Hatchery International

News & Views Industry Update
California gets $4.6 million for fish passage projects

April 24, 2023  By Maryam Farag


Fish and Wildlife Service announced two California improvement projects will receive funds as part of 2023 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

 Dye Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project in Tehama will receive  $2,662,800 and the Waukell and Junior Creeks Culvert Replacements Project in Del Norte will receive $2 million.

Dye Creek project will remove two undersized culverts on Dye Creek on the east side of the Sacramento Valley. These culverts have filled and clogged with sediment over time. Eliminating barriers in this watershed and reconnecting habitats is critical for supporting juvenile Chinook salmon who rely on the Dye Creek. Other species that will benefit from access include California Central Valley steelhead and Pacific lamprey. This project will help to reduce flooding and erosion in the watershed and surrounding rural ranching and farming community.

Del Norte project will replace two undersized culverts on Waukell Creek and its tributary Junior Creek. The Klamath River Estuary sloughs and tributaries, including Waukell Creek and Junior Creek on Resighini Rancheria Tribal lands, serve as vital rearing and winter habitat for threatened juvenile Coho salmon, steelhead trout, and coastal cutthroat trout originating from throughout the entire Klamath River Basin.

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The Tribe has been working to complete this project for over ten years to reopen access to critical habitats. In addition, these culverts fill with sediment and regularly flood, isolating the Resighini Rancheria community during and after major storm events. As the only road in and out of the community, it is essential to improve this infrastructure for maintained access to emergency services.

Thirty nine other fish passage projects in 22 states are slated for additional funds.


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