Introduction and Background

Little Creek is a tributary to Catherine Creek and supports Snake River summer steelhead, resident rainbow trout and other native fish species.  Current steelhead production is unknown but the system was known in have spawning steelhead in the past. ODFW tallied 21steelhead redds in a 1966 survey. Tim Bailey, ODFW NE Region District Fish Biologist feels due to the lateness of the survey that year that many redds could have been missed.  The Grande Ronde Model Watershed (GRMW), City of Union, Union County Public Works Department and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) propose to correct the problem by replacing the current structure with a 22-foot channel-spanning steel bridge.

The existing crossing consists of three approximately 25-foot long, 70-inch diameter culverts arranged side-by-side. The culverts appear to be squashed CMP’s that are partially buried.  Moderately high flow events come close to maxing out the capacity of the pipes.  Ice and debris frequently plug the culverts resulting in out-of-channel flow, flooding adjacent properties and resulting in substantial flow running down E. Bryan Street to the west.  The out-of-channel flows occur nearly every year and often more than once throughout each winter and spring. When out-of-channel flows coincide with steelhead out-migration it is likely a significant number of steelhead juveniles are lost.

Project Location:  Legal description: T4S, R40E, Sec. 18, SW ¼ of the NE ¼

Project Objectives:

•  Reduce potential for seasonal out-of-channel flow and fish stranding
•  Provide continuous fish passage during peak flows for all life stages of salmonids and other native species.
•  Reduce water quality impacts
•  Reduce flood impacts to local properties.

The project is planned to be implemented during the prescribed ODFW in-water work window of July 1 to October 15, 2011. The GRMW will acquire construction funds from BPA.  The City of Union has acquired a $25,000 grant from ODOT and will also provide in-kind labor and materials to move the utility lines.  Union County PWD will construct the bridge and subcontract the asphalt paving.