McKenzie River Cooperative - Bring Back the Natives

Continues Into Its

6^th Year

The McKenzie River Cooperative was formed in 1995; its original focus was on the Gate Creek drainage (it was called the Gate Creek Partnership). Since that year the cooperative has increased its coverage area to focus on enhancement of aquatic habitat for Spring Chinook Salmon, Bull Trout and native fish of the McKenzie River basin. The McKenzie River Cooperative is made up of private, state and federal organizations. Its projects are funded through the Bring Back the Natives grants and matching funds by it private partners. The McKenzie River Cooperative participants include: Rosboro Lumber Company, McKenzie Watershed Council, Giustina Land and Timber Company, USDA Forest Service, Olympic Resource Management, Weyerhaeuser, Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Lane County, Trout Unlimited, and Willamette Industries. As projects have been successfully completed and strong relationships built between partners, collaborative projects were added in the Deer Creek and Finn Creek drainages.

1. Gate Creek Drainage - in South Fork Gate Creek, instream channel work was completed in a one-mile stretch. Large trees were used to increase habitat complexity. On Minnie Creek, a culvert was removed and replaced with a bottomless arch culvert — the Cadillac of fish passage structures!

1. Deer Creek Drainage - On the East Fork of Deer Creek, one culvert was removed and replaced with a bridge; a second culvert was replaced to improve riparian and floodplain function. On West Fork Deer Creek, an old culvert was replaced with a culvert that allows fish to pass. In the main stem of Deer Creek (a one-mile section), work was done in the stream channel. Large trees (rootwad and all!) were placed in the channel to help slow the water velocity and create pools, and to capture spawning gravels. Also, a culvert was removed on a tributary to Ennie Creek to improve fish passage.

1. Finn Creek Drainage - One culvert removed and replaced with a bridge. In addition, partners completed sediment, control projects, including road repair, improvement to road drainage, cut-bank stabilization, and vegetation plantings.

Funding for these projects comes from Bring Back the Natives grants, with matching funds contributed by partners: Weyerhaeuser Company, Giustina Land and Timber Co., Hancock Timberlands, U. S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Bring Back the Natives program is a cooperative effort between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U. S. Forest Service, The Bureau of Reclamation, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Trout Unlimited to restore native aquatic species and their habitats through local and regional partnerships.

The McKenzie Watershed Council sponsored several additional projects to complement those completed under the Bring Back the Natives grants. MWC received funding from the FishAmerica Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Restoration Center. The grant targeted small-acreage, private landowners on the main stem of Gate Creek:

1. The O'Leary Farm - A fence was built along the creek and trees planted to enhance the riparian zone.

1. The Bennet Place - The pasture was reestablished with a new kind of electric fence that rolls up easily for removal in case of flooding. The original fence around this pasture was lost in the 1996 floods. An off-stream watering system, using a "nose pump", was installed. Trees were planted to stabilize the streambanks.

1. The Strassmaier Property - instream channel work was completed using large trees to control bank erosion and to provide cover and pools for fish habitat.

Extensive planning and tremendous effort went into completing these projects. The ultimate goal for everyone involved is to improve these drainages to benefit fish habitat. Bob Strassmaier can remember fishing in Gate Creek and catching wild "McKenzie Redsides" and bull trout up to 20 pounds in size. He recalls seeing bull trout in the creek up until the early 1960's. When asked why he is willing to participate in the partnership, Bob replied, "I know Gate Creek is on of the few, free-flowing tributaries (into the McKenzie), and it is important to work with what's left. It is a gem, and I want to do what I can to help maximize what little habitat is left."

Bob Strassmaier has a deep desire to see Gate Creek be as productive as it once was ... and he's obviously not alone. We're happy to help!

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