Comments sought on Sucker Creek project
From our weekly issue dated February 17, 2010
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Wild Rivers Ranger District is proposing fish habitat and water quality improvements in the Sucker Creek watershed through the Sucker Creek Channel & Floodplain Restoration Phase II Project.
Said USFS in part, “The specific restoration goals are to increase habitat quantity and quality for Coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey, reduce stream temperature, and reduce excessive fine sediment.
“Restoration actions are needed to address effects on fish habitat and water quality associated with past land-management activities.
“Monitoring data show that this section of Sucker Creek has been straightened and realigned, and its meanders and flood plain have been altered.
“Meanders and flood plain are important to stream ecology and function,“ said USFS, “as they help dissipate flood energy, allow fine sediments to be deposited outside of the stream channel, and provide a diversity of habitat types for fish, wildlife, other aquatic organisms and riparian plants.
“Currently, mine tailing piles confine the channel, and channel instability has caused excessive erosion and steep cutbanks.
“There is a need to improve fish habitat and water quality in Sucker Creek by reconstructing portions of the channel, placing large wood structures in the stream channel and flood plain and riparian planting.“
Project work will follow applicable laws, in-stream work guidelines and Forest Plan standards and guidelines including the Northwest Forest Plan and Port Orford Cedar Management Record of Decisions, noted USFS.
The project is part of a continuing partnership involving USFS, Illinois Valley Watershed Council, I.V. Soil & Water Conservation District and valley communities to better watershed productivity.
“This project builds on the success achieved by Phase I of this project, which created more than .4 miles of spawning and rearing habitat through constructing side channels along Sucker Creek in 2009, said USFS.
District Ranger Joel King invites public response. E-mail responses can be sent to eaberger@fs.fed.us. Address written responses to Liz Berger at Wild Rivers Ranger District, 26568 Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction OR 97523 or phone 541-618-2051. Response is requested by March 8.
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