The current bridge over the south fork tieton river on the tieton reservoir road is located in the tieton reservoir pool just downstream of the current bridge, a waterfall will develop as the…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 awarded $400,000 to the County of Yakima through the Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance program (CFDA 15.608) on June 28, 2022 for a project set to be completed by September 30, 2027. The funding supports construction of a new bridge over the South Fork Tieton River on the Tieton Reservoir Road in Naches, WA. The existing bridge is located within the reservoir pool and a waterfall will develop as water levels drop, creating a fish passage barrier for bull trout, an endangered species. The new bridge will be constructed on the original river alignment, restoring fish passage over a longer period and benefiting other species. This project aims to increase overall productivity of the reservoir by reestablishing access to bull trout habitat and migration routes cut off by the existing infrastructure.

The current bridge over the south fork tieton river on the tieton reservoir road is located in the tieton reservoir pool just downstream of the current bridge, a waterfall will develop as the reservoir is drawn down, creating a fish passage barrier for bull trout, a ESA listed threatened species the original course of the river was filled in when they constructed the existing bridge this project constructs a new bridge on the original river alignment, which restores passage to bull trout over a longer migration window, but other species as well, raising overall productivity of the reservoir