This project is located at river mile 0.04 on a small tributary to the South Fork of the Newakum River in the Upper Chehalis River Watershed. The confluence of the tributary to the South Fork is ar river mile 22.5.
The existing barrier culvert is beneath a forest road crossing. The culvert is perched 0.3 meters above the surface of the stream, has a 2% slope and the diameter is less than 2/3 the width of the stream. During our initial culvert assessment this barrier was rated as a high priority to have replaced. The special projects coordinator documented that it is doubtful that even adult fish could get through this culvert.
Approximately 879 meters of the stream were surveyed for fish habitat. The survey revealed that the canopy cover and instream cover were excellent throughout most of the rteaches. Gravel was available for spawning and juvenile coho and cutthroat were abundant in the lower reaches. It is also presumed that steelhead and searun cutthroat utilize the creek.
The exixting culvert will be removed and replaced with a 103 X 71 X 45 aluminized corrugated steel pipe arch. The new culvert will allow fish of all ages to migrate up and downstream.
This project is being partnered by the Lewis County Conservation District, the landowner, Washington State Departemnt of Natural Resources, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation.
