The Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program (SFISH) has funded its first-ever round of projects, awarding more than $5 million in grants to 20 projects throughout Oregon.
The program, administered by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), collaborated with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and key stakeholders to prioritize forest road improvement projects that improve fish habitat on forestlands owned by small forestland owners, according to ODF’s Small Forestland Owner Office SFISH Coordinator Josh Hanson.
“The projects will restore passage to more than 74 miles of habitat for native salmon and trout and improve water quality by replacing or removing 37 culverts across 19 watersheds,” Hanson said.
Background
The SFISH Program was established by the Legislature in 2022 to provide grants to small forestland owners to implement road improvement projects that result in environmental benefits to fish species addressed in the Private Forest Accord Report. The fund can also be used to mitigate risks to natural resources arising from forest roads.