Grantee
Trout Unlimited Inc.
In partnership with: private landowners, Trout Unlimited, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, The Klamath Tribes, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Challenge
Over a century ago, Sun Creek was entirely diverted to irrigate pastureland in the headwaters of the Upper Klamath Basin in southern Oregon. With the subsequent loss of connectivity to downstream waters and invasion of non-native brook trout, the Sun Creek bull trout population shrank to fewer than 150 individuals.
Project Overview
Sun Creek originates from numerous springs along the southern Mt. Mazama rim of Crater Lake, which are recharged by the more than 500 inches of annual snowfall.
In 2017, partners started working together to reconnect Sun Creek to the Wood River and allow passage for threatened bull trout and other native fish and wildlife species. Now, the reconnected creek includes 2.5 miles of replanted and fenced riparian habitat. A new irrigation diversion with a fish screen was built to provide fish passage and to ensure year-round flows in the creek. A portion of the irrigation water right was purchased and transferred instream to ensure year-round water flow. Today, Sun Creek is home to over 3,000 bull trout, making it the most abundant population in the Upper Klamath Basin!
To learn more please visit:
Website:
Trout Unlimited, Inc.
Story Map:
Restoring Sun Creek
For more information, please search
OWEB's Grant Management System (OGMS) for Project Number 222-7000-18703