National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Funds 2 Portfolio Projects

The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) is proud to announce that $140,000 in National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grants were awarded for 2026 through our partnership with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). NFWF funding will support two projects benefiting WNTI focal species in two states. In addition to the 2026 funding provided through NFWF, partners have secured an additional $1,860,000 in matching funds, bringing the total project value to $2,000,000. Thank you to all the agencies who took the time to submit projects to the portfolios, and congratulations to the projects that qualified for this funding!

California
Jackass Creek Fish Passage Project (California Golden Trout)
The Jackass Creek Fish Passage Project will improve access in a spring-fed system that provides coldwater refugia for California Golden Trout and other aquatic species during extreme low and high flows. This project includes replacing the undersized culvert with a bridge, realigning passage under the road with stream flow, and constructing a natural stream bed. This project will provide full access to the spring-fed creek, a key tributary to the South Fork of the Kern River and to Fish Creek, which often goes dry. This project is being implemented by Jessica Strickland with Trout Unlimited in cooperation with the US Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Idaho
Restoring Fish Passage on Indian Creek: 3 AOP Culvert improvements (Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout)
The goal of this project is to implement fish passage improvements at three existing road stream crossings on Indian Fork that currently block or restrict upstream movement of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Project implementation will restore year-round aquatic organism passage, reestablish natural stream processes at each crossing, and improve long-term channel stability. Collectively, these actions will restore connectivity throughout the middle reaches of Indian Fork and support the long-term persistence of native trout populations by providing access to spawning, rearing, and thermal-refuge habitats. This project is being implemented by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, with additional support from Open Rivers Fund.

Find more projects for our portfolio species: California Golden Trout, Gila Trout, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout.

The Indian Fork project builds on the 2023 Tex Creek culvert removal that reopened access to Indian Fork. Watch the video here. Photo courtesy of IDFG.