about this project
The Thompson Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 1869)
has been in operation since 1915 and is located on the lower Clark Fork
River near the town of Thompson Falls, Montana. In 2008, the Licensee
of the Project proposed the construction of an Upstream Fish Passage Facility
at the dam to provide safe passage and improve habitat connectivity for
trout, specifically federally-protected bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus),
to their native upstream spawning waters.
In 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service approved construction of a permanent upstream fish
passage facility (fish ladder), at the Project. Construction was completed
in 2010 and the fish ladder commenced operations
in 2011. The fish ladder operates annually between March and October and
provides passage for bull trout, as well as several other salmonid and
non-salmonid species.
The fish ladder was entirely funded by the Licensee as part of their ongoing
commitments to fisheries and river resources, as well as compliance with
the Endangered Species Act.
2017 fish ladder captures
The fish ladder opened for the season
on March 22, 2017
2017 Weekly Fish Counts | |||||||||||||||||||
Date | Water Temp* |
RB | RBx WCT |
WCT | LL | BULL | LT | LN SU | LS SU | N PMN | SMB | PEAx NPM |
PEA | MWF | EB | EBx BULL |
WE | LMB | Daily count |
10/31 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
10/30 | 7.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
10/29 | no ck | ||||||||||||||||||
10/28 | no ck | ||||||||||||||||||
10/27 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
10/26 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
10/25 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total this Week: 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Total for Year: 530 | |||||||||||||||||||
181 | 1 | 14 | 108 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 66 | 123 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
* Water temperature is in Celsius |
- 2017 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2016 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2015 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2014 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2013 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2012 Historic Daily Data » link
- 2011 Historic Daily Data » link
useful links
- Cost Sharing Application Form » word document