How can we protect fish at the Hood Canal Bridge?
Long Live the Kings, in partnership with the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Tribes, and state and federal agencies, is working to address high steelhead mortality at this floating bridge.
A Bridge Over Troubled Water
Researchers have discovered that the floating Hood Canal Bridge, a vital transportation link between the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas, delays the migration of young salmon and steelhead and allows seals to eat them before they can make it out to the ocean.
The Hood Canal Bridge spans the northern outlet of Hood Canal, connecting the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. As a floating bridge, its pontoons span 83% of the width of Hood Canal and extend 15 feet down from the water surface.
These pontoons act like a barrier to juvenile steelhead trout, leaving them trapped and vulnerable to predators. Tracking data from Phase 1 of the project indicated that up to 50% of juvenile steelhead that make it to the bridge do not survive past it. Furthermore, certain portions of the bridge appear to collect plankton, encouraging hungry Chinook, chum and forage fish to linger at the bridge, which could increase their susceptibility to predation.
The bridge also impacts temperature, salinity, and currents for miles to either side. This dual threat to fish and their ecosystem may be limiting the effectiveness of millions of dollars already spent recovering steelhead, salmon, and their habitat in Hood Canal.
Request for Qualifications for Services
Related to a Community Needs Study for the Hood Canal Bridge Ecosystem Impact Assessment
Long Live the Kings, in partnership with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, is soliciting Statements of Qualifications from firms to provide professional services for a community needs study of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Services will inform the broader Hood Canal Bridge Ecosystem Impact Assessment. One firm, or team of firms, will be selected for the project. The contract’s total value is estimated to be less than $249,000. Responses are due no later than March 28, 2025 at 5:00pm. Interested? Find more information and how to submit your RFQ here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contracting language is available upon request.
IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED
- Question: Is there a standard budgeted amount or type of incentive (e.g., gift cards, entered into a drawing, swag) for participation?
Answer: In our current budget, there is $600 to purchase snacks/beverages for people attendees of community meetings, and $3,400 to rent community outreach venue(s). Once a contractor is selected, we can discuss options for non-financial incentives for participation through the organization (e.g., swag). - Question: Have any communication assets been developed previously (e.g., fact sheet, brochure, social media posts, infographic, toolkit, videos)?
Answer: We currently have developed several power point presentations, a 2-page fact sheet, infographics of the bridge, a summary report on the Phase 1 study, and a short (<5 mins) film about the bridge (in production). We are open to discussions around the most desirable additional communications assets depending on the engagement approach.
NOTE: A previous RFQ (“Bridge Conceptual Design for the Hood Canal Bridge Ecosystem Impact Assessment”) was released on January 14, 2025. Due to changes in circumstances we are now releasing this new RFQ with only the community needs study component of the original RFQ. Another RFQ for the Bridge Conceptual Design component will be released at a later date.