Menu
The Chehalis Basin, in western Washington State, is Washington’s second largest river system, home to some of the state’s most important salmon rivers and one of the only major basins without any federally-listed endangered salmon. At the same time, salmon runs within the basin are returning at a fraction of their historical abundances, with fish passage barriers and other habitat loss representing one of many causes for this decline.
The project area included a section Goliath Creek, a tributary to Mima Creek, where a partial barrier culvert blocked coho, cutthroat, and steelhead from accessing vital stream and wetland habitat. By interrupting habitat connectivity, even a single barrier can have a disproportionately large impact on the abundance and resiliency of wild fish populations.
Man-made barriers to fish migration have significant impacts on wild fish; limiting distribution, reducing access to spawning and rearing habitats, and disrupting the spatial habitat complexity historically available to fish populations. Whether for resident species that spend their entire lives in one watershed, or migratory species that travel thousands of miles, instream barriers compromise a populations’ ability to weather environmental uncertainties. Evolutionary fitness of the entire population is weakened when barriers restrict gene flow, creating small, isolated sub-groups that can suffer from inbreeding.
The Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) assists private forestland owners in removing culverts and other stream crossing structures that prevent ESA listed salmonids from migrating upstream. Through the management of the Department of Natural Resources Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office some 376 landowners have taken advantage of the program to remove 433 barriers since 2003.
This project removed an undersized, 33% passable, culvert and put in a 40-foot long, 14-foot wide steel bridge. This project improved 4.45 miles spawning and rearing habitat for coho and steelhead and cutthroat trout.
Location | Start Date |
---|---|
Goliath Creek, tributary to Mima Creek in the Chehalis Watershed, western Washington State | 10/03/2011 |
Project Type | Completion Date |
---|---|
Fish Passage | 12/24/2013 |
The goal of the project was to connect isolated habitat to increase the range and distribution of salmon.
The objective of the project was to increase access to areas blocked by human-caused impediments.
Primary Habitats Impacted By Project: | Managing Agency/ Organization: |
---|---|
Riparian Stream Channel | Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office |
Project Contact: | Budget or Project Cost: |
---|---|
Jamie Glasgow | $137,035.86 |
Funding Sources: | Partners: |
---|---|
Family Forest Fish Passage Grants | Landowner Steve Baker |
Join our mailing list to recieve important updates on our work, the latest wild fish news, & opportunities to take action to support wild fish.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Wild Fish Conservancy is recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit by the IRS