Kwoneesum Dam Removal
- Date: May 2024
- Client: Cowlitz Indian Tribe
- Project Type: Relocating Fish
About This Project
In May of 2024, we assisted the Cowlitz Indian Tribe by flying and relocating Trout and other wildlife so they could restore fish passage and remove the nonfunctional Kwoneesum Dam. To fully complete the project, they had to move the wildlife in the lower stream to the upper tributary. This task proved to be difficult due to a 250 ft gorge and rough terrain separating the old passageway and the new passageway. Transporting the wildlife on foot would have been challenging in a lot of ways, making a good use for our drones to come and help.
Photos from the Project
Using the drone, we picked up buckets of fish filled from the lower stream and carefully flew them to the upper tributary. There, officials received the buckets and delivered the fish to the upper stream by hand. In the end, not having to hand pack the buckets of fish out helped to ease the stress of the fish, while also saving on time and energy for all the people involved.
Now that the dam has been removed and the wildlife relocated, the tribe has successfully restored 6.5 miles of passageway for the endangered Coho Salmon and Lower Columbia Steelhead.
