Family forest fish passage program (FFFPP)

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The Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) provides full or partial funding to small private forest landowners to replace fish passage barriers with upgraded structures such as large diameter culverts or prefabricated bridges.

In 1999 the Washington State Legislature passed the Forest and Fish Law to provide regulations that protect 60,000 miles of streams running through 9.3 million acres of state and private land.  As one of the largest and most comprehensive pieces of environmental legislation in the U.S., the law fully complies with both the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to protect Washington’s native fish and aquatic species and assure clean water compliance.  One of the Forest and Fish law requirements is to replace all fish passage barriers, which are usually associated with undersized or damaged roadway culverts that prevent fish from swimming upstream.  Not only does barrier replacement improve fish habitat, it also allows landowners improved access to their forest lands and helps them meet timber harvest requirements.  Replacing a barrier culvert can be an expensive undertaking, especially for small forest landowners who don’t generate significant incomes from their properties.  To help offset these considerable costs, the state offers a cost-share opportunity called the Family Forest Fish Passage Program that is co-managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.  

If you think you may have a fish passage issue on your property or would like information regarding the Family Forest Fish Passage Program, please contact Evan Bauder, Mason Conservation District at 360.427.9436 ext. 114 or evan@masoncd.org.