News Release Archive

Construction Rescheduled at Fulton Diversion Dam near Winthrop, Washington

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Gregg Knott, gknott@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: July 26, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation has notified its managing partners that preparation of final engineering designs for reconstruction of Fulton Diversion Dam will be postponed until early 2006, while engineers study the effectiveness of an innovative instream design for fish passage. The dam is located on the Chewuch River near Winthrop, Washington.

Reclamation is working on a design known as a roughened channel that will have the overall physical appearance of a natural streambed, improve fish passage, and meet water delivery needs of the Fulton Ditch Company.

"The roughened channel has several compelling features," said Greg Knott, Reclamation Methow Subbasin Liaison. "This is an evolving technology that more closely resembles a natural streambed than other alternatives that could be used here."

Construction was originally planned for the fall of 2005, but had to be postponed to complete advanced hydraulic modeling and testing of the roughened channel design. Construction will start in 2006, and be completed before the 2007 irrigation season.

When it is completed, the Fulton roughened channel will be one of the largest of its kind in Washington. Postponing construction was necessary for design engineers to adequately examine how various sizes of rocks and boulders used to build the roughened channel will function in the river.

The design must include the proper grouping of large and small-sized materials in order to sustain long-term stability during high flows and maintain fish passage during low flows. Appropriate size and placement of material is vital under all flow conditions.

"Although we're disappointed that the diversion will not be built this year, we want to be sure we do what it takes to get a structure that works properly," said Dave Sabold, manager of the Fulton Ditch Company.

The proposed channel design involves a 185-foot-long sloped rock ramp that would allow fish to freely migrate upstream and downstream over the structure. The ramp would span the full width of the river and consist of gravel and boulders up to 6 feet in diameter. Large boulders placed at select locations provide structural stability and places for fish to rest as they travel through the ramp.

One project element that remains on schedule includes building a pipeline to enclose about 1,000 feet of the open ditch beginning at the headworks. The pipeline construction will take place this fall and winter, to be completed before the start of the 2006 irrigation season.

This project is a joint effort sponsored by the Chewuch Basin Council in cooperation with the Fulton Ditch Company, local landowners, Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Bonneville Power Administration, and Reclamation.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.