In the Pacific Northwest the West Fork Grays River Fish Passage project will work with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to remove derelict water intake infrastructure. The water intake structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure was constructed in 1961 with a channel spanning concrete dam and steel weir that directed water flow from the West Fork Grays River into a screened intake. Recent 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 surveys documented the intake as a severe partial barrier with a 33% passbility rating due to high velocities, turbulence and period it low flows.  The Cowlitz Indian Tribe proposes to utilize the recently completed West Fork Grays Design to facilitate the removal the weir and surrounding concrete infrastructure and replace the disturbed areas with an apex log jam to restore natural processes, attenuate sediment, scour a deep pool, create habitat complexity and provide perennial flow to the diversion side channel. The intake removal will also restore fish passage to over 15 miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat. This project will benefit federally listed (threatened) Grays River populations of winter steelhead, coho, fall Chinook, and chum salmon.   

Quick Facts:

Project Status

In Development

Location 

WA, Pacific

NFPP Project Funding

$99,800

Restoration Techniques

Weir Removal

Accomplishments

15 Stream Miles Reopened

Project Partner Lead

Cowlitz Indian Tribe

Primary Species Benefited

Fall Chinook Salmon

A barrier partially blocking water passage on a river
Image Details
West Fork Grays River fish passage barrier

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 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

Species

A huge school of silver fishes swimming in a stream

ESA (NMFS) status: threatened (June 1997 - southern OR/northern CA population)

Coho salmon are a species of Pacific salmon which inhabit the Pacific coast in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska.  These fish are also known as silver salmon...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species
Steelhead are usually dark olive in color, shading to silvery white on the underside with a heavily speckled body and a pink-to-red stripe running along their sides.

Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) belong to the family Salmonidae which includes all salmon, trout, and chars. Steelhead are similar to some Pacific salmon in their life cycle and ecological requirements. They are born in fresh water streams, where they spend their first 1-3 years of life....

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
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...
Program
Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
Program
Falls Church,VA

Facilities

Underwater view of trout and Coho Salmon Juveniles in Scatter Creek, WA
Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
The Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is part of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that works to conserve fish and aquatic resources. Over 300 biologists from the Arctic Circle to the Florida Keys monitor and control invasive species; protect imperiled...
Conservation Office
Lacey,WA

Partners

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