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New culverts open cutthroat trout habitat
August 15, 2007 16-07
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Trout already benefiting from previous barrier removals in same stream
As part of a larger project, Starker Forests will replace two culverts with bigger, fish friendly versions in late August to allow cutthroat trout access to nearly a mile of habitat on Enos Creek in Benton County.
The culverts are located on private forest roads. Enos Creek empties into Woods Creek, a Marys River tributary. The two culverts were undersized. Erosion on the downstream end of the culverts created a drop that prevented fish from traveling upstream. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) identified the area as high priority for restoring cutthroat spawning and rearing habitat.
Starker Forests replaced these culverts, without use of public funds, to expand on last summer’s work of the Marys River Watershed Council that replaced five additional downstream culverts. In combination, the associated projects opened more than four miles of cutthroat trout habitat.
Partners in the larger project include Marys River Watershed Council, ODFW, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, Benton County Public Works, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and Starker Forests, which owns the land involved in this summer’s construction. OWEB provided $109,400 in Oregon Lottery funds toward the initial project’s cost of $154,900.
Throughout project implementation, partners have made an effort to engage the community. The watershed council held a workshop in July 2006 that provided information about cutthroat trout habitat needs, the planned culvert work, and the conservation and restoration assistance programs available in the area.
In addition, local residents and high school and university students participated in monitoring fish presence in four locations. This monitoring demonstrated the presence of cutthroat upstream of two previously replaced culverts and in main stem Woods Creek.
Recently, the watershed council distributed information to local landowners to assist with identifying and controlling Japanese Knotweed, an aggressive invasive plant that will out compete native vegetation along stream banks.
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