Climate law delivers $2.5 million for salmon restoration in Jefferson County

Kirk Boxleitner
Posted 5/14/25

Four Jefferson County projects were awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to restore salmon habitat, thanks to the Climate Commitment Act.

A total of $71.3 million was awarded to 69 projects …

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Climate law delivers $2.5 million for salmon restoration in Jefferson County

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Four Jefferson County projects were awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to restore salmon habitat, thanks to the Climate Commitment Act.

A total of $71.3 million was awarded to 69 projects in 21 of Washington state’s 39 counties as a result of the Climate Commitment Act, which state legislators passed in 2021.

Megan Duffy, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, credited voters with having “reaffirmed the critical pieces” of it in November.

The Climate Commitment Act created a program to require the state’s largest polluters to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and money from the act is invested in programs to help communities reduce climate pollution, along with creating jobs and improving public health.

Grant recipients also provided $30.6 million in matching resources or other grants, for a total statewide investment of nearly $102 million in salmon recovery.

Of the $2,570,592 awarded to projects in Jefferson County, $524,792 went to Jefferson County itself for planning the Center Road Mile Post 3.23 fish barrier removal through the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board, with the county providing matching funds of $44,250, for a total of  $569,042 toward the project.

The county Department of Public Works will use the grant to design the removal of two metal pipe culverts that block most of the fish migration at the crossing of Center Road and Chimacum Creek. The creek is used by chum and coho salmon and steelhead trout, all of which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act. Removing these barriers will give fish access to 3.7 miles of upstream habitat.

The Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board was also the grant program for the planning of the East Tarboo Creek fish passage, for which the Northwest Watershed Institute not only received $246,500, but also provided matching funds of $43,500, for a total of $290,000 toward that project.

This grant will fund the design and permitting to replace two culverts under Coyle Road, near Quilcene, which are blocking not only steelhead trout, but also coho salmon and resident and sea-run cutthroat trout from reaching spawning and rearing habitat in the creek. Most of the creek’s watershed is protected permanently by a conservation easement in the state's Dabob Bay Natural Area. These two county road culverts represent the most significant remaining fish blockages in the watershed.

The Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative was the grant program for two projects in Jefferson County, for which Trout Unlimited Inc. was the grant recipient. Trout Unlimited received $255,300 for planning the first phase of the Winfield and Elk Creeks restoration design, and $1,544,000 for the second phase of the Owl Creek restoration work.

Winfield and Elk Creeks will be assessed to identify priority areas for their restoration, for which designs will also be created. It’s the first phase of a project to improve not just habitat, but salmon and steelhead productivity in the two creeks. Restoration is also expected to benefit bull trout, which is threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act, as well as Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead and resident trout.

Trout Unlimited also provided matching funds of $208,335 for the restoration of Owl Creek and its floodplain, for a total of $1,752,335 toward that project.

The restoration will involve adding woody materials to the creek and floodplain, removing invasive plants from its banks, and planting new trees and bushes along the waterway, which is also expected to benefit Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead and resident trout.

Duffy said these Climate Commitment Act-funded projects are “allowing us to take big steps forward in our effort to recover salmon, steelhead and bull trout from extinction.”

She added, “We’re grateful that Washingtonians have such a strong commitment to making sure this state stays a great place to live for people and our salmon.”