Coordinate efforts between the lahontan national fish hatchery complex (LNFHC) and the pyramid lake paiute tribe (PLPT) to implement fish passage improvement at numana DAM

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 awarded the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe a $2.865 million Cooperative Agreement under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance program (CFDA 15.664) on July 23, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2028. This agreement coordinates efforts between the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to implement Phase 1 of the Numana Fish Screen Project, a fish passage improvement initiative at Numana Dam designed to protect endangered Cui-ui and Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) adults and juveniles as they return downstream to Pyramid Lake.

The deliverables under Phase 1 include the purchase and installation of a new diversion gate with operating mechanism, installation of connecting pipe infrastructure, construction of temporary fish weir and pool structures to prevent fish entrainment in the irrigation ditch, installation of a channel-spanning Passive Integrative Transponder (PIT) array for fish passage monitoring, and acquisition of Army Corps of Engineers 404 and 408 permits for the fish screen construction. Additional project outcomes include contractor procurement and installation of ancillary structures and a conference presentation of the project in 2026. The project benefits tribal irrigators on Nixon Ditch, tribal members, tribal government, and the general public with recreational fishing opportunities at Pyramid Lake.

The proposed numana fish screen project is a critical part of a larger fish passage improvement project that provides protection for adult and young fish as they return downstream to pyramid lake. The fish screen is designed to protect adult endangered CUI-UI and lahonton cutthroat trout (LCT) adults and juveniles. Funding for this project will go towards phase 1 of the fish screen project that includes purchasing and installation of the ancillary structures needed to connect the irrigation ditch infrastructure to the fish screen. Deliverables and outcomes of this project will be 1) purchase and installation of a new diversion gate, including the mechanism to operate the gate, 2) purchase and installation of a section of pipe that will connect the diversion gate to the future fish screen, 3) installation of a temporary fish weir and construction of a temporary pool to prevent adult fish from getting entrained in the irrigation ditch until fish screen construction can be completed, 4) purchase and installation of a channel spanning passive integrative transponder (PIT) array for monitoring of fish passage at the project site 5) 404 and 408 army corps permits for the fish screen. And 6) presentation of the project at a conference in 2026. All permitting has been completed for this project and the procurement of the contractor for deliverable installation will be executed according to tribal financial policies. However, for completion of the fish screen construction we anticipate a 404 and 408 needed due to the plunge pool component of the horizontal fish screen. Permitting for the fish screen construction will be included in this grant. Project beneficiaries include the tribal irrigators on nixon ditch, tribal members, tribal government, the public who fish at pyramid lake, U.S. Fish and wildlife service, nevada department of wildlife, and anglers that fish for lahontan cutthroat trout in the truckee river.