The North Umpqua Foundation is happy to support Forest Service plans to install a new fish friendly culvert (Aquatic Organism Passage) on the South Fork of Steelhead Creek in the Steamboat Creek basin. We understand that the original culvert was installed in 1959 and blocks fish passage. Since the South Fork provides good riparian habitat above the current culvert, we want steelhead to have access to that upstream habitat. By extending fish access to cold-water habitat, these projects provide a hedge against long-term drought conditions.
The North Umpqua Foundation has a long history of supporting Forest Service stream restoration projects in the Steamboat Creek basin. We are confident that the AOP project for South Fork Steelhead Creek is another step in enhancing ecosystem function in the Steamboat Creek catchment and is a prudent action as we develop long-term strategies to mitigate climate change.
OWEB = Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
