Fish passage has been a focus of restoration activities in the mat-SU borough for over 15 years

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior, awarded $120,000 to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) program (CFDA 15.686) effective October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for December 31, 2026. The award funds the removal of a fish passage barrier at the Cottonwood Creek and Fern Street crossing in Alaska, which will re-open approximately 13.2 kilometers of upstream habitat for juvenile salmonid movement. This project directly supports the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership Fish Passage Improvement Plan and aligns with the 2019 Matanuska-Susitna Salmon Habitat Partnership Strategic Plan Objective 4.2.

The barrier removal represents one component of a 15-year fish passage restoration initiative in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, where the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has identified over 580 fish-bearing stream crossings, with approximately 70 percent presenting barriers to fish movement. To date, over 100 culverts have been replaced or removed through the existing program. This cooperative agreement leverages federal funding with local partnerships to maximize the impact of habitat conservation investments and advance regional fish passage restoration priorities in Alaska.

Alaska department of fish and game (ADFG) has assessed more than 580 crossings on fish-bearing streams with about 70% of them presenting some type of barrier to fish movement. To date over 100 culverts have been replaced with roads or bridges through the program, most on borough-owned roads. This request will assist with funding one of these barrier removals within the mat-SU borough and primarily be used to RE-open upstream habitat above the crossing of cottonwood creek and fern street. The project will result in at least 13.2 kilometers of upstream habitat being RE-opened to juvenile salmonid movement. The prioritization of this culvert is congruent with the mat-SU salmon partnership fish passage improvement plan. The proposal addresses objective 4.2 of the current 2019 msshp strategic plan to restore culverts for improved fish passage.