Olympic peninsula coldwater connection campaign fish passage project phase 2 recipient: trout unlimited recommended federal funding*: $8.36 million congressional district(s): WA-008 summary: trout…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $8.36M Cooperative Agreement under the Habitat Conservation federal grant program (CFDA 11.463) to Trout Unlimited, Inc. The purpose of this award is to restore access to high-quality spawning and rearing habitat within the Olympic Peninsula by addressing 6 fish passage barriers in the Hoh, Queets-Quinault, and Quillayute watersheds. This project is part of the Coldwater Connection Campaign, a partnership that aims to reconnect 125 river miles by removing 50 priority fish passage barriers on the western Olympic Peninsula. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.

The Habitat Conservation program funds coastal and marine habitat restoration, protection, and resilience efforts. Typical awards in this program range from $500K to $15M and support activities such as feasibility studies, engineering design, permitting, on-the-ground restoration, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building, particularly for tribal and underserved communities.

Olympic peninsula coldwater connection campaign fish passage project phase 2 recipient: trout unlimited recommended federal funding*: $8.36 million congressional district(s): WA-008 summary: trout unlimited will restore access to high quality spawning and rearing habitat within the olympic peninsula by addressing 6 fish passage barriers in the HOH, queets-quinault, and quillayute watersheds. The barriers were identified as priorities under the coldwater connection campaign, a partnership that aims to reconnect 125 river miles by removing 50 of the highest priority fish passage barriers on the western olympic peninsula.