07/25/2025
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $93 million contract to NW Construction, Inc. to build a key fish passage project on the San Joaquin River. This initiative is part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, a 2006 agreement (enacted by Congress in 2009) aimed at reviving salmon populations and improving river flow, while still providing water to Central Valley agriculture.
The project will address Sack Dam, a barrier near Dos Palos that blocks migrating salmon. Plans include constructing a bypass channel for fish around the dam and installing a fish screen at the Arroyo Canal to prevent salmon from entering irrigation systems.
Officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort, which involves federal, state, environmental, and agricultural stakeholders. The goal is to restore spring-run Chinook salmon and other species to upstream river habitats without disrupting legal water diversions.
Construction is set to begin in September 2025 and is expected to take about three years. The project is a major component of long-term plans to balance ecosystem restoration with the region’s agricultural needs.
More details can be found at restoresjr.net.
https://www.californiaconstructionnews.com/2025/07/21/reclamation-awards-93-million-contract-for-san-joaquin-river-fish-passage-project/?amp=1