Workers installing wood pilings into an embankment of the Chehalis River

2. Aquatic Restoration

The need for basin-wide aquatic restoration

The Chehalis Basin is made up of nearly 3,400 miles of streams and rivers that provide critical habitat to salmon, other native fish species, and Washington’s largest diversity of amphibians. Salmon runs have declined in recent years, and scientists estimate that existing salmon populations are now less than 50% of their historical run size. A primary reason for this decline is the loss of aquatic habitat, which is estimated to have been reduced by 80% – 87% compared to its historic area.

The Aquatic Species Restoration Program (ASRP) is a major initiative funded by OCB in collaboration with local, Tribal, and state partners. The science-informed plan that supports ASRP is designed to improve and restore aquatic habitat in the Chehalis Basin, as well as protect communities and landscapes from the predicted increase in flood damage.

Read the transcript of this video.

How the ASRP works

The ASRP funds habitat restoration, protection, and related projects in priority areas, in collaboration with willing landowners and partner organizations. Funding supports projects in pursuit of the program’s goals, which are to:

Icon of a fish

Protect and restore natural habitat forming processes within the Chehalis Basin watershed context.

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Increase the quality and quantity of habitats for aquatic species in priority areas.

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Protect and restore aquatic species viability.

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Increase resiliency to climate change by protecting and improving natural water quantity, water timing, and water quality.

In addition to on-the-ground restoration and protection projects, the ASRP supports innovative project ideas, plan development, experimental restoration techniques, as well as monitoring and peer review processes, providing decision-makers with the best available science to support strategic investments in the basin’s habitat.

Results in action

To date, ASRP investments across the basin have resulted in more than:

285

acres of habitat restored

295

acres of habitat protected

17

river miles restored

Scaling investments for the future

As part of its long-term Chehalis Basin Strategy deliberations, the Chehalis Basin Board is considering different scenarios to optimize restoration investments in priority locations over the next several decades. The table below summarizes the level of investment, estimated costs, and assumptions around what it could fund. Scaling up investment will allow the ASRP to tackle more of its 30-year plan and address habitat loss and degradation in the basin.

In the meantime, ASRP is continuing to implement projects and distribute funding for priority restoration efforts across the basin.

Investment levelLowHigh
Miles of river channel restored:222555
Miles opened up with barrier removal:200444
Riparian & floodplain acres restored:8,70016,700
30-year cost range:$278-$964 million$571 million – $2 billion

Who is involved in the ASRP?

The ASRP is guided by a Steering Committee, which includes voting members from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Quinault Indian Nation, and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.  The Steering Committee works with technical experts to support monitoring and learning through project implementation.  Implementation is made possible through partnerships with additional organizations such as:

  • Lewis, Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Mason Conservation Districts 
  • Local land trusts
  • Conservation and salmon recovery organizations 
  • Local governments 
  • Willing private landowners 

Additional resources

Continue to learn more about flood damage reduction
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