Introduction

Sheep Creek and East Sheep Creek is spawning and rearing habitat for summer steelhead and is designated critical habitat for bull trout.  Spring/summer chinook spawning and rearing habitat is located with Sheep Creek.  Redband trout also exist within the above stream. The 5182500 culvert on East Sheep Creek Culvert is currently undersized and does not pass fish at all life stages.  

Project Objectives

•   Improve passage for steelhead, chinook and bull trout.
•   Improve natural flow pattern.  
•   Reduce the risk of culvert failure.

Project Description

Replace culvert 5182500  to provide for adequate fish passage, allow for a natural streambed and meet bankfull criteria. Proposed to be funded through BPA funds.

Highlighted Construction requirements:

a.   Finished road grade shall match the existing road grade.

b.   All tree, shrub, brush removal shall be coordinated with a Forest Service fish biologist or hydrologist prior to removal.

c.   When reconstructing the stream channel, consult with District resource specialists as necessary to achieve final grades and layouts as agreed to by the contracting officer.

d.   Contractor shall use the existing roadway for a staging area.

e.   All material within the existing bankfull width and the ordinary high water mark shall be streambed simulation material, other than the surface course aggregate under the footings.

f.    A USFS fish biologist or hydrologist will be on site when the stream channel and streambed are constructed.  The biologist or hydrologist will ensure that the substrate is sufficient to pass fish and that the material is installed properly to streambed grade level.

g.   All instream work will be completed during the instream work window (July 1 – July 31) of one year.

h.   The dewatering plan shall minimize sediment from entering the stream, maintain stream flows downstream of the work area, and shall be designed to minimize impact on construction of the new culvert.

i.    Fish will be salvaged prior to project implementation with appropriate block nets installed.  An electroshocker will be used to salvage the fish.  The fish will be placed downstream of project operations.
     All fish salvage operations will be supervised by a Forest Service fish biologist.
  
j.    Rehabilitate the site with native seed, mulch and native conifer/deciduous seedlings.