Lakeview SWCD

The Honey Creek Town Diversion project is located north of the town of Plush, in Lake County Oregon. The Town Diversion provides irrigation and stock water to ranching families in the Plush area – Honey Creek subwatershed. The concrete weir diverts water into the diversion canal which then delivers water to down-valley irrigators. The diversion in its current condition is a fish passage barrier during all flow conditions due to the structure’s vertical height and high-water velocities. Obstructed fish passage affects Warner sucker (Federallythreatened), Warner Lakes redband trout (Oregon-species of concern), and other native species inhabiting the Warner Basin. The diversion, while vital to the local ranching community is also vital to the native fish that thrive in this stream system. The goal of the Warner Basin Aquatic Habitat Partnership is established fish passage at the Town Diversion, while maintaining the irrigation needs of the ranching community. This project will achieve USFWS recovery goals for Warner sucker by restoring fish passage and habitat among three focal tributaries in the basin, Honey Creek being one of them. The goal of the project is to reconnect individual populations of native fish that will restore a self-sustaining metapopulation among the three tributaries and the Warner Lakes. This goal will be achieved in the next 6 years as 10 identified fish passage barriers will be addressed through this Focused Investment Partnership grant. The Honey Creek Town Diversion is one of the ten identified barriers. An alternatives analysis and 75% fish passage design have been completed for the Town Diversion. The proposed fish passage solution includes replacing the existing weir with an Obermeyer weir, installing a 150 ft. bypass channel, and a fish screen. Partners include: Lakeview SWCD, Plush Irrigators, Lake County Watershed Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, USFS, ODFW and River Design Group, Inc. 

The Honey Creek Town Diversion project is located north of the town of Plush, in Lake County Oregon. The Town Diversion provides irrigation and stock water to ranching families in the Plush area – Honey Creek subwatershed. The concrete weir diverts water into the diversion canal which then delivers water to down-valley irrigators. The diversion in its current condition is a fish passage barrier during all flow conditions due to the structure’s vertical height and high-water velocities. Obstructed fish passage affects Warner sucker (Federallythreatened), Warner Lakes redband trout (Oregon-species of concern), and other native species inhabiting the Warner Basin. The diversion, while vital to the local ranching community is also vital to the native fish that thrive in this stream system. The goal of the Warner Basin Aquatic Habitat Partnership is established fish passage at the Town Diversion, while maintaining the irrigation needs of the ranching community. This project will achieve USFWS recovery goals for Warner sucker by restoring fish passage and habitat among three focal tributaries in the basin, Honey Creek being one of them. The goal of the project is to reconnect individual populations of native fish that will restore a self-sustaining metapopulation among the three tributaries and the Warner Lakes. This goal will be achieved in the next 6 years as 10 identified fish passage barriers will be addressed through this Focused Investment Partnership grant. The Honey Creek Town Diversion is one of the ten identified barriers. An alternatives analysis and 75% fish passage design have been completed for the Town Diversion. The proposed fish passage solution includes replacing the existing weir with an Obermeyer weir, installing a 150 ft. bypass channel, and a fish screen. Partners include: Lakeview SWCD, Plush Irrigators, Lake County Watershed Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, USFS, ODFW and River Design Group, Inc.