ALASKA—Passion, shared vision and common goals are paving the way for new fish passage improvement projects throughout Alaska.

The Federal Highway Administration released the first round of its National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program awards, several of which have shared watershed boundaries with the Forest Service.
With more than $12 million in funding, these projects highlight the power of partner-led proposals in creating interagency collaboration for aquatic habitat connectivity.

Alaska Region staff have been engaged with partners during the proposal process and will provide project support along the way.

"More helping hands yields more connected and productive habitat for fish,” said Alaska Region Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat program manager Neil Stichert. “And when the fish return, we all win.”

The projects include:

• Three Mile Creek culvert-to-bridge replacement on Prince of Wales: $4.5 million has been awarded to the Alaska Department of Transportation in partnership with the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, Klawock Indigenous Stewards Forest Partnership, Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This mixed-ownership watershed supports important subsistence fisheries and has been the focus of multiple interagency restoration initiatives. It is one of the largest remaining habitat restoration opportunities identified by the Forest Service-led Klawock Watershed Assessment in 2000.   
• Kulixelcan River Culvert Project, Yakutat: The Yakutat Tlingit Tribe was awarded $3.7 million to address fish passage needs on Forest Highway 10. Design work for one of the sites is underway in the Tongass National Forest. Forest Highway 10 bisects the Yakutat Forelands, one of the most productive aquatic landscapes in Region 10.
• Yakutat Fish Passage Culvert Replacement Program: $837,717 was awarded to the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe to design drainage and fish passage improvements in the Ankau Saltchuck area road system on non-federal lands. This proposal ensures continued access to community assets and subsistence gathering areas in the region.
• Eyak Weir Restoration: The Eyak Corporation will receive $3.4 million to redesign and reconstruct the water control structure at the outlet of Eyak Lake near Cordova and ensure continued fish passage. The Cordova Ranger District, Copper River Watershed Project and other partners have been engaged in this project during scoping and preliminary design.

Working together is what will bring these projects to fruition over the coming years. Designs for many projects are already in progress and once completed, they will move to the construction phase.