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Tiny dam opens miles of habitat for endangered salmon
1 Nov
Summary
- A small dam removal reopened 1,584 feet of stream for salmon.
- Salmon returned to the restored stream within one year.
- Project created one acre of vital estuary habitat for young salmon.
A dam at the mouth of West Beach Creek on Orcas Island, Washington, was removed in 2014, restoring vital salmon passage. This project, completed by the Northwest Straits Foundation, replaced a dam and two small culverts with a larger, 16-foot-diameter culvert. The modification reopened 1,584 feet of stream habitat.
This restoration effort aimed to provide access for various salmon species and cutthroat trout. Within one year of the dam's removal, salmon were observed upstream, and natural sediment flow was reestablished. The project also restored one acre of estuary habitat.
A 2020 study in Fisheries Management and Ecology suggested that removing barriers in smaller streams generally improves fish passage and increases juvenile fish populations. While this study focused on inland streams, it supports the success of barrier removals in the Pacific Northwest.
Local efforts by Friends of San Juans and volunteers, supported by agencies like the Washington Department of Natural Resources, were instrumental. Funding came from organizations including the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The property owners viewed the project as a legacy, fostering a sense of community ownership.
