Removing Barriers to Fish Habitat
Throughout their lives, fish move up and down streams to access spawning, overwintering, and rearing habitats, unpolluted water, cool-water refugia, and food resources. Poorly designed, aging, and unmaintained culverts, bridges, and roads can inhibit fishes’ ability to move throughout a stream, cutting them off from habitat necessary to ensure their growth and survival.
We work with partners throughout the region to assess, prioritize, replace, and remove culverts and infrastructure.
Ketchikan Indian Community assesses culvert to determine if it blocks fish passage.
Culvert replacement with a fish friendly bridge at Jon’s Creek near Klawock.
Fish friendly culvert installed in Juneau.
Undersized culverts at Threemile Creek in Klawock, AK block pink salmon from moving upstream. (Video: Lee House)