Butte Creek/Sutter Bypass Weir 1 Improvement Design and Permitting Project

About This Grant

The Butte Creek Sutter Bypass West Borrow Canal (WBC) Weir #1 is a dilapidated weir structure and is no longer able to be used as a weir for the purposes of diverting and delivering water for agricultural use and to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (Sutter NWR). The USFWS seek the design and permitting required for the partial removal of the weir and construction of a rock ramp that will maintain water surface elevations adequate to provide reliable water diversion rates and flows sufficient for fish passage. A feasibility study and report for Weir 1 has already been completed; final design and permitting are the next logical step in addressing the conditions at the weir. The flows required for diversion and passage should be consistent with minimum flow agreement requirements (M&T Ranch Agreement Decree Diversion 50) as well as flows through the fish passage structure at the Giusti Weir, located approximately 3.75 mile upstream. The flows of Butte Creek are diverted past the natural outlet to the Sacramento River (known as the Butte Slough Outfall Gates and under most conditions are directed downstream through the Butte Slough. The Butte Slough is bifurcated at a point just upstream of the State Route 20 bridge crossing, identified as the East-West Diversion Weir. The East-West Diversion splits the flows of Butte Slough to approximately 60% to the East and 40% to the West side borrow canals. Butte Slough above the East-West Diversion Weir is capable of handling a flow of approximately 2,000 cfs within its natural banks (Jones & Stokes 2002).The mission of the USFWS is "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people". Fish and Aquatic Conservation is integral program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and supports the mission by working with partners to achieve benefits for aquatic species and their habitats. This project helps meet FWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation goals of a program working together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. More information can be found at https://www.fws.gov/program/fish-and-aquatic-conservation.