Overview

In 2020, contractor crews with Graham Construction finished installing a new fish passage to carry Little Pilchuck Creek under State Route 92. The existing culvert was just 12 feet wide and six feet high. The narrow channel funneled water too quickly, making the small culvert impassable for migrating fish. Building a new, 60-foot wide buried bridge east of North Machias Road in Lake Stevens allows the creek to flow more naturally under the highway and improve fish habitat in the area. In 2013, the U.S. District Court for Western Washington ruled the state must restore historical tribal fishing rights and remove about 1,000 culverts blocking fish passage under state roads.

Needs & benefits

• MIgratory fish and other native species now have access to nearly 30 miles of habitat.
• The construction helps WSDOT comply with the U.S. District Court ruling on fish passage.

Funding

The cost of this project was $6 million.