Completion Form

2020

We contracted the replacement of a culvert that was undersized, and a barrier to fish passage, with a bridge on Forest Service Road 30150 where it crosses Hall Creek. The goal of the project was to open access to 2.6 miles of stream above the site, a reach with some of the most suitable habitat in the watershed for native Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki pleuriticus). This creation of fish passage reconnects, and allows genetic exchange between, the now opened reach in upper Hall Creek which contained the highest densities of the fish, and the 10.3 miles of lower Hall Creek, Birch Creek and nearby Water Canyon Creek, which were occupied by lower densities of the fish. This new connection, along with previous fish passage improvement projects allows for greater resiliency and success of the two remnant Colorado River Cutthroat Trout populations, and to facilitate recolonization throughout the watershed as a whole. Additional benefits of the project include a huge reduction in risk of road failure due to the undersized culvert, macroinvertebrate and amphibian passage, and improved access to vegetation, fire, and fuels management, and recreation opportunities in the area.  
An important part of the project was instream structures, built of onsite rock, designed to create an even gradient and simulate step-pools that allow cutthroat trout to readily move up and downstream. After completion of the project fish were seen in the pools upstream of the new bridge.

Michael Golden

08/21/2019 07:13:25