Restoring Fish Passage to Support Salmon Recovery
The US 101, Jefferson and Clallam counties – Remove Fish Barriers project is part of Washington state’s broader initiative to eliminate barriers restricting salmon migration, reconnecting aquatic habitats and improving long-term ecological health.
As part of Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) fish passage program, Atlas is providing environmental and quality assurance services to support the replacement of six fish barriers along US 101 — especially critical for Clallam and Jefferson counties, as they’re located on the northwestern side of the state on the Olympic Peninsula. The project involves constructing five single-span bridges and a buried box culvert to restore natural stream conditions, allowing fish to access historic breeding and rearing habitats.
Atlas is helping WSDOT manage National Environmental Policy Act documentation, Section 404 and 401 permit applications, and environmental compliance measures, aligning project objectives with state and federal regulations.
The Atlas team is working with WSDOT, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to integrate permitting strategies with construction schedules so work remains on track while protecting sensitive ecosystems.
In addition to permitting support, Atlas provides fish exclusion, arborist/tree inventory, wetland verification and delineation, and environmental compliance inspections for stormwater management to safeguard sensitive habitats throughout the project.
The team also performs quality assurance and materials testing, overseeing compliance throughout construction so the new structures meet environmental and engineering standards. Fish already are returning to previously blocked streams, demonstrating the benefits of these efforts.