“They went through a long process of choosing an area to try this pilot program and landed on Tillamook-Nestucca watershed for a number of reasons, including high conservation value and high recovery potential,” Sarah Zwissler, Trout Unlimited Salmon SuperHwy coordinator, said.

Together they identified, prioritized and analyzed the costs of all of the projects that would be required to remove the remaining barriers in hundreds of streams to fish passage in the 940-square mile Tillamook and Nestucca watersheds. Many barriers are problem culverts at road crossings that contribute to flooding and road damage, along with some small dams and tide gates.