The culvert under West Uncas Road passes most fish currently, though during low flows in 2008 when adult summer chum salmon were migrating into the system it was found to have affected their ability to access prime spawning areas upstream.

Feb 2009 - WDFW engineers conduct initial investigation for a culvert removal/retrofit and develop 5 alternatives.

1. A retrofit option was explored that would have involved rock weirs and slip lining the culvert in the report. This option was deemed unfeasible due to degraded condition of the culvert.
2. Report recommended replacement with bridge and gave several alternatives. The bridge option would have involved stream realigning to have to be done both upstream and downstream of the culvert and that was not an option at that time.

Fall 2009 - Emergency measures were successfully taken to temporarily backwater the culvert with sandbags to facilitate summer chum passage. While a more permanent solution could be sought.

Spring 2010 - Project Partners applied for an HPA to install rock weirs on the downstream to raise water levels was applied for as a interim solution. This permit was denied, and a permit would only be issued for culvert replacement or a bridge replacement, or for another season of sandbag weirs.

Fall 2010 - Sandbags were again installed to backwater culvert to allow for fish passage.

Fall 2011- Sandbags were again installed to backwater culvert to allow for fish passage.

Fall 2012- Sandbags were again installed to backwater culvert to allow for fish passage.

Fall 2013- Sandbags were again installed to backwater culvert to allow for fish passage.

Summer/Fall 2013-Jefferson County became project sponsor for this project and began working to seek funding to complete design work for a feasible option.

December 2013- Jefferson County successfully applies for Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) Project Implementation and Development Awards (PIDA) funding to conduct the design work for the Salmon Ck - West Uncas Road Culvert Replacement Design project.