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).
Timeline
Latest updates
A first draft of the strategy was completed in May 2024. WDFW is currently briefing and consulting with tribes to solicit feedback. WDFW will then brief and solicit input from key partners and stakeholders, including but not limited to: FBRB, RCO, GSRO, the Council of Regions, lead entities and regional salmon recovery groups. See timeline below for details.
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
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
- 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.
- Summer 2024: Invitation to Tribes with interests in Washington to comment on draft Strategy
- Fall 2024: Invitation to key partners and stakeholders to comment on draft Strategy
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, reference the Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Inventory, WDFW’s fish passage rule making web page, and the Fish Barrier Removal Board web page.