The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on a fish passage waiver request from the Oregon Department of Transportation after they replaced a culvert at OR131 MP 4.9 during emergency work

Astoria, OR – According to the state officials, the culvert was reportedly replaced during emergency work when it failed during heavy precipitation.

The fish passage waiver and exemption requests will be presented to the Oregon Fish Passage Task Force for their recommendation at an upcoming meeting at the ODFW Headquarters Office in Salem on February 9, 2024.

State officials also said that his action has triggered Oregon’s fish passage laws. In lieu of providing passage at this location, the ODOT proposes to remove a culvert on Oregon Department of Forestry land and return the creek to a natural channel in Tillamook County, Oregon.

Public comments are due no later than Monday, Jan. 15. 

ODFW may grant a fish passage waiver if there are appreciable benefits to native migratory fish (NMF) greater at the mitigation site compared to the waiver site if passage were provided.