The project will improve upon an existing fishway at kirby DAM

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) will receive $188,000 through a Project Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 under the National Fish Passage program. The funding will support improvements to the fish ladder at Kirby Dam in Idaho to address issues with low water levels, sediment buildup, and debris accumulation that currently prevent fish passage during the ladder's operational period from April through August each year. Specifically, consultants will develop four preferred alternatives for stakeholder consideration to remedy connectivity impairment, which has been identified as a primary threat in the Upper Snake River Recovery Unit Implementation Plan. Enhancing passage at Kirby Dam will help restore genetic flow between fish populations separated by the dam. The period of performance for this work is May 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.

The upstream exit of the fish ladder is frequently plagued by low water levels, sedimentation build-up, and debris accumulation, which makes IT impossible for fish to use the ladder during periods of its operation window from april-august. Connectivity impairment was identified as a primary threat in the upper snake recovery unit implementation plan, and improvements of the fish ladder at kirby DAM would assist geneflow between populations above and below the DAM. Consultants will develop four preferred alternatives for stakeholder consideration.