http://www.medfordnews.com/articles/index.cfm?artOID=310220&cp=10996

9:39 am PT, Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005
Fish Habitat Improvement Projects Scheduled For Wood River And Crooked Creek

KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon - State fishery officials today announced two projects planned for this fall to improve fish habitat in the Klamath River Basin. Wood River and Crooked Creek are slated for improvements through $14,621 in grants from the ODFW Fish Restoration 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.

Both projects are scheduled to begin in September. They will benefit short-nose and Lost River sucker, redband trout and two species of sculpin.

One project involves construction of approximately three miles of fence along the Wood River and Crooked Creek to prevent livestock from entering ecologically sensitive riparian areas. This will result in decreased erosion and sedimentation into the stream, increased bank stability and better growth of streamside vegetation.

The second project creates additional spawning habitat by adding 200 cubic yards of spawning gravel to three different locations in Crooked Creek.

"Spawning gravel is a huge limiting factor in the basin," said Bill Tinniswood, ODFW assistant fish biologist for the Klamath Watershed District. "In areas where we do have good spawning gravel we see abundant redband trout."

The lack of spawning gravel in the Klamath basin likely dates back to when Mount Mazama erupted 7,700 years ago, washing silt and sand into area streambeds, which now makes up most of their substrate.

In addition to the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program grant, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Klamath Flycasters, Klamath Guides Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are contributing to the projects.

For more information on these projects contact ODFW assistant fish biologist Bill Tinniswood at 541-883-5732. 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 or contact acting program coordinator Laura Tesler at (503) 947-6259.

 

To read this weeks ODFW Recreation Report go to http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/