Reviving Rivers, Reconnecting Communities
The Power of Transformational Aquatic Connectivity
Across the United States, millions of aging, obsolete, or poorly designed dams, roads, and levees are causing widespread ecological damage and putting communities at risk. These barriers trap fish, preventing them from finding food, shelter, and habitat to spawn. Outdated and aging infrastructure affects us too: it degrades water quality, can heighten flood risk, and creates dangers for recreational users. Fortunately, restoring aquatic connectivity offers a win-win solution for both people and nature.
Under the ambitious Investing in America agenda, a historic $3 billion has been earmarked for aquatic ecosystem restoration. This investment, driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act, is already making waves, with over $970 million channeled into over 600 projects across 45 states . In 2022, the Federal Interagency Fish Passage Task Force (Task Force) was launched to coordinate strategic deployment of these funds. By uniting federal agencies and non-federal partners, the Task Force is ensuring tax-payer funding is spent wisely by magnifying the community and environmental benefits beyond what any single effort could achieve.
These Transformational Fish Passage Projects are a testament to this collective action and highlight grand-scale, community-centric restoration projects that not only rejuvenate ecosystems but also bolster the climate resilience and economies of communities across the country. From Maine to California, this StoryMap showcases 10 of the partially funded, groundbreaking projects that when completed, will reconnect over 4,500 miles of rivers and streams, spark local economic development, and enhance community resilience.
Dive into these remarkable initiatives and see how they’re reshaping our landscapes and futures.
Fish Passage Benefits Economies
Fish passage projects are a powerhouse for local economies. They generate jobs by employing local experts for technical assistance, consulting engineers for design, and construction crews for building and removal tasks. The benefits extend far beyond the immediate site, fueling long-term economic growth that can ripple throughout the region.
The economic impact is striking. Recent research reveals that for every $1 million invested in fish passage projects, between $1.3 and $1.5 million is returned to local economies. This figure, which reflects benefits like job creation, labor income, and added value, is likely an underestimate of the true impact. Each project not only creates an average of 13 new jobs but also supports local businesses, reduces flood insurance costs, supports commercial and recreational fisheries, and invigorates tourism. Investing in aquatic conservation projects is not just an environmental win—it's a robust economic boost for the country.
Barrier Free Southeast Alaska
Quick Facts • Location: Alaska • BIL Investments to date: $35,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $50,000,000+ • Type of Barriers: Culverts, Dam • Stream Miles Reopened: 35+ • Non-Federal Partners Include: Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, Trout Unlimited, Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership, State of Alaska, Klawock Indigenous Stewards Forest Partnership, Ketchikan Indian Community, Kootznoowoo Inc., Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, Keex Kwáan Community Forest Partnership, Prince of Wales Tribal Conservation District, Sealaska Corporation, Shaan Seet, Inc., Metlakatla Indian Community, Organized Village of Kake, Hoonah Native Forest Partnership, and Klawock-Heenya Corporation • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Natural Resources Conservation Service
Project Description Salmon are the backbone of the culture and economy of Southeast Alaska. Tribal, agency, and community partners are building partnerships to restore passage for salmonids across the landscape of Tribal, federal, and private lands in the region. This transformational project aims to employ and empower Tribes and local communities in restoration efforts, including training, job experience, and capacity building for Tribally led fish passage restoration teams. As more barriers are assessed and prioritized by partners across the region, this work will continue to provide opportunities to employ local people and bolster fish populations that southeast Alaskans so heavily depend upon. Additionally, removing these barriers to fish passage will reduce flooding risk to landowners and strengthen resilience of critical transportation infrastructure.
Removing Barriers to Success Work extending beyond the scope of the currently funded project includes a comprehensive assessment and prioritization of barriers across Southeast Alaska. Additional capacity building will also provide local communities the tools needed to inventory, assess, prioritize, design, and implement additional projects across the region.
Salmon SuperHwy
Quick Facts • Location: Oregon • Investments to Date: $19,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $50,000,000 • Types of Barriers: Culverts, Tide Gates, Dams • Stream Miles Reopened: 180 • Project Lead: Trout Unlimited • Non-Federal Partners Include: State of Oregon, Tillamook County, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Nestucca-Neskowin Sand Lake Watershed Council • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management Project Description The six major river systems that drain from the Coast Range into Tillamook and Nestucca bays on Oregon's iconic North Coast provide an historic opportunity to reconnect productive habitat of six species of anadromous fish at an unprecedented scale. Hundreds of barriers in these streams create bottlenecks throughout Oregon's coastal watersheds, creating major problems for fish and people. Most of these barriers are problem culverts at road crossings or small dams and tide gates that contribute to flooding and road damage. Collectively, these barriers prevent the full benefit of decades of habitat restoration investments from being realized, from goods getting to market, and for rural communities realizing their full economic futures. The Salmon SuperHwy Project spanning the 940-square mile Tillamook and Nestucca landscape on Oregon's iconic North Coast and supported by farmers, timber industry, local government, and conservationists alike is designed to provide these results - together.
Removing Barriers to Success This unprecedented effort will restore access to almost 180 miles of fragmented habitat throughout these six major salmon and steelhead rivers of Oregon’s North Coast. Using a strategic, scaled approach to maximize benefits and minimize costs, a unique, community partnership will deliver a portfolio of 93 projects. As of January 2024, the project is over halfway completed with 50 barriers removed and 129 miles reconnected. With additional funding from the Investing in America agenda, the Salmon SuperHwy project can reach its overall goal of reconnecting historic habitat, reducing chronic flooding, improving recreation opportunities and stimulating the local economy.
Skutik-St. Croix Aquatic Connectivity Restoration
Quick Facts • Location: Maine • Federal Investments to Date: $57,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $1,000,000 • Type of Barriers: Dams with outdated fishways • Number of Barriers: 2 • Stream Miles Reopened: 600 • Acres Restored: 68,000 • Project Leads: Maine Department of Marine Resources, Passamaquoddy Tribes • Non-Federal Partners Include: The Nature Conservancy, Woodland Pulp LLC, Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service
Project Description This project will help restore hundreds of miles of currently restricted habitats for river herring and other sea-run species on the international Skutik/St. Croix River watershed at the Milltown, Woodland, and Grand Falls dams. The current funded project will contribute to the construction of fishways at lower river dams at Woodland and Grand Falls, synergizing the removal of downstream Milltown Dam. This project has the potential to support tens of millions of adult river herring returns annually, resulting in the largest runs of river herring in the U.S. and Canada, while also contributing to improving the sustainability and economic viability of the local pulp, paper, and fishing industries.
Removing Barriers to Success The first dam on the river, Milltown Dam, was removed in 2023 and funding was secured for fishway construction at Woodland Dam. Additional funding is needed to complete the Grand Falls fish passage project. These projects will promote and enable future conservation actions in the watershed, including connectivity projects on upstream tributaries.
Fish Passage Benefits Communities
Barriers that pose a threat to fish often pose a threat to human communities. Undersized culverts that block fish passage are prone to being clogged by debris resulting in flooding that closes roads, imperiling local communities and contributing to significant property damage and other safety issues. The same dams and spillways that prevent fish from migrating can also pose threats for recreational boaters, swimmers, and anglers. Failed culverts and dams can block roads and access to emergency services, cause widespread property damage, and put human lives at risk.
Removing or right-sizing instream structures throughout our watersheds improve public safety, enhance community resilience to the risks associated with a changing climate and aging infrastructure, restore cultural value of our natural systems, and provide new and improved recreational opportunities.
Great Miami River Watershed Barrier Removal and Habitat Restoration
Quick Facts • Location: Ohio • Federal Investments to date: $3,600,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $10,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $50,000,000+ • Type of Barriers: Low-Head Dam • Number of Barriers: 24 • Stream Miles Reopened: 1000+ • Acres Restored: 500+ • Project Leads: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Miami Conservancy District • Non-Federal Partners Include: State of Ohio, Toledo Zoo, Cities of Troy, Piqua, Covington, and Sidney, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Project Description The Great Miami River Watershed Barrier Removal and Habitat Restoration project represents a collective effort by communities inspired by the Great Miami Riverway, to integrate ecological benefits with local economic and recreational investments. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Ohio’s State Revolving Loan Fund-supported Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program combined investments will remove three low-head dams, re-connect a 1.5-mile-long oxbow channel, restore this segment of the river to Exceptional Warmwater Habitat status, and create a bank-to-bank nature-like fishway. Immediate improvements will also protect access to and quality of the City of Piqua’s drinking water with expected improvements in neighboring communities as the project continues. The Great Miami River is one of only 35 National Water Trail systems nationally and the only one in Ohio. When completed, this project will enhance safety of and access to the existing water trail, offering greater recreational opportunities. The removal of hazardous structures within the system is critical, as they have been linked to multiple fatalities. Addressing these dangers will make the Great Miami River National Water Trail safer for everyone.
Removing Barriers to Success This project is part of a larger initiative to restore fish habitat, improve municipal needs such as drinking water supply systems and recreational activities in the Great Miami River Basin. With additional funding, continued collaboration and community support, this project seeks to eliminate up to 24 instream barriers spread across the Great Miami River Basin, reducing safety risks for water users, improving water quality and aquatic ecosystem health, and bringing us closer to achieving a basin-wide transformation.
Clark Fork River Basin Reconnection Project
Quick Facts • Location: Montana • Federal Investments to date: $19,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $2,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $50,000,000+ • Type of Barriers: Instream Flow, Low-Head Dam, Culvert, Fish Screen • Project Leads: Clark Fork Coalition, Trout Unlimited • Partners Include: Resources Legacy Fund, State of Montana, Private Irrigators • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service
Project Description For over a century, mining, logging, and agriculture along the Clark Fork River have significantly altered both the landscape and the communities that rely on it. A devastating flood in the region in 1905 washed mining waste into the Clark Fork River creating one of the largest and most expensive Superfund Sites in the United States. Today, restoration efforts across the Clark Fork River Basin aim to balance the community's need for clean water, productive agricultural land, and safe recreational spaces with the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Long-lasting partnerships established across the Basin are focused on restoring habitat and improving access to water resources, which will support the agricultural economy and strengthen the community’s resilience to drought and wildfires. A major driver of these efforts is the goal to reconnect habitats for the imperiled bull trout and Westslope cutthroat trout. By restoring fish passage and enhancing recreational use, these projects will help transform the watershed for both wildlife and people.
Removing Barriers to Success These barrier removals are part of a constellation of restoration efforts across the watershed. By leveraging the work of community organizations, non-profits, state, local, and federal government, this project offers compounding benefits to the people and wildlife who rely on the Clark Fork River.
Oconaluftee River Restoration
Quick Facts • Location: North Carolina • Federal Investments to Date: $6,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $10,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $20,000,000 • Type of Barriers: Dam • Number of Barriers: 1 • Stream Miles Reopened: 549 • Project Lead: Mainspring Conservation Trust • Non-Federal Partners Include: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, American Rivers, State of North Carolina, American Whitewater, Northbrook Hydro, Southern Environmental Law Center, Swain County Soil and Water Conservation District • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Energy’s Water Power Technology Office
Project Description For nearly 100 years, the Ela Dam has been smothering the streambed downstream and severing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from their ancestral waters and many of their first foods. An accidental release of sediment from the dam in 2021 further exacerbated the problem and prompted local partners to act. Removing the Ela Dam will eliminate the only physical barrier preventing the Oconaluftee River from flowing freely and reconnect 549 miles of open water that benefit rare and federally endangered species. Increased habitat and spawning migration will restore the population of sicklefin redhorse, which was once a vital and thriving fishery of the Cherokee. Dam removal and water quality improvements could also increase potential for development of river-based recreation, including increased fishing access, increased tubing and paddling, and snorkeling.
Removing Barriers to Success In order to protect downstream habitat and species, the project requires consistent activity once it begins. Requiring only $4 million more dollars, full funding would allow for the removal of the dam as well as sediment excavation and removal, as well as streambank restoration necessary to protect and restore downstream habitat.
Fish Passage Benefits Aquatic Ecosystems
Every year, millions of fish—salmon, steelhead trout, shad, alewives, sturgeon, and others—migrate to their native habitats to reproduce, while resident species move locally to complete their life cycles. However, many rivers are blocked by barriers like dams and road culverts, preventing fish and other aquatic species from moving freely. These barriers not only disrupt fish migration but also cause widespread ecological damage.
When rivers are disconnected, it affects more than just fish. The natural movement of water, sediment, and nutrients is disrupted, which harms the entire ecosystem. Barriers can lead to erosion, poor water quality, and higher water temperatures, all of which degrade habitats for plants and wildlife. Reconnecting rivers helps restore the natural processes that sustain ecosystems—improving habitat diversity, supporting wildlife populations, and even enhancing nutrient cycling. It can also help mitigate climate change impacts, like reduced water flow, by promoting healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
Mount Baldy Headwaters Aquatic Connectivity and Climate Resiliency Project
Quick Facts • Location: Arizona • Federal Investments to Date: $5,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $4,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $19,000,000 • Type of Barriers: Dams, Culverts, Hydrologic • Number of Barriers: 29 • Stream Miles Reopened: 174 • Acres Restored: 169 • Project Leads: White Mountain Apache Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Arizona, U.S. Forest Service • Partners Include: Trout Unlimited, Salt River Project, Freeport McMoRan • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation
Project Description This project builds on the decades of devoted efforts among federal, state, Tribal, and non-governmental organizations to restore aquatic connectivity and organism passage in the headwaters of the Salt River Basin and adjacent Little Colorado River watershed. Efforts led by the White Mountain Apache Tribe to remove physical and thermal barriers on Tribal lands and national forests were critical in the recent delisting of Apache trout from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife . Restoring aquatic connectivity will enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change by enabling fish populations to expand into new habitat as conditions change over time. Additionally, wet meadow restoration in headwater habitats will contribute to fire and drought resilience in the ecosystem.
Removing Barriers to Success Ongoing partnership and collaborative investment, catalyzed by the BIL, are crucial to safeguarding the Apache trout’s status and advancing habitat restoration for this species and other sensitive species, such as the Loach minnow.
Enloe Dam Removal Feasibility, Design & Permitting
Quick Facts • Location: Washington • Federal Investments to Date: $7,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $4,000,000 • Total Restoration Costs: $50,000,000 • Type of Barriers: Dam • Number of Barriers: 1 • Stream Miles Reopened: 1520 • Project Leads: Trout Unlimited, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation • Non-Federal Partners Include: Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Okanogan Public Utility District, State of Washington, Local Residents • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service
Project Description Looming over one of the most culturally significant sites in north central Washington, Similkameen Falls, the Enloe Dam has blocked salmon and steelhead from migrating into the upper portion of this watershed for over 100 years. Removing the dam will open up over 1,520 miles of cold-water habitat ideal for ESA-listed species including Upper Columbia Steelhead and Spring Chinook as well as non-listed Summer Chinook salmon and Pacific Lamprey, providing greater assurance that these species persist. In turn, increased salmon populations would also help the critically imperiled southern resident killer whales, as this is one of their major food sources.
Working together in partnership with the dam owner, Okanogan Public Utility District, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation with support from the Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands and other entities are leading the effort to explore the removal of this dam. A feasibility analysis is underway and expected to be completed in May 2025. Final decisions for the removal of the dam will be based upon the study’s conclusion. If a preferred alternative to remove Enloe Dam is determined to be feasible and is supported by stakeholders this project would restore natural river processes and provide significant ecological and community benefits, including improving ecosystem health, providing cultural resources for Tribal communities, and enhancing resilience to climate change.
Removing Barriers to Success The current funding supports completion of the feasibility assessment, and – pending those results – future design, risk management, and permitting processes in preparation for future dam removal. Additional financial support of approximately $50 million is still needed to complete the final project phases including dam removal, sediment management, and habitat restoration.
Wild Salmon Conservation in Northern California
Quick Facts • Location: Northern California • BIL Investments to Date: $40,000,000+ • Total restoration costs: $50,000,000+ • Type of barriers: Dams, culverts, instream flow, water management • Non-Federal Partners Include: State of California, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, California Trout, California Fish Passage Forum, Wildlife Conservation Board, Local and Tribal Partners • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service
Project Description Declining salmon populations in rivers along the western U.S. have been exacerbated by recent droughts, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of climate change. Growing competition for limited water resources and continued habitat degradation are increasing the risks of population extinction and need for accelerated protection and habitat restoration efforts. Investments across the region will help restore Northern California watersheds that are strongholds for salmon by addressing some of the most significant threats to these once thriving fisheries - removing structural barriers, restoring access to floodplain habitat, and addressing low flow barriers caused by extended drought and climate change.
Removing Barriers to Success A landscape-scale approach is needed to fix legacy watershed degradation and by leveraging existing efforts, such as the California Salmon Strategy and Salmon Habitat Restoration Priorities plans and other investments by partners across the region, we know that strategic investments can have substantial and near-term impacts on species, ecosystems, and communities.
Gold Creek Restoration Project
Quick Facts • Location: Washington • Federal Investments to Date: $8,000,000 • Non-Federal Investments to Date: $3,000,000 • Total restoration costs: $48,000,000 • Type of barriers: Floodplain reconnection, instream flows • Reconstruction Techniques: Habitat/stream restoration • Stream miles opened: 8 • Acres restored: 245 • Project Lead: Kittitas Conservation Trust • Non-Federal Partners Include: The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Partners, State of Washington, Conservation Northwest, Private Landowners, Kittitas Reclamation District • Federal Agencies Invested to Date: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service
Project Description Gold Creek in the Upper Yakima Basin historically was an important fishery for the Yakama Nation and once supported abundant stocks of bull trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, and steelhead. Now Gold Creek is designated as critical habitat for the federally threatened bull trout and is home to one of four genetically distinct populations in the upper Yakima River. Seasonal decreases in stream flow create a barrier to fish passage for spawning adult bull trout and strand juveniles in disconnected pools of water.
The Kittitas Conservation Trust, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, U.S. Forest Service, Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Partners, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local landowners have partnered to restore instream habitat and flows within Gold Creek. This effort will improve upstream passage by limiting seasonal dewatering in critical habitat for bull trout by improving instream flow and habitat complexity and restoring riparian and wetland habitat. Furthermore, by enhancing floodplain reconnection, this effort will reduce flooding risk to nearby communities and transportation infrastructure, contribute to recharging groundwater aquifers and complement ongoing work to develop terrestrial wildlife corridors across the Cascades.
Removing Barriers to Success The full project objectives are to restore old gravel borrow pits to riparian and forested wetland to improve stream flow. This includes restoring instream fish habitat by installing 141 large wood structures to mimic old growth log jams, recharging groundwater aquifers, and restoring 47 acres of riparian and forested wetland habitat with native vegetation. However, only the instream restorations are currently funded and a funding gap of approximately $30 million remains. Without the efforts proposed by this project the Gold Creek population of bull trout is at risk of extirpation.
Creating Resilient Landscapes for Generations to Come
These projects unlock a multitude of benefits for species, ecosystems, and communities and the BIL and IRA funding have created a historic opportunity to invest in them. There’s more work to be done though! The Transformational Fish Passage Project Initiative has identified over 70 projects still in need of technical and financial support and the Task Force is continuing to build the list . The National Aquatic Barrier Inventory has identified hundreds of thousands of instream barriers that block aquatic organism passage, fragment critical ecosystems, and pose possible public safety risks to surrounding communities. By expanding barrier removal across entire watersheds, we have the opportunity to provide better habitat for fish and set the stage for thriving communities. Working closely with partners, we can continue this important work creating resilient landscapes for generations to come.
Please Note: Project information represents a general summary to date. Information included here may be incomplete and is subject to change. For more updates, questions, and information on the Task Force or Transformational Fish Passage Project Initiative, contact Shannon Boyle ( shannon_boyle@fws.gov )
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