McKay Creek stream restoration planned in fall

The Lookout Mountain Ranger District of the Ochoco National Forest plans to begin stream restoration work along a one-mile section of McKay Creek starting in early September.

The McKay Creek Large Wood and Floodplain Restoration Project will improve spawning habitat for steelhead and redband trout by reconnecting the channel to its historic floodplain and adding large woody debris to the stream to increase shade and complexity. Similar work has taken place in recent years on nearby sections of Trout and Auger Creeks.

Work will follow the design criteria authorized in the 2013 Record of Decision for the McKay Fuels and Vegetation Management Project: http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=36815
The stream section is located about a mile east of the Forest Road 27 / 33 junction.

Visitors can expect to see increased vehicle traffic on FR 33 through the end of August and into early September as trucks haul fill material from nearby sources on FR 27 to the project site.

Beginning September 6, heavy equipment will be working instream to remove berms and place woody material across the channel. Access to several dispersed camping sites along McKay Creek will be unavailable during the instream work.
Replanting of riparian trees and shrubs will follow the instream work.

Watch a video about similar stream restoration recently completed at Trout Creek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD08WG6oxy8

McKay Creek is thought to have high potential for steelhead production in the Crooked River sub basin. It is one of the few major tributaries to the Crooked River below impassable dams with winter and spring flows that allow passage for migrating steelhead and redband trout.

To find out more, contact Public Affairs Officer Patrick Lair at (541) 416-6647 or plair@fs.fed.us.