Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Projects & Plans

Hemlock Dam

Fish Passage and Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project

The Mt. Adams Ranger District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest proposes to remove Hemlock Dam, and to restore the Trout Creek channel in the area that is now occupied by the dam and reservoir. Trout Creek is a tributary to the Wind River in Southwest Washington, and supports Lower Columbia River Steelhead that were listed as Threatened in 1998. The proposed action is needed to improve upstream and downstream fish passage for all life stages of fish at the Hemlock Dam site and to improve aquatic habitat and water quality in Trout Creek.

Alternatives

Issues raised during the scoping process led the agency to develop and analyze the following alternatives:

Alternative A -- No Action

Alternative B -- Remove the dam and let the river erode sediments in the reservoir

Alternative C -- Remove the dam and dredge all sediments from proposed channel location

Alternative D -- Retain the dam, improve deficiencies, and modify or replace the fish ladder

Alternative E -- Retain the dam, improve deficiencies, do not modify or replace the fish ladder

Downloads: Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision

Final Environmental Impact Statement

• Executive Summary (420 kb)
• Chapters 1 and 2 (1.6 MB)

Chapter 1 - Purpose of and Need for the Action

Chapter 2 - Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives

• Chapter 3 (5.1 MB) - Affected Environment
• Chapters 4, 5, and 6 (1.8 MB)

Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences

Chapter 5 - Mitigation and Monitoring

Chapter 6 - Consultation and Coordination

• Appendix A - Public comments to the DEIS and Forest Service responses (4.0 MB)

Record of Decision

• Record of Decision -12/5/2005 (154 kb)

Errata: FEIS and Record of Decision - 12/19/2005 (31 kb)

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Friday, 18 May 2007 at 18:22:01 EDT