Trout unlimited is being awarded more than 7 million to replace priority fish barrier culverts in the chena river watershed near fairbanks, alaska restoring access to nearly 50 miles of high-quality…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Trout Unlimited, Inc. a $7.993 million Cooperative Agreement on October 1, 2026, to replace priority fish barrier culverts in the Chena River Watershed near Fairbanks, Alaska, restoring access to nearly 50 miles of high-quality habitat for Yukon River Chinook and Chum Salmon. The award, made under the Habitat Conservation program (CFDA 11.463), funds habitat restoration activities carried out through voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.

Trout Unlimited will deliver the culvert replacement work through December 31, 2029. The project focuses on fish passage improvement and aquatic ecosystem restoration in the Chena River system, removing barriers that currently restrict salmon access to productive spawning and rearing habitat. This work advances the program's statutory mandate under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Endangered Species Act, and related authorities to protect and restore the nation's rivers and other aquatic habitats, with project outcomes tracked in stream miles opened to fish passage.

Place of performance is Arlington, Virginia, though the project site and restoration activities are located in Alaska. Trout Unlimited, a tax-exempt non-profit conservation organization, is the direct recipient and will carry out the field work. The parent entity is Colorado Trout Unlimited, doing business as Trout Unlimited, Inc. of Michigan.

Trout unlimited is being awarded more than 7 million to replace priority fish barrier culverts in the chena river watershed near fairbanks, alaska restoring access to nearly 50 miles of high-quality habitat for yukon river chinook and chum salmon. This habitat restoration project focuses on recovering americas fish and wildlife populations through voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts