The Power of Transformational Aquatic Connectivity
Across the U.S., millions of aging, obsolete, or poorly designed dams, roads, and levees are causing widespread ecological damage and putting communities at risk. These barriers trap fish, preventing them from finding food, shelter, and habitat to spawn. Outdated and aging infrastructure affects us too: it degrades water quality, can heighten flood risk, and creates dangers for recreational users. Fortunately, restoring aquatic connectivity offers a win-win solution for both people and nature.
Under the ambitious Investing in America agenda, a historic $3 billion has been earmarked for aquatic ecosystem restoration. This investment, driven by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative.
These Transformational Fish Passage Projects are a testament to this collective action and highlight grand-scale, community-centric restoration projects that not only rejuvenate ecosystems but also bolster the climate resilience and economies of communities across the country. From Maine to California, this page showcases 10 of the partially funded, groundbreaking projects that when completed, will reconnect over 4,500 miles of rivers and streams, spark local economic development, and enhance community resilience.
Dive into these remarkable initiatives and see how they’re reshaping our landscapes and futures.
Construction crews work on the new bridge at the Samson Creek fish passage fish passage Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Fish passage projects are a powerhouse for local economies. They generate jobs by employing local experts for technical assistance, consulting engineers for design, and construction crews for building and removal tasks. The benefits extend far beyond the immediate site, fueling long-term economic growth that can ripple throughout the region.
The economic impact is striking. Recent research reveals that for every $1 million invested in fish passage projects, between $1.3 and $1.5 million is returned to local economies. This figure, which reflects benefits like job creation, labor income, and added value, is likely an underestimate of the true impact. Each project not only creates an average of 13 new jobs but also supports local businesses, reduces flood insurance costs, supports commercial and recreational fisheries, and invigorates tourism. Investing in aquatic conservation projects is not just an environmental win—it's a robust economic boost for the country.
The Troy Dam, pictured above, is part of the larger Great Miami River Watershed Barrier Removal and Habitat Restoration initiative. Removing this low-head dam, in combination with other projects throughout the watershed, will protect access to and quality of the city of Piqua, Ohio's drinking water, enhance safety of and access to the existing water trail, offer greater recreational opportunities, and increase safety for local communities.
Fish Passage Benefits Communities
Barriers that pose a threat to fish often pose a threat to human communities. Undersized culverts that block fish passage are prone to being clogged by debris resulting in flooding that closes roads, imperiling local communities and contributing to significant property damage and other safety issues. The same dams and spillways that prevent fish from migrating can also pose threats for recreational boaters, swimmers, and anglers. Failed culverts and dams can block roads and access to emergency services, cause widespread property damage, and put human lives at risk.
Removing or right-sizing instream structures throughout our watersheds improve public safety, enhance community resilience to the risks associated with a changing climate and aging infrastructure, restore cultural value of our natural systems, and provide new and improved recreational opportunities.
This culvert is part of the Mount Baldy Headwaters Aquatic Connectivity and Climate Resiliency fish passage project in Arizona. Removing barriers like this will restore aquatic connectivity, enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change climate change Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Every year, millions of fish—salmon, steelhead trout, shad, alewives, sturgeon, and others—migrate to their native habitats to reproduce, while resident species move locally to complete their life cycles. However, many rivers are blocked by barriers like dams and road culverts, preventing fish and other aquatic species from moving freely. These barriers not only disrupt fish migration but also cause widespread ecological damage.
When rivers are disconnected, it affects more than just fish. The natural movement of water, sediment, and nutrients is disrupted, which harms the entire ecosystem. Barriers can lead to erosion, poor water quality, and higher water temperatures, all of which degrade habitats for plants and wildlife. Reconnecting rivers helps restore the natural processes that sustain ecosystems—improving habitat diversity, supporting wildlife populations, and even enhancing nutrient cycling. It can also help mitigate climate change impacts, like reduced water flow, by promoting healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
Creating Resilient Landscapes for Generations to Come
These projects unlock a multitude of benefits for species, ecosystems, and communities and the BIL and IRA funding have created a historic opportunity to invest in them. There’s more work to be done though! The Transformational Fish Passage Project Initiative has identified over 70 projects still in need of technical and financial support and the Task Force is continuing to build the list. The National Aquatic Barrier Inventory has identified hundreds of thousands of instream barriers that block aquatic organism passage, fragment critical ecosystems, and pose possible public safety risks to surrounding communities. By expanding barrier removal across entire watersheds, we have the opportunity to provide better habitat for fish and set the stage for thriving communities. Working closely with partners, we can continue this important work creating resilient landscapes for generations to come.
Please Note: Project information represents a general summary to date. Information included here may be incomplete and is subject to change. For more updates, questions, and information on the Task Force or Transformational Fish Passage Project Initiative, contact Shannon Boyle (Shannon_boyle@fws.gov).
