June 28, 2021
| The Honorable Maria Cantwell Chair Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable Rodger Wicker Ranking Member Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 |
| The Honorable Peter DeFazio Chair Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 |
The Honorable Sam Graves Ranking Member Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 |
Dear Chairwoman Cantwell, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman DeFazio, and Ranking Member Graves,
The undersigned organizations write to express our support and appreciation for advancing much-needed modernization of the nation’s culverts as part of Surface Transportation reauthorization legislation. As you know, investment benefits of our nation’s infrastructure are far reaching. A well performing infrastructure network delivers a multi-decadal return on investment – this is particularly true for culvert modernization and the ancillary benefits related to improved conditions that support healthy fisheries.
Our nation’s waterways have become increasingly fragmented by in-stream manmade structures, such as culverts, that frequently restrict or completely block fish passage. Retrofitting or replacing these structures is a high priority for restoring habitat connectivity for native fishes and other aquatic organisms, such as salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. Due to the ubiquitous geographic distribution of these problematic stream-road crossings, federal investment for their modernization must be prioritized.
It has been estimated that efforts to restore fish passage may ultimately cost hundreds of millions just on federal lands in Oregon and Washington alone and will take decades to accomplish (1). Because of these extreme time and cost estimates, there is a great need to ensure best the allocation of resources. We strongly believe that the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program legislation you have championed would provide much needed funding and prioritization of these structures.
Once again, thank you for your leadership and support for advancing this landmark grant program to ensure federal investment is prioritized for the much-needed modernization of culverts nationwide.
Sincerely,
American Fisheries Society
American Sportfishing Association
Congressional Sportsmen Foundation
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
International Game Fish Association
Kenai River Sportfishing Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Professional Anglers Association
Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Nature Conservancy
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Trout Unlimited
Wildlife Forever
Cc: Representative Kilmer and McMorris-Rodgers
(1) GAO Report, Restoring Fish Passage Through Culverts on Forest Service and BLM Lands in Oregon and Washington Could Take Decades. Accessed https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-02-136.pdf.