The Chelan County Natural Resources Department (CCNRD) implemented the Skinney Creek Culvert Replacement Project to correct a problem culvert and to reduce blockages that interrupt adult and juvenile salmonid migrations. This project was identified as part of a Chelan County Fish Barrier Inventory Study completed by the Harza/BioAnalyst Engineering Co. in 2000. The culvert on Skinney Creek was a substantial barrier to fish due to the presence of a high outfall drop distance and high velocities. The replacement of this culvert directly addressed a physical barrier that interferes with salmonid passage to spawning and rearing habitat. The existing fish passage barrier culvert was replaced with a 30-foot span modular bridge unit to open up habitat for spring Chinook, steelhead, bull trout and coho on Skinney Creek.

This culvert replacement was a part of a greater effort entitled 'The Upper Wenatchee Passage Program' (UWPP) a collaborative effort between Chelan County Natural Resource Department, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to acquire funds to replace nine barrier culverts that interrupted adult and juvenile salmonid passage in the Chiwawa and Middle Wenatchee subwatersheds. The biological goal of the UWPP was to increase fish passage into Alder Creek (2 culverts), Clear Creek (3 culverts), Beaver Creek (3 culverts) and Skinney Creek (2 culverts). All fish passage UWPP barriers (except Skinney Creek #1 due to an upcoming DOT highway realignment project) have now been replaced thanks to funding from the Salmon Recovery funding board and the Tributary Committee.