Fish weirs and local NFIP compliance : A northwest perspective

ABSTRACT

Fish habitat enhancement projects, which come in a variety of designs, are being installed on streams in the Pacific Northwest. Governmental agencies and local communities have been sponsoring projects that can help restore anadromous fish runs to our streams. The popularity of these projects seems to be on the rise. The need for them can be expected to increase as development pushes farther into the Cascade foothills, runoff and sedimentation increase, and salmon runs continue to decline. These projects may involve streambed filling, riprap (rock or bioengineered), culvert replacement, landscaping, and sometimes the construction of stepped weirs. In recent years, new habitat enhancement designs have been introduced to remeander streams or to place natural vegetative materials directly into watercourses. Because these projects can enhance floodplain values, they can reduce flood damage by discouraging floodplain development that is incompatible with a quality riverine environment