Fish Passage Policy in Alaska - the Last Frontier?

Since the Territorial days of Alaska, the importance of fish migration was recognized in the earliest of fish and game regulations.  This recognition carried through Statehood in 1959 and statutory protections for both anadromous and resident fish have been administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG).  Other pioneering work followed, with fish passage research, assessment, and culvert design approaches developed in various regions in the state.  Early efforts by the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Tongass National Forest were refined by state, federal, and private practitioners across the country and form much of the basis for modern fish passage assessment and design nationwide. 

Since 2001, fish passage guidelines and policy have evolved dynamically.  The formulation of an ADOT-ADFG Memorandum of Agreement set the statewide stage for later development of municipal ordinances emphasizing stream simulation designs.  Local governments are now realizing the connection between improved fish passage and other community needs such as flood risk reduction.  

Alaska, as the ‘last frontier’, will likely see further expansion of its transportation network in the coming decades.  With a backdrop of fish passage policy in place, we have the unique ability to design our future in the realm of aquatic habitat connectivity.