Sacramento, California - The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $5.5 million construction contract to TNT Industrial Contractors, Inc. from Sacramento, California.
The construction contract involves modifications to the fish ladders and fish screens at Eagle Canyon Diversion Dam and North Battle Creek Feeder Diversion Dam on North Fork Battle Creek to fully satisfy National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) fisheries requirements; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) compliance requirements; and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) operations requirements.
Battle Creek has the geology, hydrology, and habitat suitability to support threatened and endangered anadromous Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead. The Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project, one of the largest cold-water anadromous fish restoration efforts in North America, is restoring approximately 42 miles of habitat on Battle Creek and an additional six miles of habitat on tributaries to Battle Creek, while maintaining the continued production of hydroelectric power at the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project (owned and operated by PG&E and licensed by FERC).
By removing dams and constructing fish screens and ladders, the project is providing safe passage for anadromous fish to reach cold water and habitat needed for successful spawning and to increase their populations. The project is also preventing the mixing of North Fork Battle Creek and South Fork Battle Creek waters, through the construction of powerhouse bypass and tailrace connectors; protecting a trout hatchery from diseases carried by anadromous fish, through the construction of a fish barrier weir; increasing instream flows; dedicating water rights for instream purposes at dam removal sites; and implementing adaptive management to ensure fisheries objectives are met. The project area is located within five miles of Manton, California, in Shasta and Tehama counties.
To date, a dam and canal/pipeline system have been removed; two fish screens and fish ladders have been constructed; an approximate mile-long powerhouse bypass and a tailrace connector have been constructed; and a fish barrier weir has been constructed, resulting in approximately 16 miles of stream habitat restoration. Remaining work includes construction of a fish screen and ladder; construction of a powerhouse tailrace connector; removal of a canal system; and removal of four diversion dams. Entire project construction is anticipated to be completed in 2021.
“The award of this contract represents the continuation of Reclamation’s commitment to restoring the Battle Creek watershed,” said David Murillo Regional Director Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region. “Protecting and improving populations of Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon, Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead is vital to ensuring that we can reliably deliver water from Reclamation’s Central Valley Project. As we move forward with the project, the collective efforts from all participating partners demonstrates the importance of reestablishing approximately 48 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat in the Battle Creek watershed.”
To learn more about the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/battlec
