| North Coast Basin |
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| Clatsop County |
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Nehalem Watershed Fish Passage Improvement
Fish Passage Improvement (1999)
Salmon License Plate Funds $38,740
Total Project Cost $122,540
Over thirty years ago, road construction near Fishhawk Lake in the Nehalem River watershed forced Boxler Creek to pass through two undersized culverts. The high velocity of water rushing through the culverts quickly eroded the streambed, creating a five-foot drop at the outlet and isolating over a mile of valuable fish habitat upstream. Using salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council partnered with state and federal agencies and the Fishhawk community to replace the culvert with a bridge and restore the stream's historic contour and vegetation. Within two years of project completion more than 40 coho were observed spawning upstream of the crossing. |
Old culverts with
five-foot outlet drop
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Construction of the new bridge
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New bridge with rocks and
vegetation to prevent erosion
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For more information contact Maggie Peyton, Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (503.429.2401) |
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| Douglas County |
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Douglas County projects located in the Umpqua Basin
Cabin Creek Culvert Removal
Fish Passage Improvement (2000)
Salmon License Plate Funds $1,459
Total Project Cost $3,860
Cabin Creek, a tributary of Esmund Creek in the Siuslaw River watershed, offers gravel rich rearing and spawning habitat for native salmonids. For years, however, an old logging road completely blocked fish passage to over a mile of this valuable habitat. To reopen Cabin Creek, Roseburg Forest Products decommissioned the road, while the Siuslaw Watershed Council, using salmon license plate funds from OWEB, permanently removed the crossing. Two boulder weirs were also placed downstream to capture and store sediments moving through the system and to provide additional habitat for juvenile salmonids. Within two years of project completion, coho salmon were spotted in the upper reaches of Cabin Creek thanks to salmon license plate funds.
For more information contact Todd Miller, Siuslaw Watershed Council (541.268.3044) |
Open streambed ready for winter flows
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| Lane County |
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Lane County projects located in the Willamette Basin
Siuslaw Fish Passage Improvement Project
Fish Passage Improvement (2000)
Salmon License Plate Funds $75,714
Total Project Cost $189,296
Complementing the culvert replacements completed by federal agencies and private timber companies on lands within the Siuslaw River watershed, the Siuslaw Watershed Council developed a partnership with Lane County to address county road crossings that blocked fish passage to high quality habitat for coho, chinook, and cutthroat trout. Funded by salmon license plate funds from OWEB, this first cooperative effort between the county and the council not only removed six high-priority fish passage barriers, but also laid the groundwork for future restoration partnerships. Over 25 miles of quality habitat is now accessible to anadromous populations due to this cooperative effort and the salmon license plate funds supporting the project.
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Old crumpled culvert
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Fish-friendly culvert sign
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New stronger culvert
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| For more information contact Todd Miller, Siuslaw Watershed Council (541.268.3044) |
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| Lincoln County |
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Cook Creek Culvert Replacement Project
Fish Passage Improvement (2000)
Salmon License Plate Funds $24,520
Total Project Cost $48,586
Although Simpson Creek of the Yaquina River watershed always boasted a significant population of native anadromous fish, Cook Creek, one of its larger tributaries, had not seen coho, chinook, or chum in many years. Four undersized and poorly installed culverts were causing migration problems for both juvenile and adult fish. Salmon license plate funds from OWEB enabled the MidCoast Watersheds Council to replace the barrier culverts, facilitating fish passage to high quality habitat in the upper reaches of Cook Creek. Within a year of project completion, juvenile and adult salmon were spotted above all four culverts, thanks to salmon license plate funds.
For more information contact Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council (541.265.9195)
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New culvert with natural stream bottom
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Bud's Creek Restoration Project
Fish Passage Improvement (2001)
Salmon License Plate Funds $979
Total Project Cost $4,778
Bud's Creek, a tributary to Bummer Creek in the Alsea River watershed, provides important coho, steelhead, and cutthroat trout habitat. Much of the creek, however, was blocked to anadromous fish by an undersized culvert at a private road crossing. Using salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the MidCoast Watersheds Council removed the culvert and replaced it with a rock-lined ford. In addition, a 30-foot section of the stream above the road crossing was deepened and widened to form a rearing alcove. Today the ford remains passable to juvenile fish, while flourishing vegetation near the alcove continues to enhance the habitat for coho rearing by providing protection and shade.
For more information contact Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council (541.265.9195)
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Rock-lined ford
Alcove for coho rearing
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Finster's Culvert Replacement
Fish Passage Improvement (2000)
Salmon License Plate Funds $1,962
Total Project Cost $3,035
Impassable culverts on private lands limit the availability of habitat for native juvenile and adult species throughout the Alsea River watershed. Working with local landowners and concerned government agencies, the MidCoast Watersheds Council has worked to remove these barriers. On an unnamed tributary of the Alsea River, one such barrier, an undersized culvert with a three-foot drop at the outlet, prevented all fish passage to a quarter mile of habitat upstream. Using salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the culvert was replaced and large wood added to the stream to increase winter survival of juvenile coho salmon. Thanks to salmon license plate funds, the improved habitat is now open to cutthroat trout year round and provides an ideal home for juvenile salmon during winter months.
For more information contact Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council (541.265.9195)
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Fish-friendly culvert during construction
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East Olalla Creek Passage and Riparian Project
Fish Passage Improvement (2005)
Salmon License Plate Funds $154,440
Total Project Cost $303,221
As part of the MidCoast Watersheds Restoration Plan, the MidCoast Watersheds Council is taking action to repair the negative impacts of years of heavy logging and agricultural use near Olalla Creek, a tributary of the Yaquina River. Using salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the council will address a variety of restoration priorities along the east fork of Ollala Creek, including culvert removal, fencing and riparian planting, and in-stream log placement. Collaboration on this extensive restoration project includes local landowners, businesses, government, and schools. When completed, salmon license plate funds and community-wide support will have made possible the opening and improvement of nearly four miles of previously blocked habitat for juvenile salmonids and resident species.
For more information contact Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council (541.265.9195) |
Drop in stream bed blocking fish passage
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