Governor
Gregoire visits Hofer Dam site with landowner.
Hofer Dam is an irrigation diversion
for the Touchet Eastside/Westside Irrigation District located
about 4 miles above the mouth of the Touchet River. The Touchet
River provides habitat for ESA-listed Mid-Columbia Steelhead
and Bull Trout. Hofer Dam was a barrier to adults returning
upstream to spawning grounds on Touchet River headwater streams
(like the Coppei) and an imminent threat to juveniles migrating
downstream.
The Hofer Dam was considered the biggest and most complex passage
barrier in the watershed. The Snake River-Salmon Recovery Board
(SR-SRFB) funded it as a two-phase project. The design allows
for both continued irrigation and fish passage under most flow
conditions. In 2005, the district received a commitment of $400,000.00
for construction of the project from the Energy Facility Site
Evaluation Council, and the balance of the project (Phase 2)
was funded by the SRFB. The boards of the affected irrigation
districts also plan to pipe the entire conveyance systems of
both districts. The ultimate goal is to protect endangered fish
species and conserve water while continuing irrigation.
Before
construction
Completed Hofer Dam Project
Walla Walla
County Conservation District
1501 Business One Circle Ste 101
Walla Walla, WA 99362
phone: 509-522-6340 Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
Board meetings second Monday at 5:00
