The barriers to be corrected in this project can be split into three phases.

Phase 1 will correct two fish barriers: (1) a low flow barrier created during the restoration of the mid-section of McDonald Creek on Summit Pacific Medical Center property and (2) the City of Elma's Oakhurst Road Culvert. These sites have already been designed by the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force and Streamworks Consulting. This phase would also include design and fabrication of educational interpretive signs along the stream.

Phase 2 will replace a half arch, half round concrete culvert under the Puget Sound & Pacific (PSAP) Railroad. This culvert is located only 250 feet upstream of the Oakhurst Culvert. Design of the railroad barrier and the two remaining barriers upstream will be part of this project and presented as a design/build project.

Phase 3 will remove two private culverts directly upstream of the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad (PSAP) culvert. A gravel supplementation project to McDonald Creek along Stamper Road will be a part of this final phase of barrier removals for McDonald Creek to enhance spawning availability for adult Coho as they access this area.

All five barriers inhibit up and downstream fish migration in McDonald Creek. Species which would benefit from barrier corrections include: Coho, Cutthroat Trout, Brook Lamprey, Sculpin, Three-Spined Stickleback, Olympic Mudminnow (SS), Western Pearlshell Mussel, Crayfish, and Dace. All of these species have been found in McDonald Creek during previous restoration efforts.