Summit Creek Culvert Replacement

Project Objectives:

The objective of this project is to restore season-long passage of adult and juvenile steelhead in the Upper Joseph Creek subwatershed by replacing the culvert at Summit Creek with an open-bottom arch.

This culvert were rated as high for replacement in the Culvert Fish Passage Rating and Prioritization Report by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest staff based on Region 6 fish passage evaluation criteria.  The Upper Joseph Creek subwatershed was ranked high priority for steelhead/redband trout restoration work in Toward an Integrated Classification of Ecosystems: Defining Opportunities for Managing Fish and Forest Health (Rieman, et al 2000).

Finally, the Upper Joseph Creek subwatershed has been identified as one of the five highest priority Geographic Areas for restoration for the Joseph Creek Steelhead population (Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan, p. 16).  The Plan also states that restoration in this subwatershed will have a large impact on steelhead abundance and productivity (p. 17), and addresses the strategy of restoring fish passage at man-made barriers (p. 47).

Project Description:

Introduction - This project will replace one culvert in the Upper Joseph Creek subwatershed to restore season-long passage of adult and juvenile steelhead to 1.2 miles of upstream habitat.   The culvert at Summit Creek will be replaced with an open-bottom arch.

Existing Condition - One of the key limiting factors to steelhead distribution in the Joseph Creek drainage are fish passage barriers such as the culvert addressed in this proposal.  Conditions include undersized culverts and inappropriate gradients with perches.  There is evidence that the culvert at Summit Creek is a barrier for juvenile steelhead in late season flow (pers. ref., ODFW, Aug 2003).

Benefits:

This project restores season long passage of adult and juvenile steelhead at two culvert sites to 1.2 miles of upstream habitat in the Upper Joseph Creek watershed.  

This project also further implements collaborative, community restoration priorities identified in the Upper Joseph Creek Watershed Assessment and provides an employment opportunity for local contractors.

Project Maintenance:

As permanent structures on forest roads, the US Forest Service will maintain the improvements long term.

Permits:

All of the necessary permits and consultation for this project have been completed.  US Forest Service Hydrologist, Dana Orrick, will follow up and make Oregon Department of State Lands and Army Corps of Engineers aware of the new anticipated construction dates.