Project Location:  

The Dark Canyon Creek Exclosure and Upland Water Source Project is located on Dark Canyon Creek, a tributary to Meadow Creek. The project is located on  2 miles of Dark Canyon Creek (approximately RM 7.0 - 9.0) (T 2S, R 35E, S 23, 26, & 33; T 3S, R 35E, S 4)(Dark Canyon Creek Subwatershed (170601040205)); Union County.  


Project Objectives:  

The objective is to improve summer steelhead habitat, specifically through improving or increasing the following habitat elements.

• Improve riparian & wetland diversity, vigor and function
• Improve floodplain function

Existing condition:

There is a total of 8.7 miles of Dark Canyon Creek on USFS lands and is broken up into 3 reaches.  This project is located in reach 3.  Reach 3 is considered a B4 channel with 18 pieces of wood per mile.  There are 52 pools per mile with an average stream gradient of 1%.  The bankfull width to depth ratio is 16.5 and has a dominant/subdominant substrate of gravel/sand. The riparian areas has a dominant overstory of lodgepole pine and an understory of grass/forb/sedge.  

Within the upper two miles of reach 3 on Dark Canyon Creek, there has and is excessive livestock use.  It continues to be an area difficult for livestock management.  Excessive streambank trampling and livestock utilization continues to occur.

Within the lower 6.7 miles of Dark Canyon Creek (outside of the project area (Reaches 1, 2, and part of 3)), woody debris ranges 14 – 16 pieces per mile and pool frequency consists of 32 – 35 pools per mile.  The bankfull width to depth creeps up to 24.  In some areas, riparian vegetation is limited.  The Forest Service is in the beginning stages of developing a restoration project proposal for this portion of Dark Canyon Creek.  Potential restoration activities include fish structure construction with pool development, planting and fencing.  

Specific Actions:

The Dark Canyon Creek Exclosure and Upland Water Source Project will consist of two miles of exclosure fence construction and the development of three spring sources.  All disturbed areas will be seeded after project completion.