1. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Evaluation of Juvenile Salmonid Culvert Passage SM Anglea, GD Williams, KD Ham, and GA McMichael Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

2. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 2 Problem Description Barriers to fish passage have contributed to declines in the abundance of resident and anadromous salmonids. Reduction in habitat complexity and diversity by preventing access to off-channel habitat or upstream movement. Mathematical models exist that guided culvert design, but models do not include empirical data for juvenile salmonids.

3. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 3 Rationale and Significance to Regional Programs Section 9.6.2 of Biological Opinion (Habitat Actions) Identifies the objective of addressing in-stream obstructions and diversions that interfere with or harm listed anadromous species Yakima Subbasin Summary Restore access to historical production areas to all life stages of resident and anadromous salmonids Identify and repair culverts that inhibit connectivity and natural stream functions in all fish-bearing watersheds Fish and Wildlife Program Calls for actions that reintroduce anadromous fish into blocked areas Need to maintain and restore healthy ecosystems and watersheds and increase life history diversity of resident fish

4. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 4 Relationship to Other Projects Refinement of a culvert passage models will benefit passage and supplementation projects by providing a tool to evaluate culverts as potential barriers to juvenile salmonids Collaborative effort with WSDOT through use of biological assessment protocol developed at Skookumchuck Hatchery Test Flume

6. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 6 Overall Goal: Refine Mathematical Models Used for Guiding Culvert Design Specific Objectives Identify potential or known passage barriers to resident or anadromous salmonids (3), potentially within the Ahtanum Creek drainage (bull trout and steelhead) Conduct full physical and hydraulic assessment Conduct biological assessment Field application of methodology to evaluate passage success or failure and fish swimming behavior within culvert

7. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 7 General Approach Apply hydraulic measurement and behavioral observation techniques developed from WSDOTs culvert testing program Identify up to three test culverts (new, retrofit, or known barrier) within Yakima Basin addressing differences in species, size, and timing of movement Conduct Physical, Hydraulic, and Biological assessments of selected culverts

8. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 8 Planned Schedule Year 1 – Identify test culverts through cooperation with Federal, State, County, City and Tribal entities. Field test and potentially modify biological assessment technique Years 2 and 3 – Modify biological assessment technique as needed and identify additional culverts for evaluation

9. U.S. Department of Energy Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 9 Expected Products Standardized and statistically valid protocol for assessing juvenile salmonid passage through culverts Incorporate culvert information into the Salmonid Screening, Habitat Enhancement, and Restoration database (SSHEARbase) and the Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Inventory and Assessment Project (SSHIAP) Increased access of juvenile salmonids to historical stream reaches and habitats