(Seattle, WA)  --  A federal appeals court says the state of Washington must fix culverts that block salmon from reaching their habitat.  The decision was handed down yesterday by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, saying the culverts must be cleared of debris that blocks the salmon from passage to spawning grounds.  The decision was a victory for Native American tribes seeking to hold the state to the promise of treaties that give the tribes the right to fish on lands ceded to the federal government.  The cost of fixing the culverts will add up to hundreds of millions, but the state of Washington stands to receive federal funding for many of the repairs.