ROAD CLOSURES NEAR GARIBALDI AIM TO HELP WATERSHEDS AND SALMON

The Tillamook Bay Watershed Council is partnering with the Oregon Department of Forestry to complete a watershed enhancement project to help increase salmon populations on the Miami River in Tillamook County. The project will be implemented throughout August and September 2011 and aims to enhance over four miles of in-stream habitat, and close over two miles of road that impact the floodplain of the North Fork of the Miami River.

Oregon Department of Forestry has identified key watershed issues and management actions for the Upper Miami River watershed. The central limiting factor for salmon production is poor quality winter rearing habitat. These are places in the stream which provide safe places for small juvenile salmon to retreat to when waters run high during the winter. These habitats are created by pools that are formed by large wood or off stream alcoves or channels. Future large wood recruitment and fine sediment input from roads are additional limiting factors.

Together, ODF and the Tillamook Bay Watershed Council chose to secure funding to begin addressing these limiting factors within the watershed. Grants for the project have been provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and US Fish and Wildlife Service for over $100,000.

The project will place about 120 logs and 50 boulders in the upper Miami River and will close 2.15 miles of upper Miami River Road.

The work will be completed through a service contract and at the direction of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist and ODF Road Specialists.

Residents and recreationalists will be unable to access some roads within the Miami River watershed due to the project activities. Fire Break #3 Road will be closed from August 8 through August 24 due to operations near the road. Parts of Upper Miami River Road will be closed from August 8 until September 15, 2011.

For more information about the project or to learn more about the road closures, please contact Denise Lofman, Tillamook Bay Watershed Council Director at 503.322.0002.