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Umpqua Basin
Douglas County
 Douglas County projects located in the North Coast Basin

Rattlesnake Creek Skid Road Decommission and Sediment Reduction
Sediment Reduction Project (2000)

Salmon License Plate Funds $4,010
Total Project Cost $6,710

An old skid road, constructed on a steep slope directly above Rattlesnake Creek, was slowly eroding, depositing harmful sedimentation and road run-off contaminants in the stream and threatening the stream with the potential of hundreds of yards of soil and debris if the road bed ever gave way. As stress fractures began to appear, the Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District sought help in decommissioning the road and replanting the area for slope stability. Thanks to salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the road was decommissioned, the slope pulled back and refilled, and native grasses and trees planted over the area to reestablish soil stability. Within a year of project completion, through strong grass establishment and tree growth, the slope was satisfactorily stabilized and sediment entering the creek from erosion significantly reduced.

Road with Excavator

Failing roadway
 


Slope of Hill

Slope pulled back, refilled
 


Clear Stream

Creek running clear
 

For more information contact Walt Barton, Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District (541.673.8316)

Cavitt Creek Road Restoration
Fish Passage Improvement (2004)

Salmon License Plate Funds $334,110
Total Project Cost $981,110

The Cavitt Creek watershed is home to coastal coho, winter steelhead, cutthroat trout and other aquatic species. Within the Umpqua Basin, the watershed has also been identified as the most prone to chronic sediment buildup and the most at risk for debris avalanches, circumstances that degrade water quality and reduce availability of valuable fish habitat. With the help of salmon license plate funds from OWEB, the Umpqua Basin Watershed Council was able to plan and undertake seven road-related restoration projects to mitigate sediment buildup and reduce high water risks. Thanks to salmon license plate funds, the council replaced seven undersized, damaged, or poorly installed culverts with larger, stronger stream crossings. Today native species in the Cavitt Creek watershed enjoy clearer water and greater access to rearing and spawning habitat.

Tiny Old Culvert

Undersized culvert with high
outlet blocking fish passage


Culvert Hovering in Midair

Weekly Bros Inc setting new
arch culvert with excavator


Stream Flowing through New Culvert

New culvert with
natural rock bottom


For more information contact Bob Kinyon, Umpqua Basin Watershed Council (541.673.5756)

Myrtle Creek Tributaries Fish Passage
Watershed Restoration Project (2005)

Salmon License Plate Funds $21,000
Total Project Cost $70,025

Myrtle Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Umpqua River, hosts both juvenile and adult salmonids. In order to protect and increase these fish populations, the Umpqua Basin Watershed Council, in cooperation with local landowners, businesses, and government, has worked to eliminate fish barriers in Myrtle Creek and its tributaries, opening more spawning and rearing habitat to anadromous and resident fish species. Through salmon license plate funds from OWEB, three high-priority fish passage barriers and high-water risks will be eliminated from the Myrtle Creek watershed. When completed, these road crossing replacements will have opened nearly five miles of valuable habitat for coho, steelhead and cutthroat trout.

For more information contact Bob Kinyon, Umpqua Basin Watershed Council (541.673.5756)  
 
Culvert with Outlet Drop

Old culvert with high outlet blocking fish passage


Large Culvert

Large replacement culvert with natural stream bottom


 
Page updated: April 12, 2007

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