Thurston County to apply for $9.3M grant to remove fish barrier on Green Cove Creek
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Summary
Public works asked commissioners to authorize a $9.3 million RCO grant application to design and build a bridge at the 36th Avenue crossing on Green Cove Creek; staff said the project would open about 0.75 miles of fish habitat and builds on Phase 1 bridge work completed last summer.
Thurston County public works asked the Board of County Commissioners for permission to apply for a $9,300,000 grant from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) program administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
County engineer Matt Huntsman told commissioners the grant application would fund final design, right‑of‑way work and construction to remove a fish barrier at the 36th Avenue crossing on Green Cove Creek. Huntsman said the predesign identified a bridge as the preferred alternative and that Phase 1 of the program—installation of a bridge at an upstream site—was completed last summer.
"The grant would be for 100% of the final design, right of way and construction for the project at 36th Avenue," Huntsman said. He added removing the barrier would open about three‑quarters of a mile of spawning and rearing habitat.
Huntsman said the RCO requires a board resolution supporting the grant application as part of the application materials. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about sequencing (this crossing as phase three of a multi‑crossing effort) and the alternative analysis for neighboring Kaiser Road crossing, which Huntsman said is still pending consultant review.
Staff said they will pursue the RCO application and return with more detailed design materials as funding and the alternative analysis progress.
