Taneum Creek Fish Passage Project

From February 2008 to February 2012, KCT partnered with the Bureau of Reclamation, Yakima Tributary Access and Habitat Program (YTAHP), WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bruton Water Users, Taneum Canal Co., and the Yakama Nation on a comprehensive analysis of new fish passage alternatives for lower Taneum Creek. This watershed is designated as a high-priority tributary to the Yakima River for the recovery of salmon and steelhead. This analysis, facilitated by a Community Salmon Fund grant, produced engineering designs for a roughened channel.

Two ineffective and outdated fish passage structures in lower Taneum Creek were replaced by constructing roughened channel at each diversion dam. Constructing the roughened channel created optimal upstream and downstream passage. Salmon and steelhead can now access 30 miles of stream habitat any time of year.

For more information on the project, you can visit the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office’s Project Snapshot: https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/projectsnapshot.aspx?ProjectNumber=07-1551