Forest Service to Enhance Spawning Habitat in Applegate River Jacksonville, OR— From Monday, September 9 through Sunday, September 15, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest will be implementing a pilot project to improve habitat for anadromous fishes in the Applegate River between Applegate Dam and Star Ranger Station. The project will add 250 cubic yards of clean spawning gravel to three sites along the river. At one site large wood with attached root wads will also be placed to provide rearing habitat and cover for fish. The project sites are located 1 mile north of Applegate Dam along Forest Service Road 1000-605, immediately southwest of Jackson Campground at the Placer day use site along Forest Service Road 1090-280, and behind the Star Ranger Station administrative site. These sites will be closed to the public over the course of the project to avoid encounters with the heavy equipment that will be in use. The uppermost reaches of the Applegate River below Applegate Dam have limited spawning habitat for steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon, and Pacific lamprey. Donna Mickley, Siskiyou Mountains District Ranger, said “we’re excited to continue our efforts to improve fish habitat in the upper Applegate River. We expect these enhanced spawning beds will be utilized almost immediately by native fishes." The work is being conducted with appropriate permits and under close supervision of agency officials. Short-term turbidity may be seen in the Applegate River near the project sites, including Jackson Campground, and the public may see heavy equipment working in the river. The contractor for the project is Blue Ridge Timber Cutting, Inc., who has completed over 150 fish habitat restoration projects. After construction work is completed, any disturbed areas along the stream bank will be seeded with native grass seed. Partial funding for this project was provided through Title 2 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. Contact: Ian Reid, District Fisheries Biologist, 541-261-2722, [email protected] September 6, 2013
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 18:05:14 +0000
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