ODFW seeks public comment on fish passage waiver proposal on an Unnamed Tributary to Salt Creek in Polk County

Salem, Ore. – ODFW is seeking public comment on a fish passage waiver request from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) at an Unnamed Tributary to Salt Creek in Polk County.

In 2021, ODOT completed emergency road and culvert work on Highway 22. Since then, a tributary to the Unnamed Tributary to Salt Creek failed and is included in the waiver as work will occur here at a future date. This work will presumably trigger the state's fish passage requirements.

In lieu of providing fish passage at the tributaries to Salt Creek where it intersects Highway 22 at mileposts 7.7 and 7.76, ODOT proposes to contribute funds to a project being implemented in 2027 by the Santiam Watershed Council and the Santiam Water Control District at Penitentiary Dam in Salem. This project proposes to permanently remove Penitentiary Dam and install a roughened riffle that will allow volitional passage to native migratory fish.

ODFW made the initial determination that the mitigation proposed by ODOT would provide a net benefit to native migratory fish. This waiver request will be presented to the Fish Passage Task Force for their consideration at the Dec. 9 Fish Passage Task Force meeting.

In the meantime, the public has until Nov. 30 to send in comments about the proposed plans.

Comments should be sent to Pete Baki, ODFW-ODOT Fish Passage Liaison, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302 or pete.baki@odfw.oregon.gov. For questions or more information, contact Baki at 503-586-9827.

There will be additional opportunity to comment on the waiver request at the online ODFW Fish Passage Task Force Meeting on Dec. 9.

The waiver application, ODFW's benefit analysis and the draft waiver agreement are posted on the ODFW Fish Division website.