Chelan County to receive 740,000 in Fish Passage Restoration grants

Chelan County received $740,000 in grants from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to remove culverts that block fish passage in Eagle Creek and Sand Creek. This funding is part of a broader $30 million statewide initiative aimed at improving fish migration routes. The Chelan County Natural Resources Department will allocate $346,000 to replace five culverts in Eagle Creek, enhancing access to nearly two miles of spawning habitat for endangered Chinook salmon and threatened steelhead trout. An additional $394,000 will support the replacement of a culvert in Sand Creek, restoring access to over four miles of habitat. Kaylee Kautz, manager of the Fish Barrier Removal Board, emphasized the program's success in removing 63 barriers, which has opened nearly 179 miles of habitat for salmon over the last decade.

The grant program, created by the Washington Legislature in 2014, is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. It focuses on projects that restore vital fish migration corridors and improve survival rates. Landowners are encouraged to partner with local habitat biologists to address potential barriers on their properties.