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Family Forest Fish Passage Program
 Funding Opportunity for Small Forest Landowners
The Family Forest Fish Passage Program (FFFPP) is a voluntary program through which landowners can receive financial and technical assistance for removing fish barriers. A ‘fish passage barrier’ is any artificial (human-caused) in-stream structure that impedes the free passage of fish. Examples include culverts, dams, weirs, and road crossings.
Financial assistance is provided on a cost-share basis. The landowner share is based on the project costs and the annual volume of timber harvested on the property. The state typically provides 75% - 100% of removal and replacement costs.
Program Background: The FFFPP was created as part of Washington State’s salmon recovery plan, which requires all private forest landowners to fix artificial in-stream fish barriers by 2016. In May of 2003, the State Legislature committed to helping small forest landowners pay for these repairs. Under the legislation, small forest landowners who voluntarily enroll in the Family Forest Fish Passage Program will not be required to fix any fish barriers until the blockage is identified as a high priority and the state can provide financial assistance. If a landowner chooses not to enroll under FFFPP, fish blockages must be fixed at the landowner’s expense by 2016 and any future Forest Practices Application for timber harvest may be denied until the barrier is corrected.
Program Process: A landowner must first submit an application to the state. The annual application deadline is June 30th. A field technician then assesses each barrier and the barriers within each watershed are prioritized for funding and removal.
How to Get Started: Landowners are encouraged to work with local project sponsors, such as conservation districts. The Spokane County Conservation District is pleased to offer the citizens of Spokane County local technical assistance in the areas of fish passage barrier assessment, contracting and permitting, and other aspects of project management.
For more information, please contact: Daniel J. Ross, FFFPP Project Representative, at (509) 535-7274 or dan-ross@sccd.org or contact the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Small Forest Landowner’s Office at (360) 902-1391 or visit the DNR's FFFPP web site.
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