A five-year effort to improve aquatic habitat around Kennewick’s Clover Island is a go after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $4 million contract to Alaska-based TDX Power Services LLC to complete the work.

The Corps’ Walla Walla District and the Port of Kennewick, which owns the 16-acre island, have been working since 2015 to improve aquatic and riparian habitat along the island’s Pasco-facing north shore.

The project will improve habitat to support four species listed under the Endangered Species Act – upper Columbia River spring-run chinook salmon, upper Columbia River steelhead, middle Columbia River steelhead and bull trout – and to support birds and other wildlife at Clover Island.

The project will create a shallow water bench to support juvenile salmon. The project is funded by the Corps and the port, with the city of Kennewick, Benton County and the state of Washington providing support.

“This is a great project that will create a living shoreline, enhance the habitat for fish, expand recreation, and improve economic opportunities on Kennewick’s historic waterfront,” said Tana Badler-Inglima, deputy CEO for the port.