The National Fish Passage Program
Tuluksak River, AK
Photo by David Deen
USFWS
Launched by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999, the National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary, non-regulatory initiative that provides financial and technical assistance in the removal or bypass of artificial barriers that impede the movement of fish and contribute to their declining numbers.
Early in the history of the United States, rivers ran wild, fish moved freely throughout their native habitats, and their numbers were plentiful, providing an important resource to developing communities. In the ensuing years, thousands of culverts, dikes, water diversions, dams, and other barriers were constructed for irrigation, flood control, electricity, water supply, and transportation. As a result, some populations of native fish are gone and others are on the brink of disappearing as a result of habitat fragmentation and degradation
Today, an estimated six million barriers still exist, many of which are now obsolete. These barriers have become human health and safety hazards as they continue to obstruct fish passage. These barriers also decrease the resilience of aquatic species and contribute to the loss of self-sustaining populations. The National Fish Passage Program works with local communities to conserve our nation’s aquatic resources and restore our free flowing rivers by removing or bypassing barriers.
Enhancing Fish Passage Benefits Local Communities!
Ecological and Recreational Benefits of the NFPP
By reconnecting America’s rivers the Fish Passage Program:
- Increases river connectivity creating healthier aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife
- Improves water quality and quantity
- Improves sediment management
- Restores and protects aquatic and riparian habitat
- Provides a solution to continued decline of freshwater species in the face of climate and other ecological uncertainties
These efforts don’t just benefit fish! The NFPP also:
- Benefits local communities faced with the expense of maintaining obsolete dams
- Removes the threat of unsafe-killer dams and culverts
- Restores and enhances sport fishing opportunities
- Increases recreational boating opportunities
- Offers improved wildlife viewing opportunities
Fish Passage Program Creates Jobs
NFPP projects have created or maintained approximately 186,000 jobs. The in-the-water fish passage projects delivered through the NFPP funds have historically depended on and supported a myriad of local hires including:
- General contractors
- Construction contractors
- Engineering and design professionals
- State, tribal and NGO personnel
- Heavy equipment operators
- Surveyors
- Unskilled laborer and volunteer groups from local schools and conservation organizations.
Based on estimates from the Economic Policy Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, each $1 million of fish passage improvement projects creates between 20 to 54 new jobs in the areas which the barriers exist, most of which can be initiated within 3-6 months. Additionally the ability to partner on larger scale projects (e.g., large dam removals) has the potential to double the amount of jobs created over the life of the project.
The Economic Benefit NFPP brings to Communities
National Fish Passage Program project funding benefits the economy of local communities at the same time as enhancing the vitality of our critical and unique aquatic resources.- More than 70% of the NFPP’s total funding goes directly to on-the-ground project implementation.
- In 11 years NFPP has created an economic value of more than $9 billion to local economies.
- Studies indicate the total economic impact of barrier removal to be approximately $8947/acre and $535,955/mile per mile, of river restored to natural flows.
The Fish Passage Program Harnesses the Resources of Partners and Communities
Working with over 700 partners, the National Fish Passage Program is highly effective at leveraging Federal appropriations with an average match of $3 in partner funding for each Federal $1. This maximizes the impact that the program can have in its efforts to reconnect the nation’s aquatic systems. NFPP partners include:
- Federal, State, and local governments
- Non-profit organizations
- Industry (ex: Wolverine Power)
- Small business
- Private landowners
- Universities
Accomplishments of the National Fish Passage Program
True to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission, the work to date has directly benefited over 90 federal trust fish and other aquatic species. Since fiscal year 1999, the National Fish Passage Program has been building successful biological and socioeconomic outcomes:
- Removed approximately 950 fish passage barriers
- Reopened access to more than 15,500 stream miles
- Reconnected over 82,100 acres of wetlands
- $57,200,000 expended on projects, engineering and administration
- Established fish passage engineering capabilities in three Regions
- Created the Fish Passage Decision Support System
- Partnered with the University of Massachusetts and developed the only fish passage engineering graduate degree in the nation.
