Palouse CD receives salmon recovery grant

The Palouse Conservation District was awarded a $12,650 grant to develop a final design for replacing a culvert that would open 5.3 miles of habitat on Steptoe Creek near Clarkston.

The existing culvert goes under Steptoe Creek Road at too steep of an angle and with a large drop that completely blocks fish passage. Addressing the barrier would open habitat, including 2.1 miles of Steptoe Creek and 3.2 miles of Stuart Creek to steelhead, which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Palouse Conservation District will contribute $2,500 in a state grant and donations of labor.

Organizations in 29 counties were awarded $18 million in grants to restore salmon habitat and conserve pristine areas to help bring salmon back from the brink of extinction, the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board announced Dec. 4.

In addition, the salmon board awarded $250,000 to replace culverts on salmon-bearing streams damaged by the Carlton Complex fire and subsequent flooding this past summer near Twisp. The money will be used to construct two additional bridges on Frazer Creek.

Previously, the salmon board and Washington Department of Transportation funded replacement of five other bridges in the area.