Clark County fish groups will receive $925,383 for salmon recovery projects, the state Recreation and Conservation Office announced Monday. Clark County’s share comes from $30 million awarded statewide for fish recovery projects.
The grants, awarded by the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board, include four Clark County projects:
o East Fork of the Lewis River, $212,753. Clark County Public Works will use the money to grade the outlets of two side channels of the river, install logs and root wads that act as juvenile fish habitat, and remove invasive plants and replant with native species. The project will expand side channel habitat by 3,500 square feet. Clark County will contribute $61,891 to the project.
o North Fork of the Lewis River, $401,730. The Cowlitz Tribe will use the money to place logs and jams into two side channels of the river, remove invasive plants along the bank, and replant the area with native trees and shrubs. The tribe will contribute $91,400 from a local grant and donation of labor and materials.
o East Fork of the Lewis River at Daybreak Park, $143,900. Fish First will enhance two side channels of the river, install wood structures in the river for habitat, and replant streambanks with native trees and shrubs at the park. Fish First will contribute $26,100 in cash, labor and materials.
o Eagle Island-North Channel Restoration Project, $167,000. Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group will use the money to design a project to restore optimum water flows in the north channel of Eagle Island, which is located in the North Fork of the Lewis River near Woodland. Optimizing the water flow will improve 2.2 miles of high-value fish spawning and rearing habitat below Lake Merwin. Pacificorp and the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife are partners.
The funding for the grants comes from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and from the sale of state bonds. In all, 27 of Washington’s 39 counties received some funding. In addition, nearly $11.6 million is dedicated to Puget Sound projects.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has made restoring the water quality and fish habitat of the sound her top environmental goal.
