Lincoln County is among eight government entities and tribes getting $19.3 million from the federal government for culvert replacement projects to help salmon and steelhead passage in streams and estuaries.
The grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation were announced Thursday by Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
Lincoln County is getting $388,800 for the design and replacement of three existing culverts to help prevent flooding on Anderson and Drift creeks, which are tributaries of the Siletz River estuary.
Other grants include $9.25 million to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to replace 11 culverts in the Rogue River watershed in Josephine County; $2.35 million to Lane County for culvert replacement and fish passage at Shaw Creek on the Siuslaw River; $1.4 million to the city of Troutdale for fish passage restoration on Beaver Creek; two grants to Tillamook County — $1.49 million to replace two fish passage barriers on Brickyard Road at Mill Creek, and $617,600 to replace a fish passage barrier on Kilchis River Road; $800,000 to Coos County to restore fish passage in the Palouse Slough; $1.49 million to the Coquille Indian Tribe for fish passage projects in the Smith River basin; and $1.49 million to Clackamas County for culvert replacement on Conway Creek near Rhododendron.