The confederated tribes of the colville reservation and trout unlimited with support from the upper and lower similkameen indian bands will complete an assessment of the feasibility of removing…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded a $4,896,250 Cooperative Agreement under the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685) to Trout Unlimited, Inc. and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to assess the feasibility of removing Enloe Dam on the Similkameen River in Washington. The primary objectives are to collect additional information, complete engineering and design work to 60% for dam removal, generate a refined cost estimate, and prepare permit applications. This work will prepare for the eventual removal of the dam, which would reconnect 152 miles of spawning and rearing habitat for Upper Columbia steelhead and prevent their extirpation from the Okanogan Basin. Trout Unlimited is partnering with the Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands to execute this project, which is a priority conservation action identified in NOAA's report to rebuild salmon and steelhead populations in the Interior Columbia Basin.

The confederated tribes of the colville reservation and trout unlimited with support from the upper and lower similkameen indian bands will complete an assessment of the feasibility of removing enloe DAM on the similkameen river in washington state. Funding from the USFWS will support the collection of additional information to complete the feasibility assessment and advance engineering and design of DAM removal to 60 percent. Additional deliverables include generating a refined cost estimate for DAM removal and preparation of permit applications and the identification of a project sponsor to acquire ownership of the DAM from okanogan public utility district and execute construction contracts and purchase an insurance package that protects the opud from liability. Completing these strategic actions will prepare for the removal of enloe DAM during the next phase of the project to reconnect the similkameen river with habitat downstream and allow access to 1520 miles of spawning and rearing habitat to increase climate change resilience and prevent the extirpation of upper columbia steelhead in the okanogan basin. As tributaries in the lower okanogan river continue to see warmer water temperatures that approach lethal levels for steelhead and salmon reconnecting the similkameens extensive network of cold water habitat could be the last best chance to prevent extirpation of these fish in the okanogan basin. The okanogan river steelhead population is at risk due to limited diversity and spatial structure and has a greater than 25 percent chance of extinction within the next century. Tribal fisheries of major importance historically occurred on the okanogan river at multiple locations downstream from rapids or falls. From june to october salmon fishing was a primary focus of tribal subsistence activities and salmon ceremonies were held during the initial days of fishing at each camp. Subsistence of native americans along the okanogan river consisted of 25 percent fish. However these important fisheries no longer exist due to habitat fragmentation by hydroelectric dams or increased water temperature due to loss of cold water inputs and heating by solar absorption at enlarged surface areas of reservoirs. The removal of enloe DAM will not fully replace the lost tribal fisheries of both the kettle and okanogan rivers but IT would strengthen the populations of these iconic species and provide a cultural fishery. The removal of enloe DAM also is specifically identified as a priority conservation action in noaas recent draft report titled rebuilding interior columbia basin salmon and steelhead.