Human caused barriers to fish passage include road/stream intersections, pipeline or other infrastructure crossings, erosion control/flood control structures (rip-rap, concrete channels, etc), and dams which block or delay upstream migration. These barriers impact both adult and juvenile fish by preventing full use of available habitat or by altering habitat or hydraulic conditions. Numerous road/stream crossings often cross multiple road ownerships within a watershed. Aside from making habitat inaccessible, passage impediments and delays in migration can cause injury or death to adult and juvenile fish attempting to migrate upstream.

The Five Counties Program has aggressively targeted Migration Barrier Removal on County Roads as one of its top priorities since 1998. Through the Five Counties Migration Barrier Inventory, consulting biologist Ross Taylor identified stream crossings on County Roads that prevent or impede the upstream migration of salmonid species. These barriers were prioritized in our Migration Barrier Ranking Matrix, which has driven the implementation stage of the program for several years. As our Migration Barrier Removal Progress Matrix indicates, the program has completed 60 migration barrier improvement projects, restoring access to over 140 miles of habitat. An additional six fish passage improvement projects are planned for 2011 and 2012 that will improve access to approximately 7.6 miles of habitat. Refer to the Project Gallery page for select project photos.

Summary by County
Projects in individual counties have been implemented as follows:

• Del Norte County has completed 6 Migration Barrier Removal Projects from 2000-2011, restoring access to approximately 10.5 miles of salmonid habitat. The County has completed these projects with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Conservancy. and the Del-Norte County Community Development Department.
• Humboldt County has implemented 25 Migration Barrier Removal Projects to date, restoring access to over 38 miles of habitat. These projects have been funded through the California Department of Fish and Game's Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, California Coastal Conservancy, NOAA Fisheries, and Pacific State Marine Fisheries. The County has slated four additional projects for construction next year.
• Mendocino County completed 11 Fish Passage Improvement Projects from 2001 - 2011, restoring access to over 16 miles of habitat for coho salmon & steelhead trout. The County plans to complete its highest remaining priority, Ryan Creek in 2011. This project will replace a large concrete box structure with a natural bottom concrete arch. Mendocino has completed its projects with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the California Department of Fish and Game, the National Association of Counties' (NACo) Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative and the Mendocino County Department of Transportation.
• Siskiyou County has completed 8 Migration Barrier Removal Projects from 1998 - 2011, restoring access to approximately 51 miles of salmonid habitat. The County has completed these projects through funding from Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Fish and Game, Bureau of Reclamation and the Siskiyou County Department of Public Works. The County's ability to construct and design the projects "in-house" has substantially cut down on project costs. For each project, the County has employed a different method of construction and design.
• Trinity County has completed 10 Migration Barrier Removal Projects between 2000 & 2009, restoring access to over 23 miles of salmonid habitat. The County has completed these projects through funding from the Department of Fish & Game S.B. 271 Grant Program, State Water Resources Control Board - Proposition 204, Coastal Conservancy, NOAA Open Rivers, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and Trinity County in-kind matching funds. Two additional projects are scheduled for completion in 2011-2012 that will open access to ~ 1.7 miles of salmonid habitat.

Several construction techniques have been used in these fish passage projects.

An inventory of the Russian River migration barriers was also completed by Ross Taylor & Associates. Download the inventory (PDF file): Russian River Migration Barrier Inventory. Margaret Lang completed a barrier inventory of Caltrans District 1 crossing structures. Download the inventory (PDF) file: Caltrans District 1 Pilot Fish Passage Assessment Study: Volume 1 - Overall Results.

The 5C recognizes that a comprehensive fish passage program is vital for identifying, prioritizing, and treating migration barriers so that unimpeded migration of regional salmonid populations can occur. Aside from pursuing migration barrier removal projects, the 5C also participates in the Fish Passage Forum. The Forum is a collaboration of public, private, and other organizations to protect and restore listed anadromous fish and aquatic organisms.

For more information on the Migration Barrier Removal Program, contact us.

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