The Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board last week announced nearly $76 million in grants across Washington state to help ensure the survival of salmon.
The board also approved an additional $58 million in grant requests for 55 projects through the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration program once funding is approved by the Legislature in 2023.
If approved, the combined funding would be the largest amount of money directed at salmon recovery in a single year since the board was created 23 years ago, state officials said
The grants that were funded went to 138 projects in 30 of the state’s 39 counties, including $1,257,022 in grants to Clallam County.
“This is incredibly important work,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “The projects will help restore salmon across the state. That means more salmon for our endangered orcas, more jobs for people and industries that rely on salmon and improved habitat that can better protect us from floods and the effects of climate change.”
Clallam County grants include:
Restoring Fish Passage in Johnson Creek – $1,015,889
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will use this grant to replace three culverts with a structure that will open nearly 16 acres of rearing and 2.4 miles of spawning and rearing habitat in Johnson Creek.
The Johnson B tributary runs in a roadside ditch before meeting Johnson Creek at the culvert outlets. The tributary and road, however, are impacting each other.
Johnson B is too straight, has no plants along its bank, no woody materials in its waters, and is eroding the road, state officials said.
Johnson B historically contained some of the highest densities of salmon redds (nests) in the area. By replacing the culverts, the water flow processes will improve. The coalition also will move the Johnson B tributary to the adjacent forest and place large woody materials in the water to improve the salmon habitat.
Adding woody materials, such as logs and root wads, to a stream creates places for fish to rest, feed and hide from predators, project representatives said. It also slows the water, which reduces erosion and allows small rocks to settle to the bottom, creating areas for salmon to spawn. Logs also change the flow of the water, creating riffles and pools, which give salmon more varied habitat.
The creek is used by Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, both of which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act, and by coho salmon, which is a federal species of concern.
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will contribute $3.2 million in a federal grant and a grant from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board.
The coalition is requesting an additional $440,663 from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration grant program that will be considered by the Legislature in 2023.
Designing Fish Passage in Upper Wisen Creek — $171,215
Trout Unlimited will use this grant to develop preliminary designs to correct two salmon and steelhead barriers on Wisen Creek in the Sol Duc watershed. The creek is used by steelhead trout and by coho salmon.
Designing Fish Passage in a Hoko River Tributary — $43,983
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will use this grant to complete designs for replacement of the Clallam County road culvert on an unnamed Hoko River tributary.
The culvert replacement will open about 1 mile of salmon and steelhead spawning and rearing habitat.
The river is used by Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, and by coho salmon.
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will contribute $249,235 in a grant from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board.
Restoring Dungeness Shoreline — $25,935
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will use this grant to remove invasive plants on 36 acres along the Dungeness River near Sequim.
The coalition also will plant and seed 14 acres with native shrubs and trees and maintain the plantings for 3 years to improve plant survival.
About 20 percent of historic riverbank plants and trees have been removed in the lower Dungeness River corridor. Planting trees and bushes along a river helps shade the water, keeping it cool for fish.
As the plants mature, they drop leaves into the river, providing food for insects that young salmon eat. Mature trees that fall into the river provide habitat and refuge from swift currents and predators. Roots of the plants prevent soil from entering the water and smothering fish spawning gravel.
The river is used by Chinook and chum salmon and steelhead and bull trout. Coho salmon also inhabit the Dungeness.
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will contribute $39,000 in a federal grant. The coalition is requesting an additional $92,625 from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration grant program that will be considered by the Legislature in 2023.
