The Davis Slough Hydrologic Connectivity project will replace an undersized culvert under the South Skagit Highway that is prone to blockage by sediment and beaver dams with a 60-foot long single span bridge. The project will ultimately ensure connectivity of the tributary-fed backwater in Davis Slough. The feasibility study indicated that both the barrier culvert replacement with a bridge and some level of hydrologic floodplain restoration were feasible. The Final Design Project produced final engineering designs, completed permitting and prepared the bid specification package for the bridge project. Davis Slough is located within the Middle Skagit River at river mile 41, east of the Day Creek Community. When completed the project will ensure connectivity between the Skagit River and at least 4.5 acres of high quality off channel habitat in Davis Slough. Skagit County Public Works received a restoration construction grant (13-1052) to implement this final design. Off-channel habitats associated with the Middle Skagit River such as Davis Slough are used by all six Skagit River Chinook populations for rearing areas and as refugia during high flows. Recent work by Seattle City Light, Skagit River System Cooperative, and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe have shown that yearling Chinook utilize these types of off-channel habitat areas. This habitat type is a rare habitat in the Middle Skagit reach. As such these types of habitats are considered a Tier 1 Target Area under the Skagit Watershed Councils 2010 Strategic Approach.