Habitat restoration, Resilience and risk mitigation

This project will remove an undersized, double barrel culvert on the Little Tonsina River in the Valdez-Cordova Borough. This project is currently the highest priority barrier removal project for the Service in Alaska because of the 70.4 miles of relatively pristine Coho and Chinook Salmon spawning and rearing habitat that lie above this barrier. These waters eventually meet Alaska’s Copper River, home to what many people consider one of the world’s finest sources of salmon. The project has already attracted funding from multiple state and federal partners. The completed 100% design employs USFWS guidelines for maximizing ecological function and will support the creation of a two lane, 100 ft bridge spanning the channel and floodplain. Completion of this project not only benefits the salmon of the Copper River basin but is also expected to catalyze funding and efforts to address barriers and unstable infrastructure in nearby tributaries. More

Quick Facts:

Project StatusComplete
Location AK, Valdez-Cordova Borough
NFPP Project Funding$1,318,604
Restoration TechniquesCulvert Replacement
Accomplishments70 Stream Miles Reopened
Project Partner LeadCopper River Watershed Project
Primary Species BenefitedChinook Salmon
excavator digging near stream with mountains and clouds in background
Image Details
Construction on the Little Tonsina River
a group of people standing on a bridge over water holding a blue sign
Image Details
Partners stand on the new bridge over the Little Tonsina River in Alaska.

The National Fish Passage Program combines technical expertise with a track record of success. 

Implemented primarily through the Service's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices, the National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance to partners across the country. Since 1999, the program has worked with over 2,000 local communities, Tribes, and private landowners to remove or bypass over 3,400 barriers to 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.

Learn more about fish passage and reopen access to over 61,000 miles of upstream habitat for fish and other animals. Staff have expertise in fish migration and biology as well as financial, engineering, and planning assistance to communities, Tribes, and landowners to help them remove barriers and restore rivers for the benefit both fish and people. 

Fish passage project proposals can be initiated by any individual, organization, government, or agency. However, proposals must be submitted and completed in cooperation with a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. (Please note that fish passage projects being used for federal or state compensatory mitigation or required by existing federal or state regulatory programs are not eligible for funding through the National Fish Passage Program.

 CONTACT A FISH PASSAGE COORDINATOR IN YOUR AREA TO GET STARTED. 

Facilities

An aerial landscape photo of a large blue lake along forested land, with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Southern Alaska Fish and Wildlife Field Office
Welcome to our Southern Alaska Office! We have dedicated staff working with partners to conserve fish and wildlife via habitat restoration and conservation, fish assessment and management, technical assistance, cost-sharing, funding, and outreach.
Conservation Office
Anchorage,AK

News

a fish with a birthday hat next to a cupcake. The text says "sorry, you're not invited to BIL's birthday". A culvert with eyes is saying "after all I didn't do for you?!"
Graduating from Blowouts to Bridges
While most two-year-olds are still blowing out their nappies, BIL (short for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) investments are blowing out fish passage barriers across Alaska and no one is more relieved than the fish and people who depend on them.
Story
Wildlife Wonders
looking down stream at trees in fall colors and cloudy skies
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Brings Big Wins for Fish Passage and Local Communities
Less than one year from the passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, jackhammers are demolishing dams on the Sabattus River in Maine, a new channel is being cut around the Old Evanston Dam in Wyoming, an undersized culvert is being pulled from the Little Tonsina River in Alaska, and more than...
Story
Habitat Restoration
a group of people standing on a bridge over water holding a blue sign
Alaska fish passage project opens 70 miles of salmon habitat
The Little Tonsina River bridge project in Alaska's Copper River watershed was the nation's first Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded fish passage project to break ground. As of August 2023, the two lane, 100-foot floodplain-friendly bridge is open to traffic - vehicles over top and fish below!
Story
Habitat Restoration

Contact

a woman with a baby by a lake
Habitat Branch - Habitat Restoration Biologist
Fish and Aquatic Conservation,
National Fish Passage Program
Expertise
Fish Passage,
Habitat Restoration ,
Copper River Watershed
Area
AK
Anchorage,AK

Programs

A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and...
Program

Partners

Species