Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) estimates approximately 40,000 fish passage barriers exist in Washington. Fish passage barriers reduce distribution, abundance, and diversity of salmonid and other aquatic species.

Barriers such as dams and culverts also degrade fish habitat by reducing downstream transport of sediment, wood and and other organic material. Having current and comprehensive fish passage information, salmon recovery partners can prioritize and strategically remove the highest impact fish passage barriers.

With support from WDFW, Cascadia and Okanogan Conservation Districts, Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Colville Confederated Tribes, and HCP Tributary Committee, Cascade Fisheries has completed fish passage assessments in the Wenatchee, Entiat and Methow watersheds and will complete the Okanogan watershed assessment in 2021.

Identifying the barriers helps us prioritize which of them to fix first.

“Perched” culverts make it nearly impossible for fish to get upstream.