WYOMING — Five watershed-scale fish passage projects in Montana, Wyoming and Utah will receive a total of nearly $6.89 million in fiscal year 2022 funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, announced the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service today.
The National Fish Passage Program, facilitated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, supports aquatic ecosystem restoration projects and restores free-flowing waters, allowing for enhanced fish migration and protecting communities from flooding.
According to USFWS, The funds will be used to address outdated, unsafe or obsolete dams, culverts, levees and other barriers to help restore fish passages and aquatic connectivity.
A collaborative project within Utah’s Zion National Park aims to remove two dams to improve fish passage and eroding infrastructure along the Virgin River. Additional work across the west will improve native cutthroat trout passage and improve diversions within the Upper Bear River watershed of Wyoming and Utah, as well as in Montana’s Upper Clark Fork and Blackfoot watersheds.
“Across the country, millions of barriers block fish migration and put communities at higher risk of flooding,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our nation’s rivers, streams and communities and help restore habitat connectivity for aquatic species around the country.”
“These projects are the result of years of effort by a host of individuals and entities. It’s tremendous to see their efforts acknowledged in receiving this funding,” said Bill Rice, Regional Coordinator for the National Fish Passage Program.
The Department of the Interior recently announced 40 fish passage projects in 23 states and Puerto Rico that will receive a total of nearly $38 million in fiscal year 2022 funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as well.
