George Creek culvert prior to replacement. Note width of outflow pool and overflow pipe, above right.
Photo by NNWC
George Creek Culvert Project – Nestucca River, Oregon
The Nestucca River on Oregon’s North Coast is a major producer of wild salmon (chinook, coho, chum) and trout (winter steelhead and coastal cutthroat). George Creek is a critical spawning and rearing tributary to the lower Nestucca used by all of these species.
Map of George Creek as a tributary to the Nestucca River
Photo by Trout Unlimited
In summer of 2014, an undersized 7-foot pipe culvert on George Creek, tributary to the Nestucca River, was replaced with a 36-foot-long bridge spanning the full width of the stream, and then some. The project, led by the Nestucca-Neskowin Watershed Council (NNWC), was a collaboration of several government and private entities, including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Whole Watershed Restoration Initiative, Tillamook County, and private landowners.
George Creek is the second major Nestucca River passage project to receive funding support from the Orvis/TU 1,000 Miles Campaign; a bridge spanning Farmer Creek downstream from George Creek was completed in 2013. The George Creek project reconnects more than 1.5 miles of mainstem habitat heavily used by ESA-listed Oregon Coast coho salmon, as well as numerous other species.
After: New 36-foot concrete bridge oever George Creek allows full passage for all stages of salmonids at all
Photo by NNWC
Wonderful article on a terrific project! Only weeks after completion, coho salmon spawned just upstream of the new bridge. Thanks for partnering with the Watersheds Council.