Statewide fish passage prioritization strategy

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) kicked off an effort in summer 2023 to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy outlining an approach to prioritize the removal of small-scale barriers that prevent salmon and steelhead from swimming upstream. The goal of the comprehensive statewide strategy is to help "prioritize and reduce barriers to fish passage in a way that benefits depressed, threatened, and endangered stocks, and that is informed by the best available science."

Directed by the 2020 Legislature, the strategy will:

Focus actions across Washington’s fish passage correction programs into a single strategic approach that is both scientifically sound and widely supported to maximize salmon and orca recovery.
Guide funding recommendations of the Brian Abbott Fish Passage Barrier Removal Board (FBRB), as well as other state fish passage barrier programs.

Project partners include state agencies, FBRB organizations, salmon recovery regions, and fisheries enhancement groups. The Department is also closely coordinating with tribal governments to develop the strategy. For more information, reference these frequently asked questions. (PDF)

Relevant documents

Contact

For more information, contact:

Jane Atha, PhD
WDFW Fish Passage Strategist
jane.atha@dfw.wa.gov

Resources

For additional resources about fish passage in Washington state, refer to the Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Inventory, WDFW’s fish passage rule making web page, and the Fish Barrier Removal Board page.

Timeline and latest updates

Timeline

Latest updates

This summer (2024) WDFW engaged Tribes and Regional Salmon Recovery Organizations to provide updates and solicit input on the draft strategy, including proposed implementation methods. WDFW now invites salmon recovery interest groups and all other interested parties to attend a hybrid forum to:

get a detailed briefing by WDFW and its technical consultants about the draft strategy, as well as the process to develop it
engage in facilitated Q&A
provide input on the strategy, especially how it should be implemented to be most effective
understand next steps for strategy development

Two hybrid forums have been scheduled, one in Seattle and one in Wenatchee.

Event Details

Western Washington
Date/Time: September 18^th, 1-3:30 p.m.
Location: Bethaday Community Learning Space, Multi-purpose room: 605 SW 108th St., Seattle, WA 98146 OR online
Please see the event agenda (PDF) for meeting details, including the Zoom Webinar link.

Eastern Washington
Date/Time: October 2^nd, 2-4:30 pm
Location: Confluence Technology Center, Methow Room: 285 Technology Center Way #102, Wenatchee WA 98801 OR online
Please see the event agenda (PDF) for meeting details, including the Zoom Webinar link.

Process overview

WDFW hired Cramer Fish Sciences (experts in fish science and fish passage barrier prioritization) and Triangle Associates (neutral, third-party process facilitators and outreach/engagement experts) to support the work.

A five-part, iterative process was established:

Coordination with tribes with interests in Washington to help design the effort at the start, and continued consultation and engagement throughout project.
Statewide outreach and engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and partners to understand interests, values, and goals for fish passage barrier removal, and to gather feedback on the draft strategy.
Convening a Science Advisory Panel to review and discuss existing strategies and data sources and provide input to WDFW on potential approaches and metrics.
Conducting a review of existing science-based fish passage prioritization schemes and findings.
Drafting and Finalizing the Strategy.

Science Advisory Panel

Science Panel members (PDF) were selected based on their expertise in fish passage projects, fish passability criteria and prioritization, salmon and steelhead ecology and life history, salmon recovery, climate change, and fish passage economics.

The Science Panel met eight times between August 2023 and May 2024 to review, discuss and make recommendations on:

existing literature on fish barrier removal approaches and strategies,
the pros and cons of existing fish barrier removal approaches and strategies and their relevance to developing a statewide strategy,
data gaps and needs related to fish passage barrier removal.
the best approach for a statewide strategy to address fish passage barriers. and
the draft Strategy.

Outreach and engagement

Outreach and Engagement

WDFW is committed to engaging Tribes with interests in Washington, key partners and other stakeholders throughout the development of the strategy.

Major engagement activities to date include:

Spring 2023: Assessment interviews with key partners and Tribes to better understand interests and concerns.
March 2023: Tribal briefing to share project goals and approaches and get input.
Ongoing briefings and discussions throughout development of draft strategy.
Input shared during this phase helped shape the approach to developing the Strategy, including but not limited to Science Panel membership and the importance of filling data gaps.

Current outreach and engagement efforts include:

Summer 2024: Briefings with Tribes with interests in Washington
Summer 2024: Briefings with key partners, including Fish Barrier Removal Board, RCO-GSRO, Council of Regions, regional salmon recovery groups, and other stakeholders
Summer 2024: Invitation to Tribes with interests in Washington to comment on draft Strategy
Fall 2024: Two in-person forums will be held to provide more details about the strategy and offer an opportunity for broader input. One forum will be hosted in Western Washington, one will be hosted in Eastern Washington. Forums will be open to the public. Details will be shared here.
Fall 2024: Invitation to key partners and stakeholders to comment on draft Strategy