Elochoman Hatchery Barrier Removal

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife used funding to remove the Elochoman Hatchery barrier structure that blocks fish passage. Now completed, this project opened access to 44 miles of spawning and rearing habitat for wild winter steelhead, coho salmon as well as ESA-listed chum and eulachon.

This project is part of a larger project to completely remove all infrastructure connected to the Elochoman Hatchery and restore the river in this reach. The removal of the fishway and weir was the second phase of the larger project. The first phase was the removal of the Clear Creek Intake in the summer of 2017. This project consisted of permitting and removing the Elochoman Hatchery barrier in Wahkiakum County. Survey was completed of the Elochoman Hatchery upstream intake that is also be removed. Engineering drawings were completed for permitting, permits applied for and obtained. Demolition of the instream weir in the Elochoman River was removed along with the fishway. Additional concrete pieces of weir that had broken off and washed downstream over the years were also removed from the channel. The Clear Creek intake pipe that was exposed on the Elochomans riverbed was also removed. The channel was regarded bringing in some additional streambed material. All banks were sloped back and covered with seed and straw. All of the concrete that was removed from the river was disposed of.

This project goal was to addressed threats to listed populations in the Elochoman River basin and increase population viability and distribution. This goal was met by allowing unimpeded access to the 35 miles of habitat upstream.

The next phase of the larger restoration project will be to complete designs for the removal of the upper Elochoman River intake and to install wood in the river between the hatchery facility and the upper intake. WDFW has currently asked for Capital funding to completely remove all infrastructure associated with the hatchery including the removal of the access bridge over the Elochoman River. Funding will also include restoring the floodplain by removing riprap, pulling back the banks and constructing some off channel habitat. This work is projected to happen over the next several years.

Remove the Elochoman Hatchery barrier structure, which blocked fish passage of wild winter steelhead, listed chum and coho salmon as well as listed Chinook. Approximately 35 miles of habitat exists above this barrier that can be utilized more fully now that this barrier is removed.