SR 16 and SR 302 (SPUR) Purdy Creek - Remove Fish Barriers and Paving

Correcting fish passage barriers is an important part of the state's efforts to protect and restore fish runs negatively affected by outdated culverts under state highways.

A 2013 federal court injunction required WSDOT to significantly increase the state’s efforts in removing state-owned culverts that block habitat for salmon, bull trout, and steelhead.

Replacing outdated culverts with either bridges or fish passable structures will increase the likelihood of fish migration. The improvements will slow water and build the creek to help simulate a more natural creek environment.

Purdy Creek attempted to flow under SR 16 inside a 40-year-old culvert.  Many fish species could not swim through the old culvert. This project replaced the culvert with two 206-foot-long bridge structures. Purdy Creek is home to juvenile Chinook, coho and chum salmon. Adult and juvenile steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout and sculpin are also found in the creek.

Purdy Creek also ran under the SR 302 Spur through an old culvert before it entered the tidal flats of the Burley Lagoon. The culvert was challenging for fish to navigate. During 2023, crews filled in the old culvert and built a 77-foot-long bridge structure to replace it.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates the work at both sites combined opened a total of 6.5 miles of habitat. This work also helped preserve the integrity of the highways and reduce maintenance costs by reducing or eliminating the possibility of culvert blockages.