Habitat - Fish Passage Technical Assistance Date Published:
March 16, 2001 Number of Pages: 58 Resident and anadromous
salmonids are a vital component of the culture and economy of
the Pacific Northwest. Each year, millions of dollars in
revenues are generated in Washington, Oregon, and California by
sport and commercial fisheries targeting salmon and trout. In
addition, the presence and abundance of salmonids indicates the
health of Pacific Northwest stream ecosystems. Without question,
protection and enhancement of salmonids and the habitats that
support them directly enhances the distribution and abundance of
many other wildlife species as well. Correction of human-made
fish passage barriers such as impassable culverts, dams,
floodgates, or degraded fishways is one of the most cost
effective methods of salmonid restoration. In many cases,
several miles of quality salmon and trout habitat can be
retrieved and brought into production by eliminating a single
point source fish barrier. To address these problem