Learn why fish passage barriers need to be fixed to preserve fish populations
Jan 31, 2022 6:40 PM
Elizabeth McGovern of WSDOT
Learn why fish passage barriers need to be fixed to preserve fish populations
Washington State Department of Transportation Northwest Region Lead Elizabeth (Eliza) McGovern will brief club members on the state’s work to improve fish populations by removing barriers to spawning habitats in the region. When rivers and streams are connected, fish can better access the habitat they need. This is an important component of protecting and restoring fish populations, which can in turn have multiple benefits - including for commercial and recreational fishing industries.
WSDOT notes that most of the culverts that must be remediated were installed decades before scientists fully understood the needs of fish. While WSDOT met all requirements for culvert installation and sizing at the time they were constructed, they may not today, and a culvert that was fish passable at the time of installation might have become a barrier over time due to changes in the landscape resulting from development, logging and fire. Rotarians can read the most recent fish passage annual report for deeper background.