Oregon ID's 600 fish passage barriers

Last week, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) released a list of manmade structures it considers critical to fish passage. Updated every five years, the draft priority list identifies the 605 barriers considered critical to fish passage based on the amount of habitat quality and quantity blocked, the current levels of fish passage, and the number of species being blocked.

Several structures within the McKenzie River basin made the list, including dams, culverts, and other infrastructure that impede the migration of native fish like salmon and steelhead. Larger installations include the Walterville and Leaburg canal diversions, Blue River and Cougar dams, and the Carmen-Smith hydroelectric project. Culverts across tributaries to the McKenzie River that could be undersized or improperly placed are included in the study because they could block fish from reaching spawning and rearing habitats.

ODFW uses the list to help direct enforcement and restoration efforts throughout Oregon. During the current update, methods for ranking the barriers were updated to include two new factors. New climate change variables include one for obstacles that block access to the current cold-water habitat and another that accounts for predicted changes in thermal suitability.

The draft list and the draft methods paper are available online at tinyurl.com/8m855nw4

The draft priority list is only open for public comment until 11:59 p.m. on November 28th via email to [email protected]. The Fish Passage Task Force will review public comments during its next public meeting on December 6th. ODFW plans to present the updated list to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration at the Commission Meeting on April 18th, 2025.