The North Olympic Salmon Coalition announced Nov. 2 the completion of a culvert replacement project on Matriotti Creek, a tributary of the Dungeness River that will allow for fish passage.

The project opens one mile of stream habitat, benefiting coho salmon and steelhead and cutthroat trout.

A Mariposa Lane landowner was alerted that his garbage service may be canceled due to concerns about safe access across the creek and contacted the Salmon Coalition. “When we researched the site we realized that the culvert also was a barrier to fish passage. Implementing this project became a win-win for both people and fish,” said Salmon Coalition stewardship coordinator Sarah Doyle.

The project was coordinated by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, working in partnership with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Natural Resources.

“We expect many trout and other fish to benefit as well from the removal of this undersized, perched culvert and putting a bigger structure that allows fish passage in the stream,” said Doyle.

The Salmon Coalition received funding support from a state grant with Washington State Recreation and Conservation Offices’ Family Forest Fish Passage Program. Primo Construction Inc. of Sequim was the construction contractor for the project. Clallam County PUD provided technical assistance for waterline design and installation.

This collaboration among partners is typical of the work it takes to identify and remove structures that block access to habitat and disrupt natural stream flows.

“Communities throughout the Northwest are finding that removing barriers like this not only opens up habitat for fish, but also makes our roads safer for communities,” said Doyle. “We are grateful to our partners who have made another project go so smoothly.”

If you believe that you have a culvert on your property that is blocking fish passage, contact the North Olympic Salmon Coalition at 360-379-8051 for technical assistance.