SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on two requests to exempt from fish passage requirements two proposed culvert repairs. One culvert conveys an unnamed tributary to the West Fork of Dairy Creek under Highway 26 at MP 48.87 in Washington County, and the other culvert conveys an unnamed tributary to the Yamhill River under Highway 18 at MP 51.12 in Yamhill County. The Oregon Department of Transportation’s plan to repair these culverts has triggered the State’s fish passage requirements.
ODOT has requested exemptions from fish passage requirements at these locations based on the lack of appreciable benefit of providing upstream passage to native migratory fish. The Fish Passage Task Force will consider these exemptions and provide a recommendation to the Department at its June 16, 2017 meeting.
In the meantime, members of the public will have until June 15, 2017 to submit written comments on the proposed fish passage exemptions.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife can exempt from passage requirements an artificial obstruction if providing passage would result in no appreciative benefit to native migratory fish. In this case, the applicant proposed exemptions at these two locations
Copies of the fish passage exemption applications and ODFW net benefit analysis can be found on the ODFW Web site.
Members of the public can send written comments to or request additional information from Greg Apke, ODFW Fish Passage Program Coordinator, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., Salem, Ore. 97302, e-mail, [email protected], or by calling (503) 947-6228.
There also will be an opportunity for public comment at the Fish Passage Task Force meeting on June 16, 2017 at ODFW headquarters in Salem.
