The state of Oregon welcomed USD 1 million (EUR 860,000) for fish passage restoration at McKay Dam Reservoir, which officials say will help reconnect more than 100 miles of historic salmon and steelhead habitat.
The fish passage was one of hundreds of projects and groups to receive community project funding in the latest Congressional appropriations bills, which passed into law in January. Community project funding, also known as earmarks, are hand selected by U.S. lawmakers and support projects in their respective states.
"Restoring fish passage at McKay Dam Reservoir is a win for Oregon's rivers, our tribal and federal partners and the communities that depend on healthy fisheries in the Umatilla and Columbia rivers," Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Umatilla District Fish Biologist Taylor McCroskey said in a release. “These funds provide a critical first step in evaluating fish passage options and improving water and flow management to support the recovery of salmon and steelhead populations."
The money will be used to conduct an alternatives analysis and engineering design for fish passage solution at the McKay Dam, which is ranked as the fourth-highest priority fish barrier by ODFW. The dam blocks passage to about 108 miles of upstream fish habitat.
“Community-initiated projects are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon like the folks living and working in them. The communities identified top projects, and we fought for them,” U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) said in January. “Together with Senator Wyden and members of Oregon’s House delegation, we secured funding for 54 of these important homegrown projects that will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come.”
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Fisheries Program Manager Jerimiah Bonifer said the work is an example of how tribal, state, and federal partners can work together on restoration projects.
“We appreciate the support from Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden as we continue to work together on this important issue, providing priceless benefits for generations to come," Bonifer said in a release.
