Smith River Basin: High Priority Passage Improvements

This project will take place at three separate locations within the Smith River Basin: Coon, Sweden, and Herb Creek. These three streams lie within neighboring 6th field subbasins, the West Fork Smith River (Coon) and South Sister Creek (Sweden & Herb). All project sites possess poorly functioning fish passage infrastructure, featuring undersized culverts and/or associated passage inhibiting instream concrete weirs. These structures limit anadromous fish passage at multiple life stages, reduce habitat connectivity, and impede natural stream fluxes and function. The Smith River Watershed Council (SRWC) proposes to remove, replace, or modify a combined 10 barriers to fish passage between the project locations. SRWC has contracted River Design Group (RDG) to produce engineered designs for the placement of passage structures meeting ARBO II criteria, as well as all state and federal requirements at all three project locations. These designs include provisions for new bridge installations which will replace existing culverts, as well as removal or modification of associated instream concrete weirs. Additionally, RDGs drawings will include plans for the placement of either a nature-like fishway or instream large wood placements to act as grade control structures after the removal of culvert associated weirs. Project partners include: Bureau of Land Management, Coquille Indian Tribe, Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Transportation, River Design Group, and Roseburg Resources Co.

PCSRF FFY 2020 funds were expended on project costs incurred during the PCSRF FFY 2020 contract award period. OWEB state funds and Other sources of funds and in-kind contributions will be used to complete the project. No funds are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

Completion of these passage improvement projects will greatly improve access to valuable stream habitat for numerous native aquatic species, such as: Oregon Coast Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (ESA Listed: Threatened), Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii, Oregon Coast Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss, and Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus. Combined, these projects will improve passage to approximately 56 miles of spawning and rearing habitat within the Smith River Basin. Improved access to these tributary streams provides salmonids and native fish species access to spawning and rearing habitat, as well as cold water refugia during periods of increased main-stem temperatures. Both the Westfork Smith River and North Sister Creek are Oregon 303(d) listed for year-round temperature impairment, providing improved access into tributary streams allows opportunity to alleviate thermal stress for cold water fish species. Furthermore, improved flow characteristics at stream confluences helps provide cold-water plumes in main-stem reaches during hot summer months, providing opportunities of thermal relief to individuals within main-stem habitats.