Fish passage - Fish passage barriers corrected

2023

WSDOT improves access to 67.39 miles of potential upstream fish habitat in 2023

WSDOT completed 32 fish passage projects statewide in 2023, improving fish access to 67.39 miles of potential upstream habitat. All projects were injunction relevant corrections.

As of June 2024, WSDOT has corrected 146 fish passage barriers within the injunction area. These corrections improved access to approximately 571.18 miles of previously blocked habitat within the federal injunction area. Currently 984 barriers remain relevant to the injunction—this number includes newly identified barriers and sites that will be corrected beyond 2030. The data are updated as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completes assessments to evaluate the amount of habitat blocked by barrier culverts.

2022

WSDOT improves access to 29.1 miles of potential upstream fish habitat in 2022

WSDOT completed 15 fish passage projects statewide in 2022, restoring fish access to 29.1 miles of potential upstream habitat. Fourteen of the 15 barriers corrected were federal culvert injunction barrier culverts.

The other fish passage project, Centennial Creek is a tributary to Pilchuck River, crossing SR 9/ Lake Stevens Road at MP 13.79 in Lake Stevens. During the installation of a new traffic circle for the intersection, WSDOT replaced an old 2.5-foot diameter culvert with a concrete structure that features a 19-foot-wide passageway that is 5.6 feet tall. The new structure meets current hydraulic and fish passage design standards.

As of June 2023, WSDOT had corrected 114 fish passage barriers within the injunction area. These corrections improved access to approximately 502 miles of previously blocked habitat within the federal injunction area. WSDOT must correct approximately 330 additional barriers by 2030 to comply with the injunction. These numbers are updated as WDFW completes habitat assessments to evaluate the amount of habitat blocked by barrier culverts.

2021

WSDOT corrects 86 fish passage barriers as of June 2021

As of June 2021, WSDOT had corrected 86 fish passage barriers within the injunction area. These corrections improved access to about 383 miles of previously blocked salmon and steelhead habitat within the federal injunction case area. WSDOT must correct approximately 450 additional barriers by 2030 to comply with the injunction. These numbers are updated as new information is collected regarding the condition of existing and corrected barriers, which can change over time.

As of June 2021, WSDOT has corrected 365 fish passage barriers statewide, restoring access to approximately 1,215 miles of potential habitat for native fish. The number of WSDOT fish passage barriers and estimated potential upstream habitat are dynamic values that fluctuate as ongoing inventory and assessments occur. The values are tallied each June for annual reporting purposes.

2020

WSDOT improves access to over 54 miles of potential upstream habitat

WSDOT completed 14 fish passage barrier correction projects statewide in 2020, restoring fish access to 54.28 miles of potential upstream habitat. Thirteen of the projects were located in an area designated by a March 2013 federal injunction that requires WSDOT to restore access to 90% of blocked habitat within the area by 2030.

WSDOT plans to complete 20 fish passage barrier corrections in 2021, including 17 that were subject to the injunction. When complete, these projects will open up approximately 110.35 miles of potential fish habitat.

2019

WSDOT improves access to 20 miles of potential upstream habitat in 2019

WSDOT completed eight fish passage projects statewide in 2019, restoring fish access to 20.45 miles of potential upstream habitat. Seven of the projects were located in the area designated by a March 2013 federal injunction that requires WSDOT to restore access to 90% of blocked habitat within the area by 2030. The other fish passage project, located along SR 129 near the Washington/Oregon border, was constructed through a partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe, with funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board.

As of calendar year 2019, WSDOT had corrected 73 fish passage barriers within the injunction area. These corrections improved access to about 329 miles of previously blocked habitat within the federal injunction case area. WSDOT must correct between 380 and 415 additional barriers by 2030 in order to comply with the injunction. These numbers are updated as new information is collected regarding the condition of existing and corrected barriers, which can change over time.