Cowlitz Indian Tribe receives nearly $2 million federal grant to remove fish barriers

May 22—Washington Tribes will receive nearly $40 million in federal funding to remove fish barriers and restore salmon habitat throughout the state.

On Tuesday, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, announced the funds will support nine projects that remove fish barriers including small dams and culverts. The funding will be provided through a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act.

"Habitat restoration works, and these projects will help boost the salmon and steelhead runs our tribes and our regional economy depend on," Cantwell said in a statement. "These grants will make lasting and meaningful improvements to habitat, including for Puget Sound Chinook stocks that orcas need to thrive. Removing fish barriers will also boost endangered Upper Columbia River Chinook and threatened Upper Columbia steelhead."

In Southwest Washington, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe will receive $1.9 million to remove a fish passage barrier and an abandoned railroad crossing on Ostrander Creek. The project will benefit steelhead and salmon and reduce the risk of flooding.

The Nisqually Indian Tribe will receive $5.8 million in grant funding to remove and replace a culvert that completely blocks fish passage on Brighton Creek. When completed, the project will include a wildlife crossing and allow for native plant restoration.

Across the country, NOAA awarded $240 million for 46 projects, which comes after a $166 million funding announcement in 2022. Under the program, NOAA will provide one more round of funding to remove fish barrier projects.

Cantwell, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, helped secure $2.855 billion in funding for salmon and ecosystem restoration in the BIL.