility study for the bunkerville irrigation systemthis project involves a feasibility study for redesign of the bunkerville irrigation system and related fish-habitat improvement activities along the lower virgin river in arizona and nevada. The 1995 virgin river fishes recovery plan lists protection and enhancement of habitat (water) in the lower virgin river as a recovery action for the endangered virgin river chub and woundfin. Currently, surface flow in the lower virgin river is nonexistent or very low in the summer, when IT is used by local irrigation districts and others, directly impacting multiple listed fish species. This project will look at feasible options to improve the efficiency of the 100-year-plus old irrigation system, an obvious need widely supported across various stakeholders. The virgin river coalition, a nonprofit comprised of state, federal and private partners, will contract with hydrological engineers to plan a 30 design of an updated water delivery system. Facilitation of this work requires funding for the VRC watershed coordinator position and contracting with biological consultants for establishing the baseline conditions for fishes and their habitat.