U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Fish 

Passage Program

Reconnecting Aquatic Species to

Historical Habitats

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001

The Nation’s fisheries, and the

economies they support, depend on

the ability of fish to gain access to

healthy aquatic habitats. Fish in

lakes, rivers, and estuaries need to

migrate to vital habitats for

spawning, feeding, and growth. Yet

millions of artificial barriers block

fish movements in the United States.

To address this problem, the

Service’s Fisheries Program

established the National Fish

Passage Program in 1999. This

report tells what we have done since

the Program’s inception to provide

new paths to old homes for

America’s fish populations.

The Fish Passage Program is an

outstanding example of a voluntary,

habitat-based approach to fisheries

conservation. The program is citizen

centered and produces impressive

on-the-ground results, restoring

unimpeded flows and fish migration

in partnership with Federal, State,

Tribal and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and

private landowners.

Loss and alteration of aquatic

habitats are principal factors in the

decline of native fish and other

aquatic resources. Obsolete dams,

poorly designed culverts, and

unscreened water diversions

degrade aquatic habitat throughout

the nation. With recent

improvements in water quality, and

effective harvest management

practices in place, restoring fish

passage is one of the most farreaching measures we can take to

conserve fishery resources. The

Service looks forward to continuing

and expanding its alliance with our

partners on this important initiative.

Director

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 i

Foreword

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

National Fish Passage Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Fish Passage Decision Support System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Program Accomplishments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Region 1 – Pacific. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Region 2 – Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Region 3 – Great Lakes-Big Rivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Region 4 – Southeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Region 5 – Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Region 6 – Mountain-Prairie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Region 7 – Alaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Future Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Information for Potential Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 iii

Table of Contents

Early in our history, rivers ran wild,

and fish followed them according to

their needs. In the ensuing years,

America fueled the Industrial

Revolution with resources of water,

timber, minerals and wildlife. Early

American innovation and progress

were generally oblivious to their

dependence on the fragile natural

world. American resources seemed

abundant without end. Then the fish

began to disappear.

All river fish migrate between

feeding and spawning areas and

make other seasonal movements to

important habitats. Barriers prevent

natural fish migrations, keeping

them from these habitats. As a

result, some populations of native

fish are gone and others are in

drastic decline.

Millions of culverts, dikes, water

diversions, dams, and other artificial

barriers were constructed to

impound and redirect water for

irrigation, flood control, electricity,

drinking water, and transportation—

all changing natural features of

rivers and streams. After more than

three centuries of building dams and

other barriers on rivers and streams,

many Americans are increasingly

concerned about their effects on fish

and other aquatic species. Many

dams are obsolete and no longer

serve their original purpose.

Culverts that funnel water beneath

roads and train tracks often pose

insurmountable barriers to fish.

In 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service initiated the National Fish

Passage Program to work with

others to address these problems.

The purposes of this report are to

describe the Program, its activities

and accomplishments from 1999

through 2001, and the role and

contributions of partners and

stakeholders in accomplishing

these results.

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 1

Introduction
Through its National Fish Passage

Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service uses a voluntary, nonregulatory approach to remove and

bypass barriers. The Program

addresses the problem of fish

barriers on a national level, working

with local communities and partner

agencies to restore natural flows and

fish migration. The Program is

administered by National and

Regional Coordinators and delivered

by Fish and Wildlife Management

Assistance Offices, with 300

biologists located across the Nation.

Appropriations for the Program

support the Coordinators, in-thewater fish passage projects, and the

Fish Passage Decision Support

System (described below). The

Program provides technical

assistance and funding to assist

others in restoring fish passage.

Types of assistance include providing

information on fish and habitat needs

and methods for fish to bypass

barriers.

Fish Passage Decision

Support System

The Fish Passage Decision Support

System assists the Service and its

partners in planning and prioritizing

fish passage projects. The system is

a geographically-referenced

database of barriers preventing fish

movement, including barrier

location, type, size, owner and

passage capabilities, associated fish

species, and habitat information. By

early 2003, the system will provide

an on-line data entry and mapping

utility program, with analytical

Geographic Information System

(GIS) capabilities. The user will be

able to ‘point-and-click’ on existing

barriers for displaying information

at that location and point to rivers

and streams to identify new barrier

locations for data entry. Analytical

capabilities will include the capacity

to calculate river miles opened after

barrier removal. Integration with

GIS software increases the

capabilities of fisheries scientists to

make better management decisions,

prioritize fish passage projects,

identify critical areas, and

implement projects.

Currently, the database incorporates

information from the Army Corps of

Engineers’ National Inventory of

Dams, state dam databases from

North Carolina and Tennessee, and a

regional database (StreamNet) from

the Pacific States Marine Fisheries

Commission. Service biologists will

be entering additional data from

inventory projects. Smaller dams,

culverts, dikes, and irrigation

diversions will be added from

national, state, and local sources.

Also, a partnership is in place for

developing and incorporating a

stream module of the Multi-State

Aquatic Resources Information

System (MARIS), which will compile

State stream fisheries databases.

2 National Fish Passage Program

National Fish Passage Program

Program Goal

To restore native fish and 

other aquatic species to 

self-sustaining levels by

reconnecting habitat that has

been fragmented by barriers,

where such re-connection would

not result in a net negative

ecological effect such as

providing increased habitat to

exotic species.

Fish Passage Program Funding History

Dollars (millions)

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

1999 2000 2001 2002
Since 1999, the Fish Passage

Program has:

■ Supported 76 fish passage

projects with over 141 different

partners,

■ Restored access to over 3,443

miles of river habitat and 65,088

acres of wetlands for fish

spawning and growth, and

■ Leveraged partner contributions

totaling $6.2 million, compared to

the Program investment of

$2.3 million.

Restoring fish passage benefits

people, fish and other animals. Fish

passage projects increase habitat

available for fish spawning and

growth. Anglers, and commercial

and subsistence fishers benefit from

larger fish populations, which are

distributed across more available

habitats. Natural flows and

temperature are restored for

salmon, trout, sturgeon, striped

bass, herring and shad, paddlefish,

and many more native and declining

forage and game species. Fish-eating

birds such as eagles, ospreys and

kingfishers have more forage, and

bears, otters and mink benefit from

larger fish populations.

Eighteen endangered, threatened,

or candidate aquatic species

populations have directly benefitted

from fish passage projects,

including:

■ Atlantic Salmon

■ Chinook Salmon

■ Coho Salmon

■ Chum Salmon

■ Steelhead

■ Arctic Grayling

■ Apache Trout

■ Lahontan Cuttroat Trout

■ Bull Trout

■ Pallid Sturgeon

■ Shortnose Sturgeon

■ Gila Chub

■ Leopard Darter

■ Loach Minnow

■ Cui-ui

■ Topeka Shiner

■ Cape Fear Shiner

■ Plain Pocketbook Mussel

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 3

Program Accomplishments

Culvert renovation on Duck

Creek, AK.

Dam removal on Conodoguinet

Creek, PA.

Emptying fish trap to evaluate 

fish passage effectiveness at

Mattamuskeet NWR, NC.

Financial Investment in 

Project Completion

Program

Contribution

27%

Partner

Contribution

73%

The following pages identify, by

Region, all projects initiated or

completed through 2001 and

highlights 27 projects with a brief

description. For more information on

the projects, visit the Program web

site at http://fisheries.fws.gov/

fwsma/fishpassage.

Douglas DeHart – Fish Passage

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

911 N.E. 11th Avenue

Portland, OR 97232-4181

Fish passage has been and continues

to be a major issue in fishery

resource protection, restoration, and

enhancement in the Pacific Region.

Water diversions and associated

dams redirect and impound water

from streams and rivers for crop

irrigation, flood control,

hydroelectric power, drinking water,

and other beneficial purposes. Many

farms and ranches in the West are

irrigated by water diverted from

rivers and streams into irrigation

canals. Water diversions can block

normal migration of fish, and

diversion of fish into pumps, pipes,

irrigation canals, and fields can

greatly reduce their survival.

Since 1999, the Fish Passage

Program has implemented 8 fish

passage projects, including culvert

renovations, fishways, dam

removals, and fish screening

structures. These projects have

provided uninhibited access to over

123 miles of river and stream

habitat, and 1,100 acres of wetland

habitat, for fish spawning, rearing

and growth.

In 2002, new cost-share funding

opportunities became available

through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for voluntary fish screening

and passage projects associated with

water diversions in Idaho, Oregon,

and Washington. Fish screens placed

at entrances to water diversions can

prevent juvenile salmon from

swimming into irrigation canals,

thereby decreasing mortality for

these and other native fishes.

These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 1. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

■ U.S. Forest Service

■ U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency

■ National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation

■ Yakama Nation, WA

■ Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, NV

■ Yurok Tribe, CA

■ Oregon Department of Fish and

Wildlife

■ Washington Department of

Natural Resources Jobs for the

Environment

■ Del Norte County, CA

■ Mason County Department of

Public Works, WA

■ California Conservation Corp

■ Reid Realty, WA

■ Hood Canal Enhancement Group,

WA

■ Volunteer Services, WA

■ Washington Aquatic Land

Enhancement Action

■ Ducks Unlimited

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 5

Region 1 – Pacific

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 1, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

WA Tahuya River Culvert Renovation 1999

(Buffin Creek)*

WA Tahuya River Culvert Renovation 1999

(WRIA 15-0470)*

WA Icicle Creek Fishway Design 1999

CA Mynot Creek Culvert Renovation 2000

OR Blitzen River, Fish Screens 2000

Malheur NWR*

NV Truckee River Fish Screen Renovation 2001

WA Skobob Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

CA Little Shasta River* Dam Removal and Screening 2001

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 1, 1999-2001
Project Description:

Buffin Creek and unnamed stream

WRIA 15-0470 are tributaries to the

Tahuya River, which is located on the

Kitsap Peninsula in western

Washington. The Tahuya River

discharges into the Hood Canal fjord

of Puget Sound. The upper reaches

of these streams had been

inaccessible to anadromous

salmonids due to blockage by poorly

sized and placed road culverts.

Project Method:

The former undersized culvert on

Buffin Creek was replaced with a

pipe arch culvert. The culvert was

laid flat and countersunk, and three

log weirs were installed to adjust the

stream grade. Gravel was placed to

restore the stream bed, and rock

riprap was placed to maintain road

bank stability. On the unnamed

stream, the culvert remained;

however, five log weirs were installed

to provide step pools with adequate

water depths for fish passage.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Renovation of both culverts opened

up 4.5 miles of stream habitat within

2,210 acres of relatively undisturbed

watershed area. In addition, 113

acres of wetland habitat are

associated with these stream

segments. Correcting these passage

barriers provided unrestricted

access to former spawning and

rearing habitats for adult and

juvenile coho salmon, steelhead

trout, and cutthroat trout.

Replacement of the Buffin Creek

culvert also allows for more natural

transport of woody debris and

sediment through the system.

Partners:

Reid Realty, Hood Canal

Enhancement Group, Volunteer

Services, Washington Aquatic Land

Enhancement Action, Mason County

Department of Public Works,

Washington Department of Natural

Resources Jobs for the

Environment, and private

landowners.

For more information contact:

Western Washington Fishery

Resources Office, 2625 Parkmont

Lane, Building A, Olympia,

WA 98502

6 National Fish Passage Program

Region 1

Tahuya River, Washington

2 Projects

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

Culvert on Buffin Creek before

renovation.

Culvert on Buffin Creek after

renovation.

Culvert on unnamed stream before

renovation

Step pools installed after renovation

$40,000

$70,000
Project Description:

Historically, Mud Creek and Bridge

Creek were direct tributaries to the

Blitzen River. Today, these systems

are altered and water is mixed due to

diversion dams and canals. Blitzen

River is re-directed into the West

Canal and the East Canal, with Mud

Creek and Bridge Creek flowing into

the East Canal. A portion of the

mixed water is then returned to

Bridge Creek, and eventually to the

Blitzen River. Historically, limited

fish passage was provided. Malheur

National Wildlife Refuge has

committed to providing fish passage

throughout this system for redband

trout to reconnect them to historical

habitats and natural movements.

Several fish screening devices and

fishways have been installed;

however, several passage and

screening problems remain

unresolved.

Project Methods:

At the Bridge Creek headgates, four

inverted weirs are being constructed

below the headgates to dissipate the

undershot flows. Immediately below

the gaging station weir, a small log

and rock weir is being constructed to

create a jump pool. At the Blitzen

River headgates, one of the three

existing headgates have been

removed and a Denil fishway is being

installed in its place.

Other fish screen projects, some with

fish ladders, have been completed on

the Refuge. These prevent fish

entrainment and diversion into pipes

and canals.

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 7

Region 1

Blitzen River, Malheur NWR, Oregon

Headgate at the Bridge Creek/East

Canal Bridge creates a barrier at

high flows

Downstream view of the headgate at

East Canal/Blitzen River

Bridge Creek gaging station creates

passage barrier during low flows

Upstream view of the headgate at

East Canal/Blitzen River
Project Outcomes (Benefits):

When all fish passage projects are

complete, approximately six miles of

important spawning habitat in

Bridge and Mud creeks will be

reconnected with the Blitzen River

and Malheur Lake. The refuge will

provide further protection to

redband trout and secure eight miles

of habitat in the lower Blitzen River

drainage by providing passage in

East Canal. The Refuge will also

reconnect East Canal, Boca Lake,

Bridge Creek and Mud Creek with

over 65 miles of the upper Blitzen

River and tributaries. The projects

in East Canal and Bridge Creek will

directly benefit redband trout,

mountain whitefish and other native

fish species in the Blitzen River

watershed.

Partners:

Oregon Department of Fish and

Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge,

HC 72 Box 245, Princeton, OR 97721

8 National Fish Passage Program

Region 1

Blitzen River, Malheur NWR, Oregon

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$0

$160,000

Solar-powered fish screen on

Bridge Creek

Rotary drum fish screen on

East Canal

Fish screen with ladder on

East Canal
Bob Pitman – Fish Passage 

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 1306, Room 3118

Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306

The Fisheries Program in the

Southwest Region focuses on

interjurisdictional fishery resources,

fishery resources on Indian

Reservations or National Wildlife

Refuges, fisheries lost to federal

water development projects,

recovery of species protected under

the Endangered Species Act,

restoring depleted fish populations,

and non-indigenous aquatic nuisance

species.

Between 1999 and 2001, the

Southwest Region has implemented

seven fish passage projects,

including culvert renovations,

repairing low flow road crossings,

and restructuring water control

structures. Over 51 miles of stream

habitat has been opened up for

spawning, rearing and feeding to

benefit Apache trout, leopard darter,

Ouachita shiner, Gila chub, desert

sucker, and other native species.

These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 2. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

■ San Carlos Apache Tribal Roads

Department, AZ

■ San Carlos Apache Tribal

Recreation and Wildlife

Department, AZ

■ White Mountain Apache Tribe,

AZ

■ Oklahoma Department of Wildlife

Conservation

■ Texas Department of Parks and

Wildlife

■ Kansas Department of Wildlife

and Parks

■ John Hancock Timber Industries,

OK

■ Ash Creek Cattle Association, AZ

■ Aluminum Company of America,

TX

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 9

Region 2 – Southwest

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 2, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

AZ Blue River Road Low-flow Road Crossing 2000

Crossing*

AZ Geronimo’s Cave* Flow Improvement 2000

OK Little River at Low-flow Road Crossing 2000

Horseshoe Bend

AZ Firebox Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

AZ Pacheta Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

OK Honobia Creek at Culvert/Road Restoration 2001

Bridge Three*

TX Foester Lake, Water Control Structure 2001

Aransas NWR

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 2, 1999-2001
Project Description:

The Blue River is located on the San

Carlos Apache Indian Reservation,

in the east-central portion of

Arizona. The objective of the Blue

River Fish Passage Project was to

armor the wet road crossing at the

junction of the 1200 Road and the

Blue River.

Stream bed disturbance from vehicle

and road maintenance equipment

was creating erosion and water

quality issues in the Blue River. The

San Carlos Tribal Roads

Department had traditionally

addressed these issues by installing

culverts; however, this project was

designed to demonstrate an

alternative to culverts that also did

not create a fish passage barrier.

Project Method:

Cooperators installed a series of

precast cement slabs with galvanized

steel cables used to link them

together to form a mat on the stream

bed. The precast slabs were installed

by hand, minimizing the need for

heavy equipment, thereby reducing

the disturbance to the stream bed.

Spacing between the slabs allows for

the movement of fish even during

periods of low flow. Following the

construction of the mat, cement

slabs were poured on the banks

adjacent to the mat, which were

designed to stabilize the stream

banks and add an additional anchor

for the structure.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

The Blue River contains a secure

native fish assemblage that includes

the Gila chub, a candidate for listing

under the Endangered Species Act.

Vehicle movement across Blue River

has been enhanced by minimizing

the erosion and water quality

problems experienced before the

project. Fish have been observed

passing through the structure, both

during and after the project.

Partners:

San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife

Department, U.S. Bureau of Indian

Affairs Land Operations, San Carlos

Apache Tribal Roads Department,

and the Ash Creek Cattle

Association.

For more information contact:

Arizona Fishery Resources Office –

San Carlos, P.O. Box 710, Peridot,

AZ 85542

10 National Fish Passage Program

Region 2

Blue River Road Crossing, Arizona

Road traffic over Blue River Hand-placing precast slabs

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$18,600

$7,200

Completed road crossing restoration

project
Project Description:

The East Fork of the White River, a

tributary of the Salt River, is located

on the Fort Apache Indian

Reservation, home of the White

Mountain Apache Tribe. The Tribe

currently manages the river for the

protection of sensitive, federally

threatened, and native species, as

well as an Apache trout recreational

fishery. The Tribe also depends upon

the river to provide water for

agriculture. Throughout the lower

reaches of the river there are

numerous irrigation diversions.

Routine annual repair and

maintenance of these diversions is

conducted; however, there was

concern that some diversions were

preventing upstream movement of

fish during high flows with high

sediment transport.

Project Method:

Cooperators designed a modified

version of a cross vane weir. In

addition to the weir, native plants

were transplanted to prevent bank

erosion. The cross vane weir shape

was selected for the purpose of

directing water flow through the

irrigation ditch, but also away from

the stream banks. The new design

provides for delivery of water to the

irrigation ditch and re-directs water

flow to the center of the stream

channel, and away from eroded

banks.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Preliminary findings from seasonal

evaluations suggest that the

redesign of Geronimo’s Cave

diversion has maintained natural

channel morphology. Particular signs

of improvement include: less

dramatic change in channel gradient,

no braiding upstream of the channel,

no scour pool below the diversion,

and no bank erosion occurring

around the diversion. Species

benefitted by the project include the

threatened Apache trout and loach

minnow; desert sucker; Sonora

sucker; and speckled dace.

Partners:

White Mountain Apache Tribe

Watershed Program, Hydrology

Department, Wildlife and Outdoor

Recreation Division, and Land

Operations Division.

For more information contact:

Arizona Fishery Resources Office –

Pinetop, P.O. Box 39, Pinetop,

AZ 85935

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 11

Region 2

Geronimo’s Cave Irrigation 

Diversion, Arizona

Inadequate conditions at

Geronimo’s Cave irrigation

diversion, preventing fish passage

The new design of the Geronimo’s

Cave irrigation diversion

Eroding banks at Geronimo’s Cave

irrigation diversion
Project Description:

The Little River Fish Passage

Project was a cooperative effort with

private landowners that restored the

natural function of this river, where

fish and other aquatic species could

utilize all stream segments and still

allow responsible harvest of timber

in the area. Honobia Creek is a

tributary to the Little River. This

low water crossing presented an

impediment to fish passage because

the arch pipes funnel a large volume

of water through a narrow culvert

creating abnormally high water

velocities within the culvert. At high

flows, the stream cuts the stream

bed downstream of the structure

creating a waterfall, which made it

particularly difficult for fish passage

at low water.

Project Method:

The project replaced the embedded

culvert type crossing with a box

culvert structure. Vehicular traffic

continues at this site.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

This project facilitates the genetic

exchange between fragmented

populations of Ouachita shiner

(species of concern) and leopard

darter (federally and state

threatened) by reconnecting 12 miles

of aquatic habitat. It also enhances

recreational fishing opportunities for

smallmouth bass and spotted bass.

Partners:

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife

Conservation, Texas Department of

Parks and Wildlife, and John

Hancock Timber Industries.

For more information contact:

Oklahoma Fishery Resources Office,

5700 West Highway 7, Tishomingo,

OK 73460

12 National Fish Passage Program

Region 2

Honobia Creek at Bridge Three, Oklahoma

Honobia Creek at Bridge Three

before renovation

Honobia Creek at Bridge Three after

renovation

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$10,000

$10,000
Mike Hoff – Fish Passage 

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Building

1 Federal Drive

Fort Snelling, MN 55111

The Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region

of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

is home to more than thirty million

people. The Great Lakes–deep

freshwater seas–are the largest

system of surface freshwater on the

Earth, accounting for more than 90%

of the surface freshwater in the U.S.

The lakes themselves create unique

conditions that support a wealth of

biological diversity, including more

than 130 rare species and ecosystems.

An estimated 180 species of fish are

native to the Great Lakes.

The ‘Big Rivers’ refer to the

Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio

Rivers Ecosystem. A total of 157 fish

species have been collected in the

Upper Mississippi River (UMR),

with more than 90% of these

classified as native. The Big Rivers

support a valuable recreational and

commercial fishery. From 1980 to

1995, landings of commercial fish

species in the UMR averaged about

10 million pounds with a wholesale

value of about $2 million. Common

carp, catfish species, buffalo species,

carpsucker species, paddlefish, and

freshwater drum compose the bulk

of this catch.

It has long been recognized that the

Great Lakes-Big Rivers’ fisheries,

and the economies they support,

depend on the ability of fish to reach

healthy aquatic habitats. Since 1999,

Region 3 has initiated 15 fish passage

projects through the National Fish

Passage Program, including culvert

or road crossing renovations, dam

removals, and the installation of fish

passage structures. These projects

have provided access to 162 miles of

river habitat and 960 acres of

wetland habitat for fish spawning,

rearing, and feeding.

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 13

Region 3 – Great Lakes-Big Rivers

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 3, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

WI Chippewa River Assessment 1999 

Paddlefish Study

MI Tin Shanty Bridge – Culvert Renovation 1999

Black River*

OH Western Lake Erie Fish Passage at Dike 1999-2000

Coastal Wetlands

MI Hardwood Creek Culvert Renovation 2000

WI Hornby Creek Beaver Dam Removal 2000

IA Western Iowa Streams* Road Crossing Stabilization 2001

MI North Branch of Culvert Renovation 2001

Manistee River*

MI Black River Barrier Inventory 2001

Watershed Inventory

MN Grand Portage Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

MN Little Lake Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

WI Graveyard Creek* Beaver Dam Removal 2001

WI/MI Building Fish Friendly Workshop 2001

Stream Crossings

MN Pelican River Dam Removal 2001

Dutton Locks*

MI McMasters Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

MI Stony Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 3, 1999-2001
Educational workshops have been

conducted to promote better fish

passage at road crossings. The

Ashland Fishery Resources Office

sponsored a workshop in 2001 and

2002, entitled, How to Build Fish

Friendly Stream Crossings. The

2001 workshop, hosted by the

Marquette Biological Station, was

attended by 20 natural resource

managers and landowners.

These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 3. Also in 2001,

Region 3 was successful in securing

$233,000 from the National Fish and

Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to fund

fish passage projects in the Region.

All contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ USDA Natural Resources

Conservation Service

■ U.S. Geological Survey

■ National Parks Service

■ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

■ USFWS-Partners for Fish and

Wildlife Program

■ National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation

■ Bad River Tribe, WI

■ Grande Portage Indian

Reservation, WI

■ Michigan Department of Natural

Resources

■ Michigan Dept. of Environmental

Quality

■ Minnesota Department of

Natural Resources

■ Minnesota Department of

Transportation

■ Ohio Department of Natural

Resources

■ Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources

■ Kalkaska County Conservation

District, MI

■ Kalkaska County Road

Commission, MI

■ Cheboygan County Road

Commission, MI

■ Presque Isle County Road

Commission, MI

■ Otsego County Road Commission,

MI

■ Becker County, MN

■ City of Detroit Lakes, MN

■ Ohio State University

■ Iowa State University

■ Trout Unlimited

■ Ducks Unlimited

■ Upper Manistee River

Restoration Committee, MI

■ Maple Island Log Homes of

Michigan

■ Pelican River Watershed District,

MN

■ Upper Black River Watershed

Restoration Committee, MI

■ Michigan Flyfishing Club

■ Montmorency County

Conservation Club, MI

■ The Hungry Canyons Alliance, IA

■ Conservation Resources Alliance,

MI

■ Huron Pines Resource

Conservation and Development

Area Council, Inc., MI

■ Shell Noreast, MI

■ FishAmerica Foundation

■ Otsego Wildlife Legacy Society,

MI

■ Lowshaw Brothers, MI

■ Earthworks, MI

14 National Fish Passage Program

Region 3 – Great Lakes-Big Rivers
Project Description:

Twelve organizations from federal,

state and local government, local

industry, and non-governmental

organizations partnered and pooled

their funding to restore Tin Shanty

Bridge on the main branch of the

Black River in Otsego County.

Concern had grown by local groups

because this road/stream crossing

created a large source of sand and

silt to the watershed, and prevented

fish passage. The Upper Black River

is renowned throughout Michigan as

an outstanding native brook trout

fishery. The high sediment loads,

coupled with the lack of fish passage,

made the restoration of this

road/stream crossing a high priority

for all involved parties.

Project Method:

The two culverts were removed and

replaced with a 28 ft. steel span

bridge.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Restoration of Tin Shanty Bridge

has alleviated the restriction in the

river, allowing the river to regain its

natural flow rates and stream bed; it

no longer blocks fish passage; and

the bottomless span compensates for

50 year storm events. Brook trout

spawning habitat is located both

upstream and downstream of this

road/stream crossing.

Partners:

Huron Pines Resource Conservation

and Development Area Council,

Trout Unlimited, Shell Noreast,

National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation, Montmorency County

Conservation Club, FishAmerica

Foundation, Otsego Wildlife Legacy

Society, Otsego Road Commission,

USDA-Natural Resource

Conservation Service, Michigan

Department of Natural Resources,

Michigan Department of

Environmental Quality, and Upper

Black River Watershed Restoration

Committee, Lowshaw Brothers, and

Earthworks.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Alpena Fishery Resources Office,

145 Water Street, Alpena, MI 49707

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 15

Region 3

Tin Shanty Bridge on the 

Black River, Michigan

Tin Shanty Bridge on the Black River before (left) and after (right)

renovation

Tin Shanty bridge project partners

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$0

$120,000
Project Description:

Approximately 800 bridge crossings

on Missouri River tributary streams

in western Iowa are threatened by

stream bed degradation. Local

agencies are partnering to stabilize

these bridges by manipulating the

natural stream bed grade in the

area. Grade control structures are

being constructed with a 4:1

downstream slope, with a vertical

elevation of 2 to 25 feet above the

pre-construction stream bed.

Unfortunately, the unintended

consequence of stream bed grade

stabilization has been a precipitous

decline in native fish populations,

because many of these structures

are believed to be functioning as

barriers to fish migration.

Project Method:

This project modified six structures

on Walnut Creek, a Missouri River

tributary, to a 20:1 downstream

slope. Follow-up evaluation showed

this action restored fish passage

capabilities at these structures.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

All modifications restored 60 miles of

stream habitat for channel catfish,

flathead catfish, flathead chub,

Topeka shiner, paddlefish and

sauger.

Partners:

The Hungry Canyons Alliance, Iowa

Department of Natural Resources,

USDA Natural Resources

Conservation Service, and Iowa

State University.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Columbia Fishery Resources Office,

608 East Cherry Street, Columbia,

MO 65201

16 National Fish Passage Program

Region 3

Western Iowa Streams Fish Passage

Improvement Project, Iowa

Streambed grade control preventing

fish passage

Renovated streambed providing

fish passage

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$45,000

$75,000
Project Description:

Located in Kalkaska County,

Michigan, the Sharon Road crossing

on the Manistee River impounded

water during precipitation events,

resulting in increased water

temperature and eroded riverbanks.

Due to lack of proper ditches and

sediment basins, stormwater ran

down the road, directly into the river,

carrying its sediment.

Project Method:

The improperly designed road

culvert was replaced with a singlespan wooden bridge at Sharon Road

on the North Branch of the Manistee

River.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

This project provided access to 12

additional stream miles for brook

trout, brown trout, and several other

species, during all types of flow

conditions, for spawning, rearing

and feeding. Construction of the

timber bridge and hardening of the

road surface also alleviated the

sediment runoff associated with the

crossing.

Partners:

Conservation Resources Alliance,

Huron Pines Resource Conservation

and Development Area Council, Inc.,

Trout Unlimited-Paul Young

Chapter, Kalkaska County

Conservation District, Kalkaska

County Road Commission, Michigan

Department of Natural Resources,

Michigan Department of

Environmental Quality, Upper

Manistee River Restoration

Committee, USDA-Natural

Resources Conservation Service,

Maple Island Log Homes of

Michigan, and USFWS-Partners for

Fish and Wildlife Program.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Alpena Fishery Resources, Office,

145 Water Street, Alpena, MI 49707

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 17

Region 3

Manistee River, Michigan

Bridge reconstruction on the

North Branch Manistee River at

Sharon Road.

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$10,000

$210,000
Project Description:

Historically, logging has altered the

Graveyard Creek watershed by

replacing old growth conifers and

hardwoods with shorter-lived aspen,

increasing the beaver population.

Because of beaver dams and log

jams, Graveyard Creek had become

seriously braided, causing sediment

to cover spawning substrate

throughout a section of the stream.

The Bad River Tribe has removed

beaver dams to restore Graveyard

Creek to one channel. The Tribe has

also installed wing dams and other

in-stream modifications to create

pools and began planting native

trees to replace those removed

during the logging era. The Tribe

will continue to manage the

watershed to restore coniferous and

hardwood forests, which is expected

to reduce or prevent reoccurring

beaver populations and stream

habitat problems.

Project Method:

A five mile section of habitat has

been affected by beaver dam activity.

Once a single channel has been

established, these 5 miles will be

restored to riverine habitat

conditions.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Increased water flow will scour the

sediment and expose the spawning

substrate for coaster brook trout.

The new wing dams and pools

created by this project will benefit

juvenile coasters by providing

resting, feeding, and overwintering

habitat.

Partners:

Bad River Tribe and USFWS

Coastal Program.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Ashland Fishery Resources Office,

2800 Lake Shore Drive East,

Ashland, WI 54806

18 National Fish Passage Program

Region 3

Graveyard Creek, Wisconsin

Beaver dam removal project on

Graveyard Creek.
Project Description:

Fish passage in the Red River

Drainage is a high priority for

fishery managers working within

this watershed. The Pelican River is

a tributary to the Ottertail River

that flows into the Red River. The

Dutton Locks dam on the Pelican

River, near Detroit Lakes,

Minnesota, restricted fish movement

in the river and in the Red River

drainage. Lake sturgeon have been

recently stocked into the Ottertail

River and Detroit Lake as part of a

recovery effort.

Project Method:

The existing dam located at the

Dutton Locks was removed and

replaced with a single channel rock

rapids with step pools and a ford

crossing, providing access to 10

miles of riverine habitat in the

Pelican River.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Lake sturgeon now have access to

additional habitat, thereby

increasing the chances of success for

lake sturgeon recovery. Restoring

these connections, and allowing fish

passage, increased habitat

availability for all fish.

Partners:

Minnesota Department of Natural

Resources, City of Detroit Lakes,

Becker County, and the Pelican

River Watershed District.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

LaCrosse Fishery Resources Office,

555 Lester Ave., Onalaska, WI 54650

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 19

Region 3

Dutton Locks on the Pelican River

(Red River Basin), Minnesota

Removal of the Dutton Locks and

installation of step pools on the

Pelican River (MN DNR photo).

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$20,000

$157,000

Tom Sinclair – Fish Passage 

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1875 Century Boulevard Suite 250

Atlanta, Georgia 30345

The southeastern U.S. is home to

over 60% of all the fish species within

North America north of Mexico.

These species support recreational

and commercial fisheries valued at

hundreds of millions of dollars.

Dams, channelization, dredging,

mining, and exotic species have all

contributed to physically degraded

habitats, decreased or eliminated

water flows, and fragmented and

displaced native populations.

Since 1999, the Southeast Region

and its partners have initiated 17

projects to improve fish passage in a

variety of ways. These projects

directly improved passage to over

800 miles of riverine habitat by

identifying barriers, planning

watershed passage needs, removing

artificial barriers, identifying

alternative operating procedures for

locks and dams, and monitoring

ecosystem responses. An additional

1,500 miles were indirectly improved

by these projects.

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 21

Region 4 – Southeast

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 4, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

AL Claiborne Lock and Dam* Assessment 1999

NC Rains Mill Dam – Dam Removal 1999

Neuse River Basin*

FL Merritt Island NWR* Dike Removal 1999

SC/NC Santee-Cooper Basin Restoration Plan 1999

Diadromous Fish Passage 

Restoration Plan

NC North Carolina GIS Barrier Inventory 1999

Database

NC Quaker Neck Dam Dam Removal Evaluation 1999

Removal Evaluation*

NC Delineation of Historic Study 1999

Diadromous Fish 

Distribution and 

Abundance

NC/VA Restoring Access to Fishway Design 1999

Roanoke River

FL Merritt Island NWR* Flow Improvement 2000

FL/GA Woodruff Lock and Study 2000

Dam Evaluation

NC Lake Mattamuskeet Water Control Improvement 2000

Passage

TN Tennessee River Barrier Inventory 2000

Dam Inventory

SC/GA New Savannah Bluff Fishway Design 2001

Lock and Dam

P.R. Coloso Dam on the Fishway Design 2000-2001

Culebrinas River*

SC Granby Dam Removals Dam Removal Study 2001

NC Chowan River Culvert Renovation 2001

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 4, 1999-2001.
These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 4. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

■ U.S. Marine Corps

■ U.S. Geological Survey – Conte

Anadromous Fish Laboratory

■ USFWS – Coastal Program.

■ National Marine Fisheries

Service

■ Alabama Department of

Conservation and Natural

Resources

■ Geological Survey of Alabama

■ North Carolina Division of Water

Resources

■ North Carolina Wildlife

Resources Commission

■ North Carolina Marine Fish

Commission

■ North Carolina Division of

Marine Fisheries

■ North Carolina Department of

Transportation

■ North Carolina Division of

Emergency Management

■ South Carolina Department of

Natural Resources

■ South Carolina Electric and Gas

■ Puerto Rico Infrastructure

Improvement Agency

■ Puerto Rico Aqueducts and

Sewers Authority

■ Puerto Rico Water Company

■ Puerto Rico Department of

Natural and Environmental

Resources

■ Georgia Department of Natural

Resources

■ Tennessee Division of Water

Supply

■ Volusia County Mosquito Control

District, FL

■ East Carolina University, NC

■ Cornell University, NY

■ National Wildlife Federation

■ Northwest Florida Aquatic

Preserves – Dept. of

Environmental Protection

■ St. John’s River Water

Management District, FL

■ Carolina Power and Light

Company, NC

22 National Fish Passage Program

Region 4 – Southeast
Project Description:

This project was an evaluation of fish

movements and habitat use above,

below, and through the Claiborne

Lock and Dam on the Alabama River

in the Mobile River Basin. By

tracking tagged fish, the Geological

Survey of Alabama was able to

document river discharge levels

needed for fish passage over the

structure, determine the extent of

spawning migrations (300+ miles in

some instances), and identify an

extreme fidelity for specific habitat

zones.

Project Method:

The information collected was an

important first step towards

designing a fishway to enhance fish

passage.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Fish passage capabilities will target

blue sucker, river redhorse,

smallmouth buffalo, and other

species to access over 60 miles of

mainstem spawning and rearing

habitat previously accessible only

during years of extremely high river

discharge.

Partners:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

Alabama Department of

Conservation and Natural

Resources, Geological Survey of

Alabama, private entities.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Daphne Ecological Services Office,

1208B Main Street, PO Drawer 1190,

Daphne, AL 36526

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 23

Region 4

Claiborne Lock and Dam, Alabama

Claiborne Lock and Dam

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$25,000

$8,300
Project Description and Method:

This project removed Rains Mill

Dam on the Little River (Neuse

River Basin), NC in November 1999.

A partnership led by the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service resulted in the

removal of this 270-foot-long, 10-

foot-high barrier. This was the third

dam removal project completed as

part of a larger initiative to restore

fish passage at five sites in the Neuse

River Basin.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Removal opened up 151 miles of

suitable spawning and rearing

habitat for alewife, blueback herring,

American shad, American eel,

hickory shad, striped bass, Atlantic

sturgeon, and shortnose sturgeon.

Elimination of the associated 28 acre

impoundment will also allow

reoccupation of the site by two

species of endangered freshwater

mussel.

Partners:

North Carolina Division of Water

Resources, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, U.S. Marine Corps,

National Wildlife Federation, North

Carolina Wildlife Resources

Commission, and the USFWS

Coastal Program.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Raleigh Ecological Services Office,

551-F Pylon Drive, PO Box 33726,

Raleigh, NC 27636

24 National Fish Passage Program

Region 4

Rains Mill Dam Removal – 

Neuse River Basin, North Carolina

Stream site before dam removal 

(top and bottom)

Stream site after dam removal

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$25,000

$175,000
Project Description and Method:

The Merritt Island National Wildlife

Refuge lies within the Mosquito

Lagoon-Indian River-Banana River

estuary complex of east-central

Florida. Over 40 years ago,

important high marsh habitats were

completely cut off by a one mile dike

that was built during construction of

the Kennedy Space Center. This

impoundment had been previously

breached for tidal access at the north

and south ends, however, true

hydrological restoration was not

achieved due to the remaining

structure. This dike was removed in

1999; however, elevations of fill

remained in the estuary that

restricted outflows of rainwater and

impeded passage of some fish. Other

funds were used to grade the fill to

an elevation that allowed free

flowing water and fish passage.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Removal of the 1 mile dike, followed

by flow improvements, provided

unrestricted tidal flows and fish

passage into 38 acres of former salt

marsh at the Merritt Island National

Wildlife Refuge. Red drum, snook,

tarpon, black drum, spot, and striped

mullet can now pass between the

marsh and ocean habitats.

Partners:

Volusia County Mosquito Control

District and the St. John’s River

Water Management District.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Merritt Island NWR, State Road

402, P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, FL

32782

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 25

Region 4

Dike Removal at Merritt Island

National Wildlife Refuge, Florida 

2 Projects

1996 aerial photograph showing dike

(black line) before being removed

Turbidity barrier crossing the south

breach of the impoundment

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$20,000

$60,000
Project Description and Methods:

This project performed an

evaluation of American shad and

striped bass movement and habitat

use above the recently removed

Quaker Neck Dam on the Neuse

River. Removal of Quaker Neck dam

was one of five dams removed as part

of a larger initiative to restore fish

passage in the Neuse River Basin.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

The evaluation found that both

American shad and striped bass

were spawning upstream of the

former dam site. Complete access

was provided to 79 miles of suitable

spawning and rearing habitat by

removal of the Quaker Neck dam.

Partners:

North Carolina Marine Fish

Commission, North Carolina

Wildlife Resources Commission,

U.S. Geological Survey, and Carolina

Power and Light Company

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Raleigh Ecological Services Office,

551-F Pylon Drive, PO Box 33726,

Raleigh, NC 27636

26 National Fish Passage Program

Region 4

Quaker Neck Dam Removal

Evaluation, North Carolina

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$5,000

$67,000

Stream site during dam removal Stream site after dam removal

Striped bass spawning locations before and after

dam removal
Project Description and Methods:

Since the 1930s, the Coloso Dam on

the Culebrinas River has impeded or

blocked access to river habitat. A

fishway has been designed for this 10

foot high barrier, located 1.5 miles

upstream from the mouth of the

Culebrinas River. Project partners

in Puerto Rico will refine the design

and implement construction the

fishway.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Construction of a fishway will open

access to 130 miles of river habitat

for American eel, river goby, Sirajo

goby, mountain mullet, and thirteen

species of migratory shrimp.

Partners:

Puerto Rico Infrastructure

Improvement Agency, Puerto Rico

Water Company, Puerto Rico

Department of Natural and

Environmental Resources, Puerto

Rico Aqueducts and Sewers

Authority, and the USGS-Conte Fish

Laboratory.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Boqueron Ecological Services Office,

Carr. 301, KM5.1, PO Box 491,

Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 27

Region 4

Coloso Dam on the Culebrinas 

River, Puerto Rico

Coloso Dam on the Culebrinas River Shrimp attempting to migrate over

the Coloso Dam

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$20,000

$45,000

Dan Kuzmeskus – Fish Passage

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

300 Westgate Center Drive

Hadley, MA 01035

Chris Castiglione – Assistant

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

405 North French Road Suite 120A

Amherst, NY 14228

The Northeast Region works with

states and other partners to restore

and protect a variety of fish species,

including Atlantic salmon, striped

bass, American shad, weakfish,

winter flounder, Atlantic sturgeon,

and lake trout. Stable fish

populations indicate healthy river

systems that can provide ample

fishing and recreational

opportunities.

Since 1999, the Fish Passage

Program in Region 5 has initiated 7

projects that improved fish passage

by removing dams and designing

and building fishways. These

projects have directly improved

passage to 502 miles of riverine

habitat and over 1,000 acres of

wetland area. In addition, Region 5

has been successful in establishing

partnerships with Federal and State

agencies to identify fish passage

barriers within State or watershed

boundaries. This work is part of a

larger Fish Passage Program

initiative to develop a Fish Passage

Decision Support System. The

Decision Support System will be

geographically referenced, with

barrier location, associated species

and habitat information. In early

2003, the database will be available

on the internet to identify fish

barriers and aid in planning

solutions.

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 29

Region 5 – Northeast

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 5, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

ME Pleasant Lake* Fish Ladder 1999

ME East Machias River* Dam Removal 2000

PA Manatawney Creek Dam Removal 2000

PA Good Hope Dam* Dam Removal 2001

NH Wiswall Dam on the Fish Ladder or Dam Removal

Lamprey River

MA Middlesex Dam on the Breach Stabilization 2001

Concord River

VA Appomattox River Fishway 2001

(Abutment Dam)

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 5, 1999-2001
These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 5. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ National Park Service

■ USDA Natural Resource

Conservation Service

■ U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency

■ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

■ U.S. Geological Survey

■ U.S. Air Force

■ National Marine Fisheries

Commission

■ National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation

■ Maine Department of Marine

Resources

■ Maine Department of Inland

Fisheries and Wildlife

■ Maine Department of

Transportation

■ Virginia Department of Game and

Inland Fish

■ Massachusetts Department of

Fish and Wildlife

■ Massachusetts Department of

Marine Fisheries

■ New Hampshire Department of

Fish and Game

■ New Hampshire Department of

Environmental Services

■ Pennsylvania Department of

Environmental Protection

■ City of Petersburg, VA

■ Town of East Machias, ME

■ Town of Stetson, ME

■ Town of Durham, NH

■ University of New Hampshire

Facilities Services

■ Lamprey River Advisory

Committee, NH

■ Dufresne-Henry Inc., NH

■ FishAmerica Foundation

■ Trout Unlimited

■ American Rivers

■ Coastal Conservation Association

■ Hackle and Tackle Club, NH

■ Upper Pottstown Watershed

Association, PA

■ Charles George Landfill

Remediation, MA

■ Maine Atlantic Salmon

Commission

■ Atlantic Salmon Federation

■ Downeast Salmon Federation,

ME

30 National Fish Passage Program

Region 5 – Northeast
Project Description:

In 1998, the Edwards Dam on the

Kennebec River was removed,

permitting anadromous fish to

migrate an additional 17 miles

upstream to the confluence of the

Sebasticook River. Fish migrations

in the Sebasticook River are blocked

by three hydropower dams and four

non-hydropower dams, including

Pleasant Pond Dam. Installing a fish

ladder at Pleasant Pond Dam is part

of a larger initiative to restore fish

passage at these seven sites in the

Sebasticook River Basin. For

example, fish passage projects are

currently pending for

implementation at the three other

non-hydro dams in spring and

summer, 2002.

Project Methods:

A Denil steeppass fishway was

installed, allowing alewives

upstream migration to spawning

habitat. Providing fish passage at

Pleasant Pond Dam was a key step in

completing a large-scale restoration

effort in the Sebasticook River

Basin.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

The fishway provided access to

spawning habitat for an estimated

26,880 adult alewife annually.

Passage was provided to the 768-

acre Pleasant Pond. Providing

passage at all four non-hydropower

dams will result in the restoration of

28 river miles of habitat for

anadromous fish. This restoration

effort will also restore habitat for

Atlantic salmon, blueback herring,

striped bass, and American eel.

Partners:

USFWS Coastal Program and

Maine Anadromous Fish Program,

Natural Resources Conservation

Service, Maine Department of

Marine Resources, American Rivers,

Town of Stetson

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf

of Maine Program, 4R Fundy Road,

Falmouth, ME 04105

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 31

Region 5

Pleasant Lake, Maine

Pleasant Pond dam before fish

passage was provided

Fish ladder installed at Pleasant

Pond dam

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$20,000

$70,000
Project Description:

The East Machias Dam, located near

head-of-tide on one of Maine’s eight

“wild” salmon rivers, was

constructed in 1926 to produce

power. The dam has not produced

power since the late 1950’s, and in

the late 1960’s, the Town of East

Machias purchased the dam and

associated lands. The dam was

breached in 1973 but remained a

community eyesore and safety

hazard for local residents. In

addition, the dam was only passable

by fish at high water. The waters

immediately downstream of the dam

served as a holding pen for adult

Atlantic salmon and other searun

fish waiting to move upstream,

providing harbor seals and

cormorants with easy feeding

opportunities. Moreover, the dam

required annual maintenance to

clear away debris jams and maintain

access for migrating fish.

Project Methods:

In the summer of 2000, dam removal

provided free passage during all

water levels, minimized predation by

harbor seals and cormorants, and

eliminated the need for annual

maintenance.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Searun fish, including Atlantic

salmon, alewives, shad, blueback

herring and rainbow smelt, were

provided access to 296 river miles

from the removal of East Machias

Dam.

Partners:

U.S. Air Force, Natural Resources

Conservation Service, USFWS

Coastal Program, Maine

Anadromous Fish Program and

Maine Field Office, U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers, Maine Atlantic Salmon

Commission, Maine Department of

Marine Resources, Maine

Department of Transportation, Town

of East Machias, Trout Unlimited,

Atlantic Salmon Federation,

Downeast Salmon Federation

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gulf

of Maine Program, 4R Fundy Rd.,

Falmouth, ME 04105

32 National Fish Passage Program

Region 5

East Machias River, Maine

East Machias dam before removal

(see road bridge behind dam)

East Machias dam after removal

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$20,000

$280,000
Project Description:

Good Hope Dam stood 6 feet high

and 300 feet in length. The dam and

impoundment no longer served a

functional purpose, was in an

advanced state of disrepair, and had

no identifiable owner. It was the first

blockage to migratory fishes

entering Conodoguinet Creek.

Removing the dam was a high profile

project, with numerous partners and

objectives. In addition to removal,

the project includes a comprehensive

riparian restoration component and

monitoring of chemical, physical, and

biological conditions, pre- and postdam removal.

Project Methods:

The dam was removed in November

2001, opening 22 miles of riverine

habitat. Considerable habitat

improvement work has also been

conducted by the Conodoguinet

Creek Watershed Association.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Additional spawning and rearing

habitat has been provided for shad,

herring, alewife, and other resident

fish species. The project also

restored a significant reach of free

flowing river and laid the

groundwork for returning its

ecological function, while eliminating

a serious public safety hazard.

Partners:

Pennsylvania Department of

Environmental Protection,

American Rivers, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat

Commission, Pennsylvania

Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay

Program, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, National Marine

Fisheries Service, U.S. Geological

Survey, County Conservation

District, FishAmerica Foundation,

and the Conodoguinet Creek

Watershed Association.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Susquehanna River Coordinator,

1721 North Front Street Suite 105,

Harrisburg, PA 171102

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 33

Region 5

Good Hope Dam, Pennsylvania

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$10,000

$390,000

Good Hope dam before removal Dam removal

Good Hope dam after removal

Morgan Elmer – Fish Passage

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

134 Union Boulevard

Lakewood, CO 80228

The Fish and Wildlife Management

Assistance Offices throughout the

Mountain-Prairie Region support

tribal fisheries and wildlife

management programs, endangered

species recovery, control of invasive

aquatic species, and fish passage for

native species, such as cutthroat

trout, bull trout, and pallid sturgeon.

Since 1999, the Fish Passage

Program in Region 6 has initiated 8

projects that improved fish passage,

primarily at irrigation diversion

sites. These projects have directly

improved passage to 877 miles of

riverine habitat.

In 2002, new cost-share funding

opportunities are available through

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

for voluntary fish screening and

passage projects associated with

water diversions in western

Montana. Fish screens placed at

entrances to water diversions can

prevent juvenile fish from swimming

into irrigation canals, thereby

decreasing mortality for these and

other native fishes.

These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 6. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

■ USDA Natural Resources

Conservation Service

■ U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

■ USFWS – Partners for Fish and

Wildlife Program

■ Crow Indian Nation Fish and

Wildlife Department, MT

■ Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River

Reservation, WY

■ Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River

Reservation, WY

■ Montana Department of Fish,

Wildlife and Parks

■ Wyoming Game and Fish

Department

■ Arctic Grayling Recovery

Program, MT

■ Snake River Conservation

District, MT

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 35

Region 6 – Mountain-Prairie

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 6, 1999-2001

State Project Title Project Type Year Funded

MT Soap Creek Irrigation Diversion Improvement 1999

MT Big Hole River Irrigation Diversion Improvement 1999

MT Elk Springs Creek Culvert Renovation 2000

WY Battle Creek Irrigation Diversion Improvement 2001

MT Upper Columbia River Survey 2001

Basin Survey

MT Yellowstone River Irrigation Diversion Improvement 2001

(Huntley Project)*

WY Mill Creek – Norwood* Irrigation Diversion Improvement 2001

WY Mill Creek – Chavis Grade Control 2001

Drop (#1 and #2)

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Location of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 6, 1999-2001
Project Description:

Huntley Diversion Dam is a concrete

irrigation structure on the

Yellowstone River, downstream from

Billings, MT. It is over 9 feet high

and creates a complete barrier to

upstream fish movement except

during high flows, when a bypass

channel flows around the dam. The

dam suffered structural damage

after the last flood on the

Yellowstone and required major

repairs. As part of the permitting

process to reconstruct the dam,

enhanced fish passage was included

in the project.

Project Methods:

The passage, which provides access

to over 100 miles of river habitat, is a

roughened channel around the north

end of the dam. It has large exposed

boulders strategically placed to

create the proper gradient and an

attractive flow to guide fish from the

downstream end, up through 13

drops of the fishway, to above the

diversion dam.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Native species benefitted include

shovelnose sturgeon, pallid sturgeon,

paddlefish, sauger and native

cyprinids.

Partners:

Montana Department of Fish,

Wildlife and Parks and U.S. Bureau

of Reclamation.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Montana Fish and Wildlife

Management Assistance Office, 4052

Bridger Canyon Road, Bozeman,

MT 59715

36 National Fish Passage Program

Region 6

Yellowstone River (Huntley Project),

Montana

Huntley irrigation diversion dam

on the Yellowstone River

Fish passage channel around the

Huntley dam

Fish passage channel, looking

downstream
Project Description:

In the spring of 2000, an aerial

survey was conducted on Mill Creek.

Nine fish passage barriers were

identified within a 20 mile reach of

stream, including three diversion

structures and six drop structures.

All of the structures spanned the

entire width of the stream.

Project Methods:

Two drop structures and one major

irrigation diversion (shown here)

were replaced with natural rock

structures.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

This project opened 15 stream miles

and 25 acres of historic spawning

and rearing habitat for native

cutthroat trout, sauger, burbot and

mountain whitefish and non-native

brown trout. A by-product is a more

natural looking stream with

enhanced aesthetic qualities.

Partners:

USDA-National Resource

Conservation Service, U.S. Bureau

of Indian Affairs, and the Shosone

and Arapahoe Tribes of the Wind

River Reservation.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Lander Fish and Wildlife

Management Assistance Office,

170 North First Street, Lander,

WY 82520

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 37

Region 6

Mill Creek, Wyoming

Norwood structure on Mill Creek, before (left) and after (right) renovation

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$40,000

$40,000

Michael Roy – Fish Passage

Program Coordinator

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1011 East Tudor Road

Anchorage, AK 99503

Salmon are fundamental to Alaska’s

economy, and its social and ecological

vitality. Salmon produced in Alaskan

rivers support recreational and

commercial fisheries valued at

hundreds of millions of dollars

annually, and are central to

subsistence lifestyles. Salmon also

play keystone ecological roles by

transporting nutrients from marine

to freshwater ecosystems,

contributing to the productivity of

rivers, lakes, wetland, and forests.

Habitat loss, overexploitation, and

introduction of non-native species

pose well-known threats to Alaska’s

salmon populations. Lesser-known,

but equally important threats to

healthy salmon runs are artificial

barriers that block fish from

essential freshwater habitats.

Recent surveys have demonstrated

that thousands of culverts,

underlying major highways, city

streets and forest trails, block fish.

Multiple barriers on a single

watershed contribute to decreased

escapements and reductions in

angling and subsistence

opportunities. The Fish Passage

Program is an important cooperative

effort to correct fish passage

problems.

Since 1999, the Fish Passage

Program and its partners have

removed 15 barriers to anadromous

fish, opening more than 200 stream

miles to salmon, trout, grayling and

other species. Most projects have

replaced poorly designed or

undersized culverts with larger

structures that allow movement of

both adult and juvenile fish.

These partners contributed funds

and cooperative efforts toward

accomplishments in restoring fish

passage in Region 7. Their

contributions are gratefully

acknowledged.

■ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

■ National Marine Fisheries

Service

■ Bureau of Land Management

■ USFWS – Partners for Fish and

Wildlife and Coastal Programs

■ Alaska Department of Fish and

Game

■ Alaska Department of Natural

Resources

■ Alaska Department of

Transportation

■ Fairbanks Soil and Water

Conservation District

■ City of North Pole

■ Matanuska-Susitna Borough

■ Fairbanks North Star Borough

■ Airway Road Service District

■ University of Alaska, Fairbanks

■ Yukon River Drainage Fisheries

Association

■ Chena-Badger Slough Citizen’s

Advisory Group,

■ Dillingham Middle School

■ Meadow Lakes School

■ Trout Unlimited

■ Williams Petroleum

■ Alyeska Pipeline Service

Company

■ Sandstrom and Sons, Inc.

■ Koncor Forest Products

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 39

Region 7 – Alaska

National Fish Passage Program projects in USFWS Region 7 (Alaska), 1999-2001

Project Title Project Type Year Funded

Matanuska-Susitna Valley Barrier Inventory 2000

Culvert Survey*

Bodenburg Creek Culvert Renovation 2000

Kenai Peninsula Culvert Survey Barrier Inventory 2000

Chester Creek Fish Ladder and Culvert 2000

Squaw Creek* Culvert Renovation 2001

Orchid Lake Culvert Renovation 2001

Duck Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

Miller Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

Beaver Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

Two Moose Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

Cottonwood Creek Culvert Renovation 2001

Crooked Lake Culvert Renovation 2001

Cloudy Lake Culvert Renovation 2001

Chatanika River* Dam Removal 2001

Chena-Badger Slough* Culvert Renovation 2001

* Highlighted on the following pages.

Locations of Fish Passage Program

projects in Region 7, 1999-2001
Project Description and Methods:

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley is one

of Alaska’s fastest growing

residential areas. The USFWS and

the Alaska Department of Fish and

Game inventoried 173 structures on

secondary roads in several area

watersheds. Final analysis is still

underway, but initial reviews suggest

that close to 90% of the culverts do

not allow passage of anadromous fish

at some life stage.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Data from this survey will be

incorporated into the USFWS Fish

Passage Decision Support System

(see Introduction Section), which will

allow resource managers to plan and

prioritize fish passage problems.

Results of the survey have led to

greatly increased interest in fish

passage restoration by the

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

(County) government.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Regional Fish Passage Coord., 1101

East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK

99503

40 National Fish Passage Program

Region 7

Matanuska-Susitna Valley 

Culvert Survey, Alaska

Watershed barrier inventory in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, AK

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$14,500

$37,300
Project Description and Method:

Culverts installed in the 1970’s on

Squaw Creek are undersized for the

currentflow conditions and too short

for present road dimensions. The

poor design of the culverts eroded

stream bed materials, creating a

“perched” culvert that was a barrier

to fish migrations during low flow

periods. This project replaced two

improperly installed culverts with

properly designed and placed

culverts, and stabilized the side

slopes of the road to minimize

erosion. A monitoring program,

involving several partners, has also

been developed to assess before and

after conditions

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

After a third culvert is replaced in

2002, the project will open more

than10 stream miles for adult salmon

to access historical spawning

grounds, for juveniles to outmigrate, and for other resident fish

to use for spawning, rearing and

growth.

Partners:

Alaska Department of Fish and

Game, Dillingham Middle School,

the City of Dillingham, and private

landowners.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, P.O.

Box 270, Dillingham, AK 99576

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 41

Region 7

Squaw Creek, Alaska

Culvert on Squaw Creek, before (left) and after (right) renovation

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$26,000

$127,200
Project Description:

In place for over 75 years, the

abandoned Fairbanks Exploration

Dam on the Chatanika River, a

tributary of the Yukon River, blocks

fish from historic spawning and

rearing habitat in the upper reaches

of the Chatanika River. This was the

first dam removed in Alaska solely

for the purpose of fisheries

conservation.

Project Methods:

In January 2002, when fragile

riparian areas were frozen,

contractors removed the dam.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

Chinook and chum salmon, Arctic

grayling, and resident fish species

were provided access to over 100

miles of historic spawning and

rearing habitat.

Partners:

This project has been a cooperative

venture with Alaska Department of

Fish and Game, National Marine

Fisheries Service, the Yukon River

Drainage Fisheries Association,

Bureau of Land Management,

Sandstrom and Sons, Inc., and the

private landowner.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Fairbanks Fishery Resources Office,

101 12th Avenue, Box 17, Room 222,

Fairbanks, AK 99701

42 National Fish Passage Program

Region 7

Chatanika Dam, Alaska

Chatanika dam before removal

After dam removal

Removal of Chatanika dam

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$0

$100,000
Project Description and Methods:

This project had been identified in

the recovery plan for Arctic grayling

and salmon and was considered a

high priority for all involved

partners. Three culverts at Airway

Drive of Chena-Badger Slough were

removed and replaced with a single

bridge.

Project Outcomes (Benefits):

The project restored passage to 5

miles of historic chinook and chum

salmon and arctic grayling spawning

and rearing habitat.

Partners:

USFWS-Northern Alaska

Ecological Services, the City of

North Pole, Fairbanks Soil and

Water Conservation District,

Fairbanks North Star Borough,

Chena-Badger Slough Citizen’s

Advisory Group, Army Corps of

Engineers, Alaska Department of

Transportation and Public Utilities,

Airway Road Service District,

Alaska Department of Natural

Resources, Alaska Department of

Fish and Game, University of Alaska

Fairbanks, Williams Alaska

Petroleum, Koncor Forest Products,

and Alyeska Pipeline Service

Company.

For more information contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Fairbanks Fishery Resources Office,

101 12th Avenue, Box 17, Room 222,

Fairbanks, AK 99701

Program Accomplishments 1999-2001 43

Region 7

Chena-Badger Slough, Alaska

Culvert at Chena-Badger Slough before (left) and after (right) renovation

Project Funding

■ FWS Fish Passage ■ Partners

$38,000

$52,000
The National Fish Passage Program

has been effective in addressing

many fish passage problems, but the

existing needs far exceed these

accomplishments. In 2001, the

Service and its partners identified

196 fish passage projects, including

436 barriers, at an estimated cost of

$44 million to complete (Fisheries

Operational Needs System 2001).

These are voluntary projects with

willing partners and include dam

removal or breaching, dike

modification, installation of bypass

structures such as fish ladders and

screens, culvert renovation, flow

modification, engineering design,

and evaluation studies. Passage at

these barriers would provide access

to 5,983 miles and 142,830 acres of

historical spawning, rearing, and

feeding habitats. The Service and its

partners will complete these projects

as funding becomes available. It is

estimated that thousands of

additional barriers await

identification and remedial action.

The National Fish Passage Program

is looking for partners. The Program

depends on good will and solid

working relationships with

community-minded organizations,

agencies and individuals to conduct

fish passage projects. Project

proposals may be initiated by any

individual, organization, or agency, in

cooperation with the Service’s Fish

and Wildlife Management

Assistance Offices. Project proposals

must be provided to the local Fish

and Wildlife Management

Assistance Office by August of each

year.

The following information is

requested with all project proposals:

title; associated management plans;

partners; requested funds and

matching contributions; and a

project description. The project

description should briefly identify

the need, problem, objective,

methods, and include the waterbody,

location, river miles or acres opened

up, and the species affected and how

they will benefit.

Projects are reviewed and

prioritized on a Regional basis.

Funding is administered through the

Fish and Wildlife Service office that

is coordinating the project. The

Program has flexibility from project

to project, but strives to achieve a

50% funding match, including inkind contributions.

Projects that receive the highest

consideration will be those that show

the greatest ecological benefits;

exhibit permanence of fish passage

benefits; make use of the most

current scientific knowledge and

proven technology; evidence the

greatest public support; and

generate the maximum in matching

contributions.

Collaborative partnerships are also

needed to expand the Fish Passage

Decision Support System. Access is

needed to other federal, state, or

local databases that have barrier,

fish, and habitat information.

For Additional Information

Contact the appropriate Regional

Coordinator or your nearest 

Fish and Wildlife Management

Assistance Office. A directory of

offices is available on our web site 

at http://fisheries.fws.gov/fwsma/

mafro.htm.

For more information on the

National Fish Passage Program,

visit the Program web site at:

http://fisheries.fws.gov/fwsma/

fishpassage.

44 National Fish Passage Program

Needs and 

Opportunities

Information for 

Potential Partners

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

May 2003