Larsen: Critical funding helps NW communities protect salmon and the environment, create jobs

Grant established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enables communities to remove and repair fish barrier culverts

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

[Thursday] the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it has opened applications for state, local and Tribal governments to access a total of $1 billion over five years, including $196 million in Fiscal Year 2023, to help remove and repair fish barrier culverts. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representative Kim Schrier (WA-08) and local and Tribal leaders for the announcement at Carey Creek near Issaquah, Washington.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Northwest Washington communities will soon have access to the funding needed to repair and replace fish barrier culverts,” said Larsen, a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This bold, long-term investment enables communities to improve fish passage, protect Washington’s beautiful environment, promote a healthy Puget Sound and create more jobs while also helping the State meet its Tribal treaty obligations.”

Established under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration Program specifically helps communities remove and repair culverts found under roads that can prevent fish passage and are especially problematic for coastal and Tribal communities for whom thriving fish populations are critical to the regional economy and way of life. The initiative will also help the State of Washington, which is required by federal court order to replace enough culverts to open 90 percent of blocked salmon habitat by 2030, meet its treaty obligations to Indian Tribes.

Across Washington state, too many culverts block endangered salmon species from accessing critical habitat, spawning grounds and food sources. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington’s highway network includes approximately 1,995 fish barrier culverts built to federal design standards. Snohomish County has identified a total of 536 county-owned fish barrier culverts as part of its Fish Passage Culvert Program. In the Skagit River Basin, culverts represent more than 70 percent of known fish passage barriers.

Larsen is a strong supporter of making robust investments in Northwest Washington infrastructure, including culverts, to create jobs, keep people and the economy moving, and build a cleaner and greener transportation system. In July, Larsen urged Secretary Buttigieg to provide more information on the culvert funding initiative included in the IIJA. Larsen recently sent letters of support for three culvert projects in Skagit and Snohomish counties to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Larsen also successfully included a $3 million earmark request in the House-passed FY 2023 spending package to enable Snohomish County to replace two fish barrier culverts and repair roadway damage on Trickle Creek in Bothell and Lake Martha Creek in Stanwood.