McKenzie River Trust and the restoration partners are hosting a presentation and community conversation at the McKenzie School on Thursday, May 4th starting at 6:30pm.
Phase 1 Restoration was very successful
Come learn about it and phase 2 of the restoration plan!
In 2021, McKenzie River Trust undertook a large-scale floodplain restoration project aimed at nurturing this legacy. This project more than doubled the number of flowing channels and wetlands in the 85-acre riparian floodplain forest at Finn Rock Reach.
Phase 2 of this project is set to begin in the summer of 2023.
What is this important?
Habitat Restoration Benefits the Threatened Chinook Salmon
Past hydro projects like cougar dam have helped generate electricity and control flooding, yet have had a devastating impact on native fish. Especially our native salmon redds. Salmon are an important part of our forest ecosystem, they provide essential nutrients to the forrest. Healthier trees are more disease, pest and fire resistant.
Here’s an article from Flylords about the success of the Finn Reach project – Phase 1:
After 42 Years, Chinook Salmon Return to the Mckenzie River
“In the last 42 years, only 2 intact salmon redds were found in the Lower South Fork McKenzie River in Blue River, Oregon. Historically, the river hosted one of the healthiest Pacific salmon runs in the Northwest, but after the construction of Cougar Dam in the early 1960s, their numbers plummeted. The dam deepened the river and removed important gravel and deadfall that salmon require to successfully spawn.”
Photo from McKenzie River Trust
More information about the Finn Rock Reach project can be found here.
Photo of Finn Rock Restoration Area from Eugene Weekly
**Drone video of Finn Rock Reach restoration phase 1 summer 2021 provided by MRT
Sources: McKenzie River Trust, Eugene Weekly and Flylords