The Lewis County Conservation District has been working on a culvert assessment in WRIA 23 since June of 2002. During this time we have prioritized fish blockages for replacement based on amount of habitat to be opened up, landowner willingness, and salmon usage. This project is located on Stearns Creek, which was determined a system with salmon usage containing few blockages on the main stem. Coho, cutthroat, and steelhead currently inhabit Stearns Creek and the system is documented as having Chum Salmon utilizing the habitat in the past. The first blockage on Stearns Creek is 2.8 miles from the confluence to the Chehalis River and we are submitting an application to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to remove the existing culverts and install a bridge. This project (Elder Culvert Replacement) is the next barrier on Stearns Creek and is located at RM 8.6. In addition to this blockage we are also applying through FFFPP to replace the next barrier at RM 8.7. There is approximately one mile of stream before the next partial blockage above RM 8.7. The Priority Index # for this barrier is 18.81. A total of 2426.8 linear meters of stream was surveyed above this project site. Approximately 729 square meters of spawning habitat and 3407.5 square meters of rearing habitat exist upstream from this site. This project will remove two existing culverts and replace them with a box culvert that will allow fish of all ages and lifestyles to migrate up and down stream.