Project
Upper S Fish Ladder
River or area
Jocko River
About 9 miles east of Arlee
Program
Status
In design
Now
Under environmental review and planning. Construction anticipated for 2027.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Natural Resources Department
Division of Engineering & Water Resources
The Upper S Fish Ladder Project proposes improvements to the existing S Canal Diversion on the Jocko River near Arlee.
Project Overview
The project aims to improve upstream and downstream fish passage, improve river conditions, and support healthier fish movement within the Jocko River system.
The existing diversion facility was originally built to deliver irrigation water to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project (FIIP). While the facility currently includes a fishway, the system requires fish handling and limits natural fish movement through this section of river.
The project would modernize the facility with volitional fish passage infrastructure, allowing fish to move more freely upstream and downstream through the river system, along with sediment transport features designed to support more natural river conditions while continuing to provide irrigation delivery.
The project also includes improvements to the nearby Upper S and Hungry Man campgrounds to help offset temporary impacts to recreation during construction.
For neighbors
Where and What to Expect
The Upper S Fish Ladder Project is located approximately 9 miles east of Arlee along the mainstem of the Jocko River and is accessed from Jocko Canyon Road (P-1000 Road) near Upper S Campground.
- Temporary campground closure of Upper S campground
- Recreation impacts during construction
- Increased road traffic and dust
- Active construction equipment and crews
- Temporary construction activity near the river corridor
By year
Phases
Under way
Environmental review and planning
Anticipated for 2027
Construction