Stony Creek Diversion & Fish Screen (2014) Trout Unlimited (on Behalf of Tony Marletto)

Project History

The Marletto Ranch had been using flood irrigation to service their hayfields adjacent to Rock Creek, with maximum use of 6 cfs from a diversion located on Stony Creek servicing their canal. The landowner had been having to perform yearly in-stream maintenance with the concrete eco-block diversion to ensure water deliverability to the canal and was also concerned with fish getting stranded in his canal system. A study in 2009 found significant numbers of cutthroat trout and brown trout entrained in the ditch downstream of the headgate. Trout Unlimited became involved in the project and spearheaded coordination efforts between participating agencies and facilitated grant administration. As the actual diversion point is located on Forest Service lands, significant coordination occurred with the Forest Service. After soliciting an engineer and going through the conceptual design process, the recommended alternative was the incorporation of a new fish-friendly rock diversion, new fish screen and outlet return and headgate improvements.

Work Breakdown

Dewatering of Smith Lake
Removal of concrete spillway
Construction of new embankment
Construction of new rock lined spillway
Removal of stream diversion structure
Hydroseeding
Log boom (debris containment)

Project Funding

The total cost of the project was $48,813. To finance the project, the landowner and Trout Unlimited used the following grants and funding sources:

Montana FWP Future Fisheries: $23,774
- Future fisheries participated in this project due to the elimination of fish entrainment into the irrigation system and to promote upstream fish passage
Trout Unlimited In-kind & cash: $5,039
- Facilitated grant coordination, permitting, engineer coordination, bidding and construction CM
USFWS FRIMA Grant: $10,000
- FRIMA provided funding due to the location (west of the Continental Divide), the reduction in native fish entrainment, because the project demonstrates at least 35% of total cost is from funding sources other than FRIMA and that the Stony Creek watershed is part of a basin recovery plan. FRIMA Grant funding no longer available to new grant applications.
Private Landowner: $10,000
- Cash contribution from Tony Marletto

Project Status & Results

Project successfully completed in November of 2014.
Project has been low maintenance and provided landowner with dependable means of water conveyance.

Project Partners

Owner: Tony Marletto

Engineer: Great West Engineering, Inc.

Contractor: Groomes Excavating, Inc.