Project Objectives:  

• Improve passage for juvenile steelhead:  Velocity barriers will be removed and stream velocities reduced through the culvert.
• Improve natural flow pattern:  Natural stream flow patterns will be improved due to the replacement of a larger, native streambed culvert.
• Allow for proper passage of a 100 year event.
• Improve riparian/wetland communities
• Decrease erosion of fine sediment
• Decrease dispersed recreation impacts


Project Description:

The project is located in T 2S, R 35E, S 26 & 33; Meadow Creek Watershed (HUC 1706010402); Dark Canyon Creek Subwatershed (HUC 170601040205); Union County.    

Dark Canyon Creek is spawning and rearing habitat for summer steehead trout and Little Dark Canyon Creek is rearing habitat for summer steelhead trout.  Redband trout also exist within the above streams.  There is 1.5 miles of spawning and rearing steelhead/redband trout upstream of the Dark Canyon culvert and trout have been seen on Little Dark Canyon Creek at Antler Spring.  The Dark Canyon Culvert is currently undersized, is beginning to rust out, and does not pass fish at all life stages.  The dispersed campground (just downstream of the culvert) has motorized access concerns.  Antler Spring has had a history of grazing concerns, related to trampling and bank instability.  

Specific Actions:

(A)  Culvert Replacement: This project would replace an undersized, juvenile steelhead passage barrier with a properly sized open arch culvert.  

(B) Dispersed recreation site:  Haul and strategically place 25 boulders to prevent motorized access to Dark Canyon Creek.  

(C)  Construct .5 mile of fence on .25 mile of Little Dark Canyon Creek (Antler Spring).