Chumstick Creek is a 3rd order stream, which drains a 78 square mile sub basin of the Wenatchee River watershed. In 1994, Chumstick Creek was ranked second to Mission Creek as contributing to current and future potential water quality degradation in the Wenatchee River watershed (Hinds, 1994). The stream once supported healthy populations of Chinook, steelhead and possibly bull trout, however access to Chumstick Creek is now limited due to 23 culverts that are migrational barriers particularly at low flows (Bugert and Bambrick, 1996). The 1995-1996 floods and the high water run off of 1997 affected several of these sites. The overall goal of this project is to enhance and improve salmonid migration throughout the Chumstick drainage. In addition to replacing the 10 identified culverts the sites will be enhanced by improving in-stream habitat and riparian vegetation. Two other projects are presently being implemented within the watershed. They are a point source pollution project, funded by Washington Department of Ecology and the replacement of eight culverts, funded (in part) by the Bonneville Power Administration. A third project is on hold, but would replace a partial barrier culvert on North Road. With the completion of all three projects, the health of the watershed will be improved dramatically. The monitoring parameters will include water quality; cross section; sediment; habitat; and photo points.
