OMAHA, Neb. – The public comment period for the Yellowstone River diversion dam modification project at Intake, Mont. has been extended to May 16, 2014.
The draft document for the proposed project can be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/loweryellowstone/index.html and in hardcopy at libraries in Glendive and Sidney, Mont.
Written comments should be sent to
Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Area Office
ATTN: Intake Diversion Dam EA
PO Box 30137
Billings, MT 59107.
Comments can also be emailed to: sha-MTA-LYI@usbr.gov. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than May 16, 2014.
BACKGROUND: The diversion dam was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1905 to divert water into a main canal in order to provide a dependable water supply sufficient to irrigate over 50,000 acres of land. For more than 100 years, the dam has likely impeded upstream migration of the federally-listed endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish due to increased turbulence and velocities associated with the rocks at the dam. This draft supplement identifies alternatives to modify the existing diversion dam to improve passage for endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish in the lower Yellowstone River.
Release no. 20140502-001