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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fish Passage and the Fish Barrier Removal Board. Tom Jameson, LTC (RET) WDFW Fish Passage Division Manager June 20 th ,2019. WA State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) Conference. Struggling Salmon, Steelhead & Orca.

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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

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  1. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Passage and the Fish Barrier Removal Board Tom Jameson, LTC (RET) WDFW Fish Passage Division Manager June 20th ,2019 • WA State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) Conference

  2. Struggling Salmon, Steelhead & Orca • Recovery of Salmon, Steelhead & Orca • Economics/Fisheries • Treaty Responsibilities • Healthy Watersheds

  3. Elements of the WA State Salmon Recovery Strategy • Habitat • Agriculture • Forest practices • Urbanization • In-stream flow • Fish barriers • Harvest • Hatcheries • Hydropower

  4. Excessive Water Surface Drop What is a fish passage barrier? Shallow Water Depth High Velocity

  5. What are the negative effects of a barrier? • Economic impacts to fisheries • Risk to road infrastructure • Infringement of treaty rights • Upstream flooding, endangering people & property Photo: Kabelac Creek Kitsap County Photo: Lambert Creek Lewis County

  6. What are the positive effects of removing a barrier? • Salmon immediately take advantage of newly opened habitat • Economic benefit • Allows water to move efficiently Photo: Lambert Creek Lewis County Photo: KabelacCreek Kitsap County

  7. Known Non-Injunction Salmon and Steelhead Barriers Statewide Data Source: WDFW Fish Passage Database Date: March 12, 2019

  8. Extent of the Statewide Fish Passage Problem WDFW estimates 18,000-20,000 salmon/steelhead barriers statewide (March 2018)

  9. Fish Passage Diversion & Screening Database (FPDSI)

  10. The Science Behind Barrier Removal • Studies show barrier removal works • Pacific salmon rapidly recolonize habitat made accessible after barrier removal • Restoring access to high quality habitat blocked by migration barriers is an effective salmon conservation strategy Potlatch State Park Fish, Mason County, September 2016 – Chum Salmon return day of stream opening

  11. Climate Change Projections & Culvert Design Potential % Change in Bank Full Width in 2080s Bank Full Width

  12. Permit Streamlining – Fish Passage Projects • Exempt from local permits but require HPA and Federal, USACE, permits • Tribes have strong oversight role • Obtaining USACE permit can be challenging • Need a multi-agency effort to explore bundling projects under a single state sponsor WSDOT State Route (SR) 532 Church Creek 2017 Construction; Snohomish County

  13. Fish Barrier Removal Board (FBRB) • Established by Legislature in 2014 • Chaired by WDFW • Members: WSDOT, DNR, Recreation and Conservation Office, Assoc. of Cities, Assoc. of Counties, tribes, salmon recovery regions MISSION: Restore of healthy and harvestable levels of salmon and steelhead statewide through the coordinated and strategic removal of barriers to fish passage (RCW 77.95.160).

  14. FBRB Coordination & Statutory Requirements • Work in partnership with WSDOT • Coordinate with all state agencies & local govts. • Maximize the state investments • Maximize the forest landowners investments • Seek state-local partnership opportunities • Develop a barrier database & training program • Don’t alter forest practice rules or FFFPP • Don’t delay WSDOT projects

  15. Two Barrier Removal Strategies Watershed Pathway • Board-approved watersheds prioritized by regional salmon recovery organizations • Maximize benefits to salmon at a population scale Coordinated Pathway • Fix barriers in close proximity to other barrier repairs • Leverage previous fish passage investments

  16. Coordinated Pathway Scoring Criteria • Cost Effectiveness • Contribution to Recovery Plan • Level of Coordination • Presence of Downstream Barriers • Linear Gain • Project Readiness • Barrier Severity • Number of Anadromous Species/Stock • Stock Status • Habitat Quality (As set forth by RCWs 77.95.160, 77.95.170)

  17. Example of Coordination – Secret Creek

  18. FBRB 17-19 Capital Funded Project List Received$19.7M 13 Projects42.8 Miles of Habitat, Requested $51.4 M 79 Projects 160 Miles of Habitat Project Ownership: 8 County, 2 City, 2 State, 1 Private

  19. 2019-21 Capital Budget Request – Governor’s Budget • 64 fish passage projects • 29 ‘design-only’ • 35 construction • Completed construction projects open 82 total miles of habitat in 2019-21 • $25M investment • 2 State, 36 County, 9 City, and 17 Private barriers Sponsors: Cities, Counties,ConservationDistricts, Tribes Photo: North Fork Ostrander Cr 2019-21 Watershed Pathway Project Sponsor: Cowlitz Indian Tribe

  20. The FBRB is the State’s Coordinated Fish Passage Strategy

  21. For more information: Tom Jameson, FBRB Chair WDFW Fish Passage Division Manager (360) 902-2612 thomas.jameson@dfw.wa.gov

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