Nationwide Permit 60 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material and structures or work in navigable waters to restore or enhance the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms. This permit is designed to facilitate the removal of barriers and the construction of features that allow aquatic species to migrate, spawn, and access necessary habitats throughout a watershed. The scope includes the construction and maintenance of conventional or nature-like fishways, the removal of small obstructions like fallen trees or sediment bars, and the modification of existing structures like culverts or tide gates. It is intended to streamline projects that provide a clear environmental benefit by reconnecting fragmented aquatic ecosystems and improving overall river and stream health.
The 2026 reissuance of NWP 60 represents the first full re-evaluation of this permit since its original introduction in 2021. The Corps determined that the existing qualitative requirements—specifically that projects must be designed to improve aquatic passage—remain sufficient to ensure that authorized activities result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects without the need for a national acreage limit. While the permit terms are essentially unchanged, the supporting decision document has been updated with the most recent environmental baseline data. This includes information from the 2022 National Lakes Assessment and the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment, providing an updated scientific foundation for the Corps' finding that these restoration-focused activities remain environmentally beneficial at a national scale.
Compliance managers for state and local natural resource agencies, non-profit conservation groups, and municipal engineers use this permit. It is the primary tool for authorizing projects intended to upgrade culverts for fish passage, install fish ladders, or remove small debris jams to restore river flow.
The Corps determined that the reissuance of NWP 60 results in a 'no effect' finding for federally-listed endangered or threatened species and designated critical habitat. This finding is maintained by General Condition 18, which requires project-specific ESA Section 7 consultation if an activity 'might affect' listed resources. Because many projects under this permit are designed specifically to aid listed fish, the review process ensures that construction timing avoids sensitive spawning or migration windows. Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is ensured through General Condition 20. If a proposed fish passage project involves modifying an older structure that may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, a pre-construction notification is required, and the district engineer must complete the NHPA review process before work can begin. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) is protected through regional conditions that ensure restoration work does not cause more than minimal adverse effects on sensitive marine or estuarine environments.
Stay current on NWP 60 updates
Get notified when regulations change — no spam, just updates that matter.