The grant was used to help fund a project to add in-stream wood structure and spawning gravel to a one-mile section of the Wood River. The project was completed on Sept. 30.

The reach of Wood River located about two miles below its headwaters provides all the available spawning habitat for redband trout from Upper Klamath and Agency lakes. In the past, most of the naturally occurring in-stream woody debris was removed.  That, along with overgrazing by livestock, reduced fish habitat and increased bank erosion which caused sediment to cover available spawning gravel.

The project involved installing 43 logs and root wads to provide structure, and placing 100 cubic yards of spawning gravel. In addition to improving spawning habitat, the project will also benefit fry and juvenile redband trout, as well as the bull trout, chinook salmon and steelhead that biologists hope to re-established in the Klamath River basin.

"Next we'll monitor the spawning period and do visual and snorkeling surveys to see how the juveniles and fry are doing," said Bill Tinniswood, ODFW assistant district fish biologist for the Klamath Watershed District.

Redband trout typically begin spawning in the Wood River in November, peaking in December and January.

In addition to the R&E Program grant, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Klamath Watershed District, Klamath Guides Association, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also contributed to the project. The Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program has funded other redband trout habitat improvement projects on the Wood River in the past.

Created by the Oregon Legislature in 1989, the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program is funded by a surcharge on sport and commercial fishing licenses and commercial poundage fees. The program’s seven-member citizen board reviews fish restoration and enhancement project proposals and makes funding recommendations to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

For more information on the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program, or to view information regarding current R&E Program applications, visit www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/REor contact program coordinator Laura Tesler at (503) 947-6259.

Chetco River closures extended

GOLD BEACH, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is extending the current angling closure on the Chetco River upstream of Highway 101 until further notice. The season was expected to re-open November 7 but will remain closed to protect spawning fall chinook.

According to Gold Beach District Fish Biologist Todd Confer, large numbers of fall chinook are concentrated in the upper tidewater area, making them vulnerable to over-harvest.

"A lot of fish are holding right now because the river is low and combined with the expected poor return this year we need to keep the Chetco upstream of Highway 101 closed until the fish are able to migrate into spawning tributaries," Confer said.

Following is closure information:  

• Mainstem Chetco and tributaries upstream of Highway 101 are closed to all angling until further notice.

• Downstream of the Hwy. 101 bridge is open for chinook and steelhead. The bag limit on unmarked chinook is one per day and two per season (Aug. 1 – Dec. 31) total in combination with other streams that have a two-fish season limit. These streams include the Siletz, Yaquina, Yachats, Alsea, Floras, Sixes, Hunter and Pistol.

• The Chetco River upstream of the U.S. Forest Service bridge at river mile 10.5 (Icebox) will remain closed to chinook angling through Dec. 31.

• As a reminder, the Winchuck remains closed to chinook angling through Dec. 31.  

Detailed information on the coastal fall chinook fishery is on the ODFW web site at www.dfw.state.or.us, click on Fishing Resources.

News Source: Oregon DFW - Nov. 06, 2009