Up a creek 5B culvert removal plan appears dead in WA Legislature

The Washington Legislature's effort to secure $5 billion for culvert removal, aimed at enhancing fish passage, seems unlikely to succeed this session. With the legislative deadline approaching, cities and counties are voicing concerns that state funds could be redirected from critical water and sewer projects to cover the bond repayments. The governor's office has also expressed reservations, citing economic uncertainty as a reason to halt the proposal. This initiative stems from a federal injunction that mandates the state to correct culverts that impede salmon and steelhead migration, a responsibility the state has struggled to meet due to rising costs and the discovery of new barriers. The state’s transportation department has identified approximately 300 culverts that need addressing to meet the 2030 goal of opening 90% of affected habitats.

Lawmakers originally saw the bond measure as a way to signal compliance as mediation with the tribes begins. Despite efforts to redirect funding from a transportation budget shortfall, opposition remains strong, with concerns over local project funding. Ultimately, the state's financial realities and the complexities of the culvert-removal plan have left the future of the initiative uncertain.