US Army Corps awards $691M contract for Howard Hanson Dam juvenile fish passage

The Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this month awarded a $691,000,000 construction contract for a downstream juvenile fish‑passage facility at Howard Hanson Dam, agency representatives told the Salmon Recovery Council.

"As of the afternoon of March 24, we awarded a $691,000,000 construction contract for that long awaited downstream juvenile fish passage facility," Nancy of the Seattle District said, describing the award and an expected five‑year construction period with completion around late 2031.

Nancy explained that the design will include multiple stacked intake ports to match reservoir depths and a steep‑slope bypass — described to members as a "steepest water slide" and deceleration tunnel — to deliver juveniles downriver past the dam. She noted the project has a shifted schedule due to a lapse in prior funding, and the contractor will share a construction schedule in coming weeks.

Council members highlighted the regional significance. Chair Trout said the project "changes the trajectory of South Sound Chinook recovery," noting the long duration of planning that dates back decades.

The Corps' description to the SRC emphasized engineering features to address juvenile fish behavior and survival: multiple intake elevations and a bypass that minimizes handling and increases survival probability through the dam passage. The Corps also said operational details and construction phasing will be shared as the contractor provides schedules.

Next steps: the Corps will circulate construction timelines and coordination plans; local partners and lead entities can expect site visits and opportunities to coordinate mitigation, monitoring and access planning as construction advances.