Projects

Crooked Creek

Fort Klamath, Oregon
Creation of a 4,000 ft. long spawning tributary to Crooked Creek, specifically created for the spawning and proliferation of the threatened/endangered Klamath Lake Redband Rainbow Trout. Spawning utilization of this creek has been tremendous over the last 5 years. Due to the recruitment of fry out of the channel, the flyfishing in Crooked Creek has dramatically increased over this period, as well. This project is being monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Began: Spring 1996
Completed: Fall 1998

Bear Creek Enhancement

Madison County, Montana
The purpose of this project was to create trout habitat along 1300 ft. of the North Fork of Bear Creek through installation of eleven in-stream rock weir structures. This section of the North Fork of Bear Creek has a gradient of 4%. Each structure was constructed of five to eleven large (three to five foot) boulders. The boulders were readily available on site, and came primarily from pool excavation. Work was performed by a tracked excavator using a hydraulic thumb with full time technical supervision. The object of this project was to enhance trout habitat by providing holding water (pools) in the riffle dominated stream.

Began: 1996
Completed: 1997

Big Sheep Creek Habitat Improvement Project

Dell, Montana
Adult trout habitat was improved in a 2 mile reach of Big Sheep Creek, Montana. The project entailed use of rock weirs to maintain depth of excavated pools, addition of woody debris to improve habitat complexity, and application of geotextiles in streambank rehabilitation.

Pecos River Fisheries Enhancement

Pecos, New Mexico
This project involved the enhancement of a brown trout fisheries over a 3 mile section of the upper Pecos River in New Mexico. Fisheries studies and habitat assessments were conducted as well as morphological and hydrological assessments. Plans were then developed to increase stream habitat using rock weirs, riparian vegetation, and excavation of pools with associated tailout spawning riffles. After obtaining Federal and State permits, construction continued over several years. The client has reported excellent fishing and sightings of numerous brown spawning redds.

Spruce Pond Spawning Stream

Weston, Connecticut
A 350 ft. spawning stream using well water and a re-circulation pump was built as an inflow to a pond in Connecticut. The stream was designed to carry 1.5 to 2.3 cfs, used primarily for brown trout spawning. Eight pools were built with additional cover provided by undercut banks and boulders. Appropriately sized spawning gravel was placed in pool tailouts. Thousands of fingerling trout are produced out of this creek each year to provide forage and recruitment to the existing population.

Began: August 1992
Completed: October 1992

Running Elk Ranch

Gallatin County, Montana
Constructed an elaborate, lined stream system incorporating naturally meandering channels and floodplain characteristics. This stream system was built in conjunction with the construction of 5 ponds ranging from ¼ acre to 3 acres in size. Three separate recirculating systems of approximately 300 gpm supply the water to the streams. The stream includes three sections of spawning and rearing habitat for cutthroat and brown trout totaling 1800 ft. Cascades and drop structures were incorporated into large, habitat rich pools that provide cover for spawning fish. Two rock outcropping waterfalls of 4 ft. and 10 ft. respectively (designed fish blocks), were created to replace the 10 ft. elevation loss that was necessary to construct a 2% grade for the stream slope to provide adequate water velocities and depths needed for successful spawning.

Began: April 2001
Completed: November 2002