Family Forest Fish Passage Grant Program (WA)

The Family Forest Fish Passage Grant Program in Washington aids private forestland owners in removing barriers that obstruct fish migration, particularly for salmon and trout. Since its inception in 2003, the program has successfully helped landowners remove 433 barriers, restoring over 1,149 miles of fish habitat. This initiative is vital for the recovery of Washington’s fish populations, ensuring that small forest owners can access financial assistance to maintain and improve stream health.

Background
The Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) assists private forestland owners in removing culverts and other stream crossing structures that keep trout, salmon, and other fish from reaching upstream habitat. Road culverts and other structures that are aging, too small, or improperly installed can block fish from reaching their spawning grounds, and young rearing salmon from reaching the ocean. The program funds the replacement of eligible barriers with new structures.
Small forest landowners own about four million acres of forests in Washington–about half the private forestland in the state. These family forests are home to thousands of miles of fish-bearing streams and play a key role in helping Washington restore its once thriving fish populations. A single barrier on a stream may keep fish from reaching many miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat.
As part of Washington's salmon recovery efforts, all private forest owners are required to fix artificial, in-stream fish barriers. The state Legislature committed to helping small forest landowners pay for these repairs by creating the Family Forest Fish Passage Program in 2003.
Landowners enrolled in the program will not be required to fix their fish blockages until the State provides financial assistance. Landowners not enrolled in the program must fix the blockage at their own expense and future forest practices applications for logging could be denied until the barrier is corrected.