[ODFW-News] Major Salmon Restoration Effort Using Helicopter Begins This Week

[ODFW News]

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

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.=20

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.=20

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.=20

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 effectivene=
ss 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.=20

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.=20

In addition to providing trees, USFS covered some administrative costs. =
Columbia Helicopter has been contracted to place the trees.=20

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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