The ability to quickly receive research results on these configurations is very appealing to transportation agencies. "Testing culvert designs in a controlled setting will help us better understand how we can meet fish passage needs in a variety of conditions," said Jon Peterson, from WSDOT's Environmental Services Office. In coming years, tens of millions of dollars will be spent improving culvert fish passageways in Washington State alone.
U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) has recognized the need for greater federal involvement in removing these barriers to fish passage, initiating a new program to identify problems and replacing culverts that obstruct salmon migration on national forests and other federal lands. He said better science is required, however, and that the culvert test bed is needed for a more thorough understanding of the dynamics of stream flow and how adjustments based on credible data-gathering will help improve culvert design and construction. "This is a critical issue requiring solid science to help maintain the health of our streams and the well-being of our fish runs," said Dicks. "Decisions made based on research at this facility will benefit us for decades to come."
Attempts to retrofit culverts are not new. Baffles, weirs, ladders and other physical structures have been added to enhance fish passage over the years, but there is insufficient data to demonstrate the effectiveness of these efforts. The program will provide decision-makers scientifically sound data to retrofit existing culverts and develop better designs for new culvert installations. "Investing in this system provides WSDOT with improved scientific data to ensure that we're spending money on solutions for fish passage that will work to provide long-term benefits to our environment," said Peterson.
A transportation consortium that includes the states of California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and the Federal
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Contact: Geoffrey Harvey
geoffrey.harvey@pnl.gov
509-372-6083
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
18-Aug-2003