The objective(s) of this project are to first and foremost, provide independent water management capabilities among the three-unit, 2,100 acre, Rainbow Wetland Complex. Enhanced water management capability equates to increased management tool application, which ultimately allows for restoration and maintenance of quality habitat for wildlife resources. Second, construction of the project allows the refuge to fulfill an ever-increasing management philosophy; the provision of quality wildlife dependent visitor services through management of quality habitat for wildlife. This complementary approach allows our partners and the visiting public an opportunity to enjoy the ?fruits? of our partnership efforts while minimally impacting the wetland dependent wildlife the project will ultimately benefit (70 acre visitor services footprint on a 2,100 acre wetland complex).

The refuge has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Ducks Unlimited Pacific Northwest Field Office, and funds from the grant were transferred to DU to oversee contracting, material acquisition, and engineering. The refuge awarded the construction contract to Bryce Boehme Construction, a local Bear Lake County contractor. Materials necessary for project construction were provided by Shaver industrial, a steel fabrication facility located in Pocatello, ID, which has provided materials for several existing Bear Lake NWR water control structures. Construction now entails development of three new concrete water control structures, and retrofit of the remaining three. In all, five water control structures will be replaced and a new water control structure will be added.

Combined with record low Bear Lake water levels, the 2004 stream flow forecast has provided an additional challenge to project completion. After above normal early spring temperatures, snowpack was projected to be 60% of normal with overall Bear river flow <12% of normal. In typical years, the Rainbow unit could be dewatered to facilitate construction and then reflooded in late spring to allow normal water levels for waterbird production. However, the refuge was informed that water may not be available to reflood leaving us with no choice but to retain what we have and ride out the sixth consecutive drought year in the Bear Lake Valley. Therefore, construction coincided with natural evaporative drawdown, which resulted in a later project completion than anticipated. As of October, 2004, the three new water control structures have been constructed; however, the remaining three retrofits must now wait until summer 2005.