| ||
 |
||
| Mahogany Creek culvert replacement opens 3.5 miles of fish habitat | ||
| 08/16/2006 | ||
|
10-06
For immediate releaseNews media contact: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Monte Turner, 503-986-0195 Salem Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Contact: Dan Knoll 503-947-6023 Salem Salmon license plate funds contribute to funding IMNAHA — Crews completed work this week to replace a fish passage barrier with an open-bottom, arch culvert to provide 3.5 miles of Chinook salmon spawning and rearing habitat in a remote stretch of Mahogany Creek near Imnaha. This stream supports federally listed spring Chinook salmon and is one of three identified barriers in the entire Imnaha basin. The project design will decrease erosion from the road and reduce the likelihood of future road failure at this site. The $132,400 project is a partnership among the Nez Perce Tribe, U.S. Forest Service and the Grande Ronde Model Watershed. Salmon license plate funds allocated by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board contributed $41,200 to the project. “This is another great example of different agencies working together to improve fish passage,” said OWEB Executive Director Tom Byler. “The additional habitat will benefit salmon for many years to come.” He noted that the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has allocated more than $4.8 million, primarily from Lottery funds, for projects in Wallowa County since 1999. Salmon plate purchasers pay an extra $30 every two years above regular passenger vehicle registration fees. Half the fee goes directly to fix road-related impacts to salmon and trout streams by improving water quality, fish habitat and fish passage through OWEB grants. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invests the other half in salmon habitat and related projects in state parks. Since the beginning of the salmon license plate program in 1997, OWEB and OPRD have each received more than $2 million. For more information about salmon plates and instructions for purchasing, call OWEB at 503-986-0178 or visit the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds Website at: www.oregon-plan.org. This project is another milestone for the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds as it approaches its 10-year anniversary in 2007. The Oregon Plan, a volunteer-driven initiative, is committed to restoring native fish populations and developing healthy watersheds. Since 1997, state agencies, businesses and individual Oregonians have worked together to restore salmon runs, improve water quality and achieve healthy watersheds. This statewide conservation initiative also aims to provide environmental, cultural and economic benefits to communities throughout the state. #######
|
||
