Bear River Wetlands - Lewis & Porter

Willapa Bay Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group used this funding to develop a design for construction of two fish ladders at Lewis and Porter Points. Construction of the two fish ladders was accomplished by Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and Ducks Unlimited. The fish ladders provide access to over 2.5 miles of habitat for both returning adults and juvenile salmonids, including pristine spawning areas and upstream wetlands.

The Lewis and Porter Point Units of the Bear River wetlands in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge on Willapa Bay (Pacific County) represented some of the best opportunities to reestablish lost fish passage into watersheds with existing high quality habitat. By reintroducing access to habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed anadromous fish (including Chinook, Coho, steelhead, chum and cutthroat trout), the chance for long-term protection is enhanced, while valuable spawning and rearing habitat is recovered. Additional benefits to other forms of wildlife accrue from this project also.

The Willapa Bay Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group partnered with the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited to accomplish this project.

The goal of the project is to connect isolated habitat to increase the range and distribution of salmon.

The objective of the project is to increase access to areas blocked by human-caused impediments.