SAFE Pathways Act

Key Points

• This bill changes how the government builds paths for fish to get around dams. These paths, called fishways, are often built to help native fish swim upstream to lay eggs or find food.
• Under this plan, federal officials must study whether a new fish path will accidentally let invasive species into new areas. Invasive species are animals that do not belong in a specific river and can cause serious harm to the local environment.
• The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior must talk to state leaders before making a decision. This ensures that local experts have a say in protecting their own waters from outside threats.
• This is important because some fish paths meant to help nature can actually cause problems by letting dangerous species spread. This bill aims to balance the need for fish movement with the need to stop invasive pests.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.