Pete
08-12-2002, 07:36 PM
For Immediate Release August 12, 2002
ODFW Seeks Comments on Fish Passage Exemption Requests
PORTLAND - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission seeks public comment on three requests to forego providing required fish passage at culverts being replaced on three creeks in the Portland metro area. Fish passage at two other sites will be provided in lieu of passage at the culverts in question.
Comments are due by Sept. 11, 2002.
The Commission may waive the statutory requirement to provide fish passage for artificial obstructions if an alternative to fish passage provides a net benefit to native migratory fish compared to the original site. Mitigation is required when habitat that could be used by native migratory fish will not be accessible if the waiver is given. The Commission also can exempt a land manager from the requirement if there is no appreciable fish benefit to providing passage. Sites exempted typically have no useful habitat for native migratory fish upstream and do not need to provide mitigation.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is requesting a waiver for a culvert located near Sylvan on US Highway 26 where it crosses Golf Creek in the Tualatin River Basin. If this site receives a waiver, 0.3 miles of seasonally intermittent cutthroat habitat will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. To mitigate for this loss, a structurally-sound culvert, which is currently a fish passage barrier and does not need replacement, will be replaced to provide fish passage. This mitigation culvert is located near Hillsboro on Murtagh Road where it crosses Murtagh Creek, also in the Tualatin River Basin. If this site is used as mitigation for the waived Golf Creek culvert, one mile of excellent steelhead and cutthroat habitat will be made newly accessible upstream of the culvert on Murtagh Creek.
The City of Oregon City also is requesting a waiver for a culvert located in the city limits at the Highway 213 and Beavercreek Road intersection, which crosses Newell Creek. Newell Creek is a tributary of Abernethy Creek, which flows into the Willamette River. If this site receives a waiver, 0.4 miles of seasonally intermittent cutthroat habitat will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. To mitigate for this loss, a structurally-sound culvert, which is currently a fish passage barrier and does not need replacement, will be replaced to provide fish passage. This mitigation culvert is located outside of Oregon City in Clackamas County, on South Redland Road where it crosses Holcomb Creek, also a tributary of Abernethy Creek. If this site is used as mitigation for the waived Newell Creek culvert, 0.6 miles of excellent coho, steelhead, and cutthroat habitat will be made newly accessible upstream of the culvert on Holcomb Creek.
ODOT is requesting an exemption for another culvert located near Damascus on Highway 212 where it crosses Richardson Creek. Richardson Creek is in the Clackamas River Basin. If this site receives an exemption, 70 feet of a roadside ditch, unsuitable as native migratory fish habitat, will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. Richardson Creek upstream of the culvert has been channelized and filled due to development and agricultural use.
Artificial obstructions must provide upstream and downstream passage for native migratory fish when they undergo construction, have a fundamental change in permit status, or are abandoned. ODOT's and Oregon City's plans to replace the road culverts have "triggered" the fish passage laws.
Details of these requests will be located on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's website by Wednesday. (www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/Management/FishPassage.html).
Comments may be directed to Tom Stahl, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 59, Portland, 97207. Stahl may be reached at (503) 872-5252, Ext. 5431, or by email at Thomas.Stahl@state.or.us. The Commission will consider the waiver requests and public comments received at its regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 20 in John Day.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
[ 08-12-2002, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]
ODFW Seeks Comments on Fish Passage Exemption Requests
PORTLAND - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission seeks public comment on three requests to forego providing required fish passage at culverts being replaced on three creeks in the Portland metro area. Fish passage at two other sites will be provided in lieu of passage at the culverts in question.
Comments are due by Sept. 11, 2002.
The Commission may waive the statutory requirement to provide fish passage for artificial obstructions if an alternative to fish passage provides a net benefit to native migratory fish compared to the original site. Mitigation is required when habitat that could be used by native migratory fish will not be accessible if the waiver is given. The Commission also can exempt a land manager from the requirement if there is no appreciable fish benefit to providing passage. Sites exempted typically have no useful habitat for native migratory fish upstream and do not need to provide mitigation.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is requesting a waiver for a culvert located near Sylvan on US Highway 26 where it crosses Golf Creek in the Tualatin River Basin. If this site receives a waiver, 0.3 miles of seasonally intermittent cutthroat habitat will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. To mitigate for this loss, a structurally-sound culvert, which is currently a fish passage barrier and does not need replacement, will be replaced to provide fish passage. This mitigation culvert is located near Hillsboro on Murtagh Road where it crosses Murtagh Creek, also in the Tualatin River Basin. If this site is used as mitigation for the waived Golf Creek culvert, one mile of excellent steelhead and cutthroat habitat will be made newly accessible upstream of the culvert on Murtagh Creek.
The City of Oregon City also is requesting a waiver for a culvert located in the city limits at the Highway 213 and Beavercreek Road intersection, which crosses Newell Creek. Newell Creek is a tributary of Abernethy Creek, which flows into the Willamette River. If this site receives a waiver, 0.4 miles of seasonally intermittent cutthroat habitat will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. To mitigate for this loss, a structurally-sound culvert, which is currently a fish passage barrier and does not need replacement, will be replaced to provide fish passage. This mitigation culvert is located outside of Oregon City in Clackamas County, on South Redland Road where it crosses Holcomb Creek, also a tributary of Abernethy Creek. If this site is used as mitigation for the waived Newell Creek culvert, 0.6 miles of excellent coho, steelhead, and cutthroat habitat will be made newly accessible upstream of the culvert on Holcomb Creek.
ODOT is requesting an exemption for another culvert located near Damascus on Highway 212 where it crosses Richardson Creek. Richardson Creek is in the Clackamas River Basin. If this site receives an exemption, 70 feet of a roadside ditch, unsuitable as native migratory fish habitat, will remain inaccessible upstream of the culvert. Richardson Creek upstream of the culvert has been channelized and filled due to development and agricultural use.
Artificial obstructions must provide upstream and downstream passage for native migratory fish when they undergo construction, have a fundamental change in permit status, or are abandoned. ODOT's and Oregon City's plans to replace the road culverts have "triggered" the fish passage laws.
Details of these requests will be located on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's website by Wednesday. (www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/Management/FishPassage.html).
Comments may be directed to Tom Stahl, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 59, Portland, 97207. Stahl may be reached at (503) 872-5252, Ext. 5431, or by email at Thomas.Stahl@state.or.us. The Commission will consider the waiver requests and public comments received at its regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 20 in John Day.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
[ 08-12-2002, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]