Action 4: Remove or Repair Fish Passage Barriers on Fish-Bearing Streams
Blocking culverts and other obstructions impede the migration pathways of anadromous fish moving from their rivers of origin to Puget Sound as well as return journeys to spawning habitats. It is necessary to implement fish passage projects that remove blockages and allow migratory fish to return to upstream spawning and rearing habitat and allow resident fish to move freely throughout the watershed. Fish passage projects can also improve the quality of surrounding habitat by reducing river fragmentation, moving wood and gravels, increasing migratory pathways and habitat function for other aquatic species and potentially improving water quality.
In 2018, Washington State Tribes succeeded in the US Supreme Court in Washington v United States,9 requiring the state of Washington to redesign and rebuild culverts to allow fish passage. DNR has focused on meeting our resulting requirements as quickly as possible. To date, DNR has brought 171 (99%) of its court-ordered culverts into compliance and has plans in place to correct the only remaining barrier in WRIA 7 (Soderman Creek) by 2022.
Outcome 7: Inventory 36 miles of stream on small forest landowner parcels, and develop new funding strategy for expediting repair of small forest landowner barriers, by 2023.
Outcome 8: Expand fish passage barrier programs across all land ownership types and jurisdictions in the watershed, and develop a full prioritized inventory, by 2026.
Outcome 8: Expand fish passage barrier programs across all land ownership types and jurisdictions in the watershed, and develop a full prioritized inventory, by 2026.
Outcome 9: Remove 100% of priority barriers—as identified through a watershed barrier inventory—throughout the Snohomish Watershed by 2031.
0-3 Year Actions
Action 4.1 Fish Passage Barrier Removal
Continue successful fish passage barrier removal on state lands. Remove or correct Soderman Creek barrier by the end of2022.
Action 4.2 Small Forest Landowner Fish Passage Barriers
Conduct inventory of small forest landowner fish passage barriers, requiring survey of 36 miles of stream. DNR to conduct outreach to landowners. Contract with WDFW to conduct inventory.
Action 4.3 Fish Passage Barrier Database
Update fish passage barrier database for WRIA 7 and contribute to determining priority barriers along with partners including Lead Entity, local government, USFS, WDFW and others. Contribute to collective prioritization discussions for the watershed.others to determine priority geographic area.
Action 4.4 Fish Passage Barrier Inventory
Work with all relevant partners to create a full, prioritized fish passage barrier inventory for all landownership in WRIA 7. This inventory will define the priority barriers for removal by 2031.
4-10 Year Actions
Action 4.5 Small Forest Landowner Fish Passage Barriers II
Work with WDFW, RCO and others to identify funding for and remove 100% of priority small forest landowner fish passage barriers, in coordination with local government and other stakeholders. Secure new funding mechanisms as needed to achieve this outcome.
Action 4.6 Small Forest Landowner Fish Passage Barriers III
Develop program to ensure small forest landowner fish passage barriers are corrected and remain barrier-free over time, including across ownership changes. Work with Tulalip Tribes and others to scope needs. Explore policy changes to ensure barrier repair responsibilities are addressed effectively.
Action 4.7 Remove Federal Fish Passage Barriers
Remove 100% of priority fish passage barriers on federal forest land by 2031. Using watershed-wide prioritized list, identify the best opportunities to collaborate with USFS, through GNA, landscape-scale forest health projects or other mechanisms. Develop formal agreement and biannual plan to implement projects. Barrier removal projects will also reduce turbidity in forest streams.
Action 4.8 Fish Passage Barrier Removal II
Work with Lead Entity and partners to identify funding for and remove 100% of fish passage barriers on a priority stream. Probable target Pilchuck River; final target to be agreed upon with partners.
Action 4.9 Fish Passage Barrier Inventory II
Keep state lands barrier-free over time. This will be achieved through increasing the speed of fish passage barrier inventory and removal on state lands. Barriers can develop over time through natural processes, and in order to identify and correct them quickly, DNR will increase the frequency of review so 10% of fish culverts are inspected every year, and any new barriers are corrected within six years.
