ODFW release – SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on a request to waive the fish passage requirements for the following seven existing ODOT culverts: Unnamed tributary to Wilson River @ Highway 6, MP 13.95; Unnamed tributary to Gnat Creek @ Highway 30, MP 79.2; Unnamed tributary to Tillamook Bay @ Highway 101, MP 58; Unnamed tributary to Tillamook River @ Highway 101, MP 74.39; Unnamed tributary to Beaver Creek @ Highway 101, MP 78.43; Unnamed tributary to Beaver Creek @ Highway 101, MP 78.84 and Unnamed tributary to Neskowin Creek @ Highway 101, MP 98.46. These culverts are located in Clatsop and Tillamook counties, Oregon. ODOT’s plan to repair or replace the culverts at the above locations has triggered Oregon’s State fish passage requirements. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife can waive the passage requirements at an artificial obstruction if the mitigation provides a net benefit to native migratory fish. In this case, the applicant has proposed utilizing available fish passage banking credits from the ODOT Fish Passage Mitigation Banking Pilot Agreement. The project credits were created by the 2016 removal of the East Fork South Fork Trask River Dam. ODFW has made an initial determination that the proposed waiver sites are consistent with the terms of the Fish Passage Mitigation Bank Agreement and result in a net benefit to native migratory fish. By funding the complete removal of the former East Fork South Fork Trask River Dam, the mitigation provided access to more than 20 miles of high-quality habitat suitable for various life stages of cutthroat trout, coho salmon, Chinook salmon, Pacific lamprey, and steelhead. Habitat upstream of the seven waiver sites is 1.8 miles. These are the final seven sites allowed through the ODOT Fish Passage Mitigation Banking Pilot Agreement. Approval of these seven sites would make a total of 12 sites with three miles of habitat waived through the duration of the agreement. The Fish Passage Task Force will be asked to consider these seven waivers and provide a recommendation to the Department at its meeting on June 7, 2019. Written public comments may be submitted through June 5, 2019. Copies of the fish passage waiver application and ODFW net benefit analysis and can be found on the ODFW Web site. Members of the public can send written comments to or request additional information from Katherine Nordholm, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., Salem, Ore. 97302, e-mail Katherine.E.Nordholm@state.or.us, or by calling (503) 947-6274. There also will be an opportunity for public comment at the Fish Passage Task Force meeting on June 7, 2019, at the airport in John Day.
