OLYMPIA – The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership today announced the award of more than $53 million in grants for projects that will protect and restore salmon habitat statewide.
“Salmon are vitally important to Washington’s economy and to our way of life. They are one of our state’s most precious resources,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “These projects will help tackle some of the fundamental problems that are destroying our salmon populations. By making these investments we are taking steps to increase the number of salmon so there will be enough fish for future generations, orcas and for the communities and jobs that rely on the fishing industry.”
With the Legislature’s recent approval of the capital budget, grants are being distributed for 163 projects to organizations in 29 of the state’s 39 counties. The grants will be used to remove barriers that prevent salmon from migrating, increase the types and amount of habitat for salmon, protect pristine areas and restore critical habitat so salmon have places to spawn, feed, rest and grow.
KLICKITAT COUNTY
Columbia Land Trust Grant Awarded: $344,768
Conserving Land Near the Klickitat Canyon Bridge
The Columbia Land Trust will use this grant to buy 281 acres and conserve 1.84 miles of
riverbank along the Klickitat River. The land is north and east of the Glenwood-Goldendale Road
between the Klickitat Hatchery and Leidl Park. The land is a central link between more than
27 conserved river miles on the Klickitat River. Conservation would enable restoration through
the entire 27-mile corridor, protect existing public river access, and protect against threats
including logging and development near the river. The river is used by steelhead, which is a
species listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act, and by
Chinook salmon. The Columbia Land Trust will contribute $60,900. Visit RCO’s online Project
Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. (17-1275)
Underwood Conservation District Grant Awarded: $254,019
Installing a Fish Screen for the White Salmon Irrigation District
The Underwood Conservation District will use this grant to replace the White Salmon Irrigation
District’s headworks and conveyance system that pulls water from Buck Creek. The point of the
water diversion is not screened, and the diversion dam in Buck Creek blocks fish passage. The
conservation district will build a roughened channel in Buck Creek, install a fish screen, and
replace about 1.5 miles of open ditch and leaking pipe with new pipe. The work will keep saved
water in Buck Creek. The river is used by Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead. The White
Salmon Irrigation District will contribute $45,000 in donations of cash. Visit RCO’s online Project
Snapshot for more information and photographs of this project. (17-1282)
SKAMANIA COUNTY
Cowlitz Indian Tribe Grant Awarded: $154,038
Designing the Removal of the Kwoneesum Dam
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe will use this grant to create a preliminary design for removal of
Kwoneesum Dam and restoring of watershed conditions in Wildboy Creek, in Skamania County.
Removing the dam would give salmon access to 6.5 miles of habitat and restore riverine
processes to Wildboy Creek and West Fork Washougal River watersheds. The design also will
include increases to large wood complexity upstream and downstream of the dam, and
shoreline vegetation improvements upstream of the dam. The creek is used by coho salmon and
steelhead, both of which are species listed as threatened with extinction under the federal
Endangered Species Act. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and
photographs of this project. (17-1069)
Mid-Columbia Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Grant Awarded: $93,323
Designing the Restoration of the Wind River
Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service, the Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group will use
this grant to complete a preliminary design for restoration of Wind River habitat, in the Gifford
Pinchot National Forest, in Skamania County. The restoration design will evaluate and plan for
the following actions: opening up and reactivating relict side channels, placing large wood
structures in the side channels and in the Wind River to create more varied habitat, removing an
abandoned road and riprap, treating invasive plants, planting trees along the shoreline,
removing concrete slabs and a portion of an earthen levee, and moving some campground
infrastructure that is in the floodplain. The river is used by steelhead, which is a species listed as
threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Mid-Columbia
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group and the U.S. Forest Service will contribute $16,492 in
staff labor. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more information and photographs of this
project. (17-1078)
Underwood Conservation District Grant Awarded: $274,187
Enhancing Salmon Habitat in the Little Wind River
The Underwood Conservation District will use this grant to complete final design, permitting,
and construction of the fourth phase of a restoration project in Little Wind River, a tributary to
the Wind River, in Skamania County. The conservation district will place 50 or more large logs
and tree root wads along nearly a half-mile of stream and along seven side channels of the Little
Wind River. Overall, the logs and root wads change the flow of the river, creating riffles and
deep cold pools as well as places for fish to rest and hide from predators. They also slow the
river, allowing small gravel to settle to the bottom for spawning areas. Slower water also reduces
erosion and the amount of fine sediment in the river. The conservation district also will thin alder
trees and plant the riverbanks with conifer trees. Riverbank plantings will help shade the water,
keeping it cool for fish. The plants also drop branches and leaves into the water, which provide
food for the insects that salmon eat and places for salmon to rest and hide from predators.
Finally, the roots of the plants help keep the soil from entering the water and burying spawning
gravel. The river is used by lower Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead, all of which are
species listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. The U.S.
Forest Service, Bonneville Power Administration, and a local landowner will contribute $85,000 in
grants and donations of labor and materials. Visit RCO’s online Project Snapshot for more
information and photographs of this project. (17-1083)
Snohomish County
Adopt A Stream Foundation Grant Awarded: $78,39