1. Ecological health and species diversity are promoted by maintaining connectivity and historical distribution of species. They are also promoted by providing passage for all life stages of all species that historically have had access.
2. Natural channel conditions generally provide the best opportunity for passage and distribution of species and life history stages.
3. A properly functioning fish passage will:
   1. Operate effectively at all times and flows at which fish migrate.
   2. Accommodate for natural migratory behaviors of all species and stages of fish life.
   3. Minimize predation associated with the facility.

4. Fish passage barriers and migration delays result in loss of production capacity of the watershed.
5. Natural channel disturbances, morphological changes, and severe environmental conditions can open, close, or change the need for fish passage over time.
6. Appropriate operating and maintenance procedures are necessary to maintain fish passage at engineered fish passage facilities.

Works in Progress - These "works in progress" have been developed to show the progress being made with the Aquatic Habitat Guidelines program. Drafts of guidelines currently under development, as well as information pertaining to their development, are presented here. The “works in progress” documents posted on this site illustrate the thoughts of those individuals contributing to the program. The information provided is continually changing and being updated. The “works in progress” documents do not necessarily reflect current guidelines or the policies of state agencies. By entering the links below, you agree to use these documents as discussion drafts only.

• Fishway Guidelines for Washington State - (PDF Format 258K)


• Notes From Draft Guidelines Peer Review - (PDF Format) To ensure that the guidelines drafted as part of the Aquatic Habitat Guidelines program are comprehensive and contain the best available scientific information, they are reviewed in workshops that bring together regional experts, users, and regulators to discuss and critique the documents. Input from the workshops, as well as written comments, are reviewed and considered for incorporation into revisions of the guidelines documents.

WDFW -- Fish Passage Technical Assistance - This page contains guidance, policy, and regulations from WDFW on upstream fish passage at dams and culverts and protection of fish at water diversions.