Ashland County excavator and operator raise the height of the rifle to facilitate fish passage. - FWS photo by Ted Koehler

Over a two-day period in July, a crew from the Ashland County Wisconsin Highway Department modified a double box culvert which was a barrier to fish on State Highway 13. 

The project took place where Highway 13 crosses Trout Brook Creek and has opened 2 ½ miles of stream to fish passage above the former barrier. 

Trout Brook is an important stream for brook trout in the Bad River watershed and is a popular fishing destination for the local population.  Restoring passage at this site has linked valuable spawning habitat for brook trout and other aquatic life.    

Through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region 3 Fish Passage Program, funding was provided to install concrete baffles in the southernmost culvert.  This has created pools of slower water which provide resting areas to fish migrating upstream through the 130 foot long culvert. 

The outlet of the culvert consists of a concrete apron which was perched approximately six inches above the water level.  To correct this problem the height of the riffle directly below the culvert was raised by one foot to provide a minimum of six inches of water so aquatic life can access the culvert at all times.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Ashland Fishery Resources Office partnered with the Ashland County Highway Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Bad River Watershed Association to implement the project.