The
Youngs Bay Watershed Council has been proactively working
with landowners to replace antiquated tidegate and culverts
with new fish-friendly tidegates. With over 80% of the tidal
spawns and marshes cut-off from diking and filing in the Youngs
Bay (and Columbia River Estuary) rearing habitat for juvenile
salmon has been lost. Replacement of old gates with ones with
improved designs allows juvenile and adult fish passage, provides
the same amount of flood protection, allows ponding water
to evacuate the land faster (due to lighter aluminum lid)
and allows the landowner to open the gate in the dryer months
to increased tidal exchange and improve water quality.
Project
partners and funders for the projects include:
- CREST
- Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Seppa Dairy
- Diking District # 7
- Fort Clatsop National Monument
Aluminum lid with slider-door for fish passage
A 3' aluminum sleeve is needed to protect the tube
stress
Laying in the new HDPE culvert and tidegate in Youngs
Bay
Track-hoe back filling the dike after installation
of new tidegate and culvert
Similarly designed gate allowing more estuarine exchange
and fish passage
