This project will remove a documented fish passage barrier located on hardy creek, a tributary to the columbia river, in skamania county

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $980,000 to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) on September 19, 2025, to remove a documented fish passage barrier on Hardy Creek, a tributary to the Columbia River in Skamania County, Washington. The project scope includes removal of a culvert barrier beneath the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Railway at the Hardy Creek crossing and installation of a new bridge span to replace the existing infrastructure. Upon completion by December 31, 2030, this barrier removal will restore full anadromous fish access to approximately 296 meters (970 feet) of spawning and rearing habitat situated between the railroad crossing and an upstream partial barrier at State Route 14.

While the Highway Planning and Construction program traditionally funds road and bridge infrastructure, this award demonstrates the program's application to fish passage improvements through culvert replacement—an eligible activity category under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that supports environmental compliance and multimodal transportation network improvements. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, a federally recognized tribal government in southwestern Washington, has demonstrated substantial capacity in environmental restoration and salmon habitat recovery projects through prior federal funding from multiple agencies, positioning it to effectively execute this infrastructure improvement initiative.

Abstract

Hardy creek crossing and the installation of a new bridge span. The proposed removal of the culvert barrier beneath the bnsf railroad would restore full anadromous access to 296 meters (970 feet) of spawning and rearing habitat between the bnsf railroad and a documented upstream partial barrier at state route (SR)-14.