Five acres along the Methow River south of Twisp with habitat for salmon, bull trout, beaver, mink and mule deer will become property of the Colville Confederated Tribes by early July, through a purchase by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) as part of mitigations for Columbia River dams.
Called The “Highway 20 property acquisition,” the deal has been in the works since late 2019, when biologists with the Colville Tribes brought it to the attention of BPA, but the acquisition process was delayed by the several factors, including the COVID pandemic, BPA Project Manager Kyle Goeke said.
The property has 440 meters of waterfront with critical spawning and rearing habitat for several endangered salmonids, including spring Chinook, steelhead and bull trout, and for Coho and Pacific lamprey. The property is just north of the Highway 20 turnoff to the Loup.
The acquisition also provides an opportunity for riverbank restoration and for the addition of complexity in the river to provide cold-water refuges for spawning Chinook and steelhead. There is also the potential for returning previously diverted water back into the river.
Historically, the property has been used for agriculture.
There is a rigorous approval process for these purchases, including ensuring that the fish and wildlife habitat will be protected for at least 15 years. BPA will be granted a conservation easement so that the land is protected in perpetuity, Goeke said.
The potential for public access will be determined by the Colville Tribes, Goeke said.
BPA pays the market rate to compensate the seller. The agency does not disclose the identity of private landowners. The sale is expected to close by early July.
BPA notified neighbors and stakeholders including local utilities, elected officials and public-interest groups about the proposed acquisition. There is no formal public-comment process, but people can get additional information about the acquisition by calling BPA at 1-800-622-4519.
