McKay Creek stream restoration work set to begin
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 next Monday, officials said Thursday.
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 intermittent vehicle traffic on Forest Roads 33 and 27 during the construction period. Beginning Monday, 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. Work in the area will be finished by August 18 th .
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.
