[ODFW-News] Trout habitat restoration project completed on upper Deschutes

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006
 
Trout habitat restoration project completed on upper Deschutes
 
BEND - A project to improve trout habitat and stabilize eroding
riverbanks on the upper Deschutes River was completed this fall with a
$5,840 grant from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Fish
Restoration and Enhancement Program.
 
Thirty trees were planted along a 330-foot-long section of eroding
stream bank within the La Pine State Recreation Area, including 10 large
trees over 20 inches in diameter and 20 smaller trees. These trees will
help anchor the banks and reduce the rate of erosion, which can cause a
decline in water quality and cover gravel that fish need for spawning.
 
"Redband trout, brown trout and mountain whitefish will be the primary
fish species that benefit, but the tree plantings will also provide
benefits for wildlife," said ODFW fish habitat biologist John "Jack"
Williamson, who oversaw the project.
 
Some follow-up work is planned for next spring including anchoring trees
in the river to provide additional fish habitat and planting more
willows along the stream bank.
 
In addition to the R&E Program grant, other funding for the project came
from the federal Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and
mitigation funds from the Central Oregon Irrigation District, which are
administered by the ODFW Deschutes River Mitigation and Enhancement
Program.
 
Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1989, the Fish Restoration and
Enhancement Program is funded by a surcharge on sport and commercial
fishing licenses and commercial poundage fees. The program's
seven-member citizen board reviews fish restoration and enhancement
project proposals and makes funding recommendations to the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission. 
 
For more information on the La Pine State Recreation Area Fish Habitat
and Bank Protection Project, contact John Williamson at 541-388-6350
x24. For more information on the Fish Restoration and Enhancement
Program, or to view information regarding current R&E Program
applications, visit www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE
<http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/RE>  or contact program coordinator
Laura Tesler at (503) 947-6259.
 
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