News release

[Jennie@ifish]

NEWS RELEASE
Contacts:
Kathy Shinn, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (503) 657-2000 x285
John Spangler, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (541) 867-4741 x235
John Zapell, U.S. Forest Service (541) 902-6976
Jack Sleeper, U.S. Forest Service (541) 563-3211
Kari Seely, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (503) 986-0056

For Immediate Release September 16, 2002

Major Salmon Restoration Effort Using Helicopter Begins This Week

Media invited to view field work on Friday, September 20 at 10 a.m.

NEWPORT - Private landowners and state and federal fish biologists will join forces beginning Sept. 19 on large-scale stream restoration projects to benefit mid-coast salmon and trout in remote sections of the Alsea River basin and the Siuslaw River basin.

The projects will require the use of a heavy lift chinook helicopter over a three-week period to place about 850 whole trees in 25 miles of remote and difficult-to-access sections of fish-bearing streams that lack accumulations of large wood. "These locations were chosen because of their high potential for fish recovery and protection," said John Spangler, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat restoration biologist.

Few large trees remain near these streams due to past timber harvest, stream cleaning activities and conversion to agricultural land. Adding trees replaces large trees that would normally fall into the streams and provide habitat suitable for coho salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.

"The projects put streams on a fast track to recovery until the forest matures and provides large trees naturally," explained Jack Sleeper, U.S. Forest Service fisheries biologist. Placing large wood back into streams is one of several strategies under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, the state's plan for salmon recovery and watershed health that emphasizes partnerships with state and federal agencies, landowners and watershed councils.

"We're working cooperatively and pooling resources on this large scale voluntary project - and that's the intent of the Oregon Plan," said Spangler. "In these two basins, we're adding large wood to 25 stream miles. Most projects are smaller in scale, where we treat one quarter mile to three miles of stream."

Salmon and trout species have different habitat requirements throughout the different stages of their life cycle. Large and small woody debris accumulations benefit fish by slowing stream velocity, creating resting areas, scouring deep pools, providing cover for fish, collecting gravel for spawning beds and providing nutrients and homes for aquatic insects eaten by the fish. Lower water temperatures may result when gravel accumulates and forces water to percolate through the gravel rather than over bedrock, keeping water at cooler temperatures preferred by salmon and trout.

USFS is providing trees for the mid-coast projects that range in size from 30 inches to 36 inches in diameter and from 100 feet to 150 feet in length. Some trees include the root wads that add additional habitat complexity and stability to the structure.

Biologists from ODFW and USFS are providing technical advice and working cooperatively with multiple private landowners along Crab Creek, Buck Creek and Deadwood Creek. Other sites are on USFS land. Project effectiveness will be monitored through adult and juvenile fish surveys and aquatic habitat inventories conducted by ODFW and USFS.

The Alsea River basin sites are located 20 miles southwest of Alsea and include Green River, Buck Creek and Crab Creek. The Siuslaw River basin sites are 15 miles northeast of Mapleton and include Panther Creek, North Panther Creek, Fawn Creek, the west headwaters of Deadwood Creek, the upper headwaters of Deadwood Creek, mainstem Deadwood Creek and Elk Creek.

Outdoor recreationists should be aware that helicopters will be moving trees in these areas and some roads will be closed at times for public safety reasons. For information on Alsea basin temporary road closures, contact the Waldport Ranger District office at 541-563-3211. For Siuslaw basin temporary road closures, contact the Mapleton Ranger District at 541-902-8526.

Most of the funding for projects in the two basins comes from Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grants obtained by the Mid-Coast Watershed Council and the Siuslaw Watershed Council. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided additional funding through the "Jobs in the Woods" program. The total cost for Alsea basin restoration projects is $380,140; Siuslaw basin restoration projects costs are $252,200.

OWEB funds local voluntary efforts to improve water quality and quantity, enhance habitat for critical fish runs, and restore and protect watersheds and wildlife habitat to support local economies. Funding comes from many sources, including proceeds from a voter-approved measure that provides 7.5 percent of lottery funds for the purpose of watershed restoration and protection.

The JITW program supports local community-based watershed restoration projects on a voluntary basis on non-federal lands. The program provides materials and helicopter services for the Crab Creek project ($60,000 ) and the Deadwood Creek project ($37,000). Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation and Siuslaw Soil and Water Conservation District serve as fiscal managers for the projects, respectively.

In addition to providing trees, USFS covered some administrative costs. Columbia Helicopter has been contracted to place the trees.

Large wood placement projects are occurring throughout coastal basins under the Oregon Plan. Other OPSW strategies being implemented for salmon recovery and watershed health include riparian plantings, instream structure placement, repairing or upgrading culverts to improve fish passage, restoring wetlands, decommissioning forest roads and installing fencing along stream banks to exclude livestock.
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ATTENTION MEDIA: Viewing helicopter tree placement is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, September 20 off Highway 34 between Corvallis and Waldport. For directions, contact Kathy Shinn (ODFW) at 503-657-2000 x 285 or John Zapell (USFS) at 541-902-6976. Recorded message available at both numbers by 6 a.m. on Sept. 20 to confirm the flight schedule for that day.

[TheRogue]

Seems to me someone was all for cutting ODFW budget support for this type of project?? That's why you just can't!! Multiple agencies contributing resources accomplishes much more than one alone.

TR

[Uglygreen]

Gee.... I guess you missed the point completely, What was advocated was targeted cuts to administrative support and other less important items so that the money can be spent in the field on important things like this and (of course) hatcheries.

UG

If a logger did this he would go to jail! :grin:

[Jerry Dove]

Don't get me wrong, wood is good. We use to cable the trees in the streams. Now they won't let us do that. Question, where do these trees end up?? Also would the money be better spent to keep our hatcheries open? Just asking.

[Thumper]

Good for fish ...... Very bad for kayakers and rafters. Very, very bad. One person died two years ago in a Washington river from trees similarly placed for fish protection.

I guess there are winners and losers........

[TJB]

Hey Thumper! Was that a kayaker on the East Fork of the Lewis?

[ampersat]

this is clearly a native fish restoration project. not that i'm against hatcheries - they are what give us the fishing we have today. but if the watersheds are restored, then the runs can be restored and we can all fish for natives again. do i need to go hunt up all those posts about hatchery fish not fighting like natives? this is some of that "seven generations" thinking we've heard about.

heads up all. i wonder if they're going to drop carcasses in the upper clackamas again this year.