U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) joined King County, Wash. County Executive Dow Constantine Wednesday to highlight funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that would address culverts and the salmon ecosystem.
The IIJA, passed by the Senate earlier this month, includes $2.855 billion in salmon recovery and ecosystem restoration, including $1 billion in culvert removal, replacement, and restoration grants, as part of the tens of billions in funding for water infrastructure.
“We need to make every effort possible to do something to correct the wrongs. We need these culverts, these barriers, these problems removed so that we can enhance habitats and so we can restore fish passage,” Cantwell said. “This is so important in a place like Puget Sound because these waterways are connectors to these very historic places and habitats. Let’s put dollars towards correcting these past problems. Why? Because salmon are counting on it, and if we’re going to have healthy habitats and streams and restore the salmon populations, we have to clear these blockages.”
Also included in the salmon recovery and ecosystem restoration funding is $172 million for NOAA’s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund; $400 million for Fish Passage Barrier Removal grants; and $300 million for EPA Estuary programs.
According to the Congress members, culverts can be barriers to migrating salmon. More than $4 billion in culvert restoration and repair is needed in Washington state alone, the lawmakers said, impacting chum, coho, and chinook salmon habitats.
“Recently, people in the Pacific Northwest have faced horrific news regarding the potential catastrophic die-off of salmon populations resulting from rising water temperatures from the recent heatwave. Sadly, in our region, deteriorating infrastructure and failing culverts have long had a negative impact on water quality and have threatened the salmon that are so important to our economy and identity,” Kilmer said. “But today, we have good news. By securing new dedicated funding for culvert restoration, the federal government is moving to restore fish passages and provide critical access to upstream habitat.”