Tyonek Creek is one of the largest and most important salmon streams near the village of Tyonek, Alaska. The project will replace an undersized culvert with a channel spanning bridge and restore access to 10.8 miles of Coho Salmon spawning and rearing habitat. The crossing lies 0.4 stream miles above where Tyonek Creek outlets to the ocean and is the lowermost barrier in the watershed; it is typically plugged with large debris. The project will maximize ecological function while maintaining public safety and hydrologic continuity.   

Quick Facts:

Project Status

In Development

Location 

AK, Kenai Peninsula Borough

NFPP Project Funding

$1,614,106

Restoration Techniques

Culvert Replacement

Accomplishments

11 Stream Miles Reopened

Project Partner Lead

Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

Primary Species Benefited

Coho Salmon

A mangled culvert on Tyonek Creek in Alaska.

The National Fish Passage Program combines technical expertise with a track record of success. 

Implemented primarily through the Service's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices, the National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance to partners across the country. Since 1999, the program has worked with over 2,000 local communities, Tribes, and private landowners to remove or bypass over 3,400 barriers to fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage
and reopen access to over 61,000 miles of upstream habitat for fish and other animals. Staff have expertise in fish migration and biology as well as financial, engineering, and planning assistance to communities, Tribes, and landowners to help them remove barriers and restore rivers for the benefit both fish and people. 

Fish passage project proposals can be initiated by any individual, organization, government, or agency. However, proposals must be submitted and completed in cooperation with a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. (Please note that fish passage projects being used for federal or state compensatory mitigation or required by existing federal or state regulatory programs are not eligible for funding through the National Fish Passage Program.) 

 CONTACT A FISH PASSAGE COORDINATOR IN YOUR AREA TO GET STARTED. 

Contact Information

man in orange and hard hat by a culvert
Habitat Branch Lead
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
National Fish Passage Program,
Partners for Fish and Wildlife,
National Fish Habitat Partnership
Expertise
Habitat Restoration,
Fisheries,
Fish Passage
Area
AK
Anchorage,AK

Species

Programs

A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and...

Facilities

An aerial landscape photo of a large blue lake along forested land, with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Welcome to our Southern Alaska Office! We have dedicated staff working with partners to conserve fish and wildlife via habitat restoration and conservation, fish assessment and management, technical assistance, cost-sharing, funding, and outreach.

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