Navigation Technical Applications Home Environmental Restoration Technical Assistance (ERTA) ERTA West ERTA East ERTA Contact Information TAPPS Reports Off-Channel Habitat Inventories - TAPPS off-channel habitat inventory data for the North Coast and North Sound regions Fish Passage Barrier and Surface Water Diversion Screening Assessment and Prioritization Manual - Guidance on how to locate, assess, and prioritize fish passage problems (culverts, dams, and fishways) and surface water diversion screening problems SalmonScape - TAPPS data can be found in the Salmonscape Internet map application. ERTA Guidance Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Information Fish Passage/Diversion Screening Inventory Assessment Protocols and Spreadsheets Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Terminology Gravity Screen Types and Applications Fish Passage and Screening Inventory Reports Cowlitz Wildlife Area Fish Retrofit Report (pdf - 5422Kb) Jefferson County Barrier Culvert Inventory and Prioritization Report (pdf - 1083Kb) Lake Terrell and Tennant Lake Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Prioritization Inventory Report (pdf - 1745Kb) LT Murray Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Prioritization Inventory Report (pdf - 2033Kb) Methow Wildlife Area Fish Retrofit Report (pdf - 4182Kb) Olympic Wildlife Area Fish Retrofit Report (pdf - 11637Kb) Shillapoo Wildlife Area and Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Prioritization Inventory Report (pdf - 2034Kb) Skagit Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Prioritization Inventory Report (pdf - 2646Kb) Skagit Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Scoping Report (pdf - 42.2 Mb)   Snoqualmie Wildlife Area Fish Retrofit Report (pdf - 32569Kb) South Puget Sound Wildlife Area Fish Passage and Diversion Screening Prioritization Inventory Report (pdf - 800Kb) Sunnyside Wildlife Area Fish Retrofit Report (pdf - 2056Kb) WRIA 48 (Seven Streams) Fish Passage and Screening Inventory Report (pdf - 1.2Mb) WSDOT Fish Passage Inventory Reports

Environmental Restoration Technical Assistance: West (ERTA West) Section "Promoting habitat restoration projects and assisting others in getting projects on the ground" ERTA West field crews, consisting of biologists and scientific technicians, conduct state-wide inventories of fish passage barriers and unscreened surface water diversions. In conjunction with inventory work, the field crews also conduct stream habitat assessment, in order to prioritize fish passage barriers for correction. ERTA West biologists use the information collected during the inventories and habitat assessments to identify opportunities for fish passage, screening and habitat restoration projects. Once identified, the biologists further scope and prioritize projects, work with HETA engineers to develop preliminary designs, and request funding for projects to be constructed on WDFW-owned or managed land. ERTA biologists then work with WDFW Business Services Program engineers, engineering aides and construction crews to further develop and construct fish passage, screening and habitat projects. For one example, ERTA West staff identified a fish passage barrier culvert crossing during an inventory effort. A road-impounded wetland was located at the culvert site. Recognizing the values of a high quality wetland to fish and wildlife (such as improved water quality, food source, shelter, sediment retention, etc.), ERTA West biologists sought to provide fish access to the wetland without draining the wetland. In 2000, TAPPS/ ERTA removed the culvert and beaver dam in the old road grade, installed a cedar plank weir on the upstream side of the road to maintain the wetland pond, and created a roughened channel to facilitate fish passage. Additionally, large woody debris was added to the pond and the streambanks were planted with trees and shrubs. This project benefits primarily coho, searun cutthroat and resident trout, by providing access to 2,500 square-meters of quality rearing habitat. Whenever possible, ERTA West advocates allowing natural processes to occur for optimal habitat creation. While the Labrador Creek project is a man-made facility, ERTA biologists attempted to mimic natural conditions of a productive beaver pond. In doing so, this project “jump starts” the system in restoring natural processes, which could take several years for a fully functional wetland to be restored. This approach also minimizes construction and long-term maintenance costs. ERTA West staff provide technical assistance to Regional Fishery Enhancement Groups (RFEG’s), Lead Entities (LE’s), Washington state citizens, State, Federal, Local and Tribal Government, Watershed Planning Committees, Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), WDFW Watershed Stewards and Area Habitat Biologists, and others. ERTA West biologists promote habitat restoration projects and assist others in getting projects on the ground by providing technical assistance, including: fish passage assessment, species presence verification, habitat conditions and restoration options, potential grant funding and project management. In addition to the inventory and habitat restoration efforts, ERTA West operates and maintains the Sunset Falls Fishway, located on the South Fork of the Skykomish River. Built in 1958, the facility is a combination vertical slot fishway and trap and haul complex at the base of Sunset Falls. A tank truck transports fish 3.5 miles upstream around a series of three falls where they are released and provided access to more than 90 miles of quality habitat. In 2003, 52,768 fish were transported, including Chinook, Coho, Pink, Sockeye and Chum salmon, Steelhead and Native Char.