News Release
| Release Number: | 99-059 |
| Dated: | 7/9/1999 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, plans to restore the natural channel of Richardson Creek and instream and adjacent riparian habitat that was filled during construction of Richardson Park in 1973.
Fern Ridge Lake is about six miles west of Eugene, Ore. The Fern Ridge Lake Master Plan for Resource Use was reviewed by federal and state resource agencies and members of the public in 1987. The Richardson Creek project was further coordinated with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure compliance with Endangered Species Act requirements.
Col. Robert Slusar, district engineer, recently signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that will allow work to proceed. Construction is scheduled during September and October 1999. The restoration work will provide about 1,125 feet of stream channel, and open up about 300 feet of an existing slough to flowing water. A primary benefit would be additional habitat for native cutthroat trout, and warmwater game fish such as crappie, smallmouth bass and bullhead.
About 18,600 cubic yards of material will be excavated to create 1,125 linear feet of stream channel. The first of two channels will extend about 675 feet from a grated culvert under Clear Lake Road northeast to the existing slough. A second 450-foot channel will be excavated from the downstream portion of the slough to a culvert at the edge of the boat basin.
The excavated material will be placed on site to create diverse habitat. The goal is to improve potential fish passage and restore instream and riparian habitat. The culvert under Richardson Park Road will be replaced to allow fish to move through it easily and to provide access to about 1.5 miles of potential spawning and rearing habitat.
During construction of Richardson Park, Richardson Creek was encased in a corrugated metal pipe from its confluence with the reservoir about 850 feet upstream. That pipe will be closed off and filled at each end.
Anyone wanting a copy of the FONSI may write Lynne Hamilton, Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946, or call her at (503) 808-4772. The FONSI is also viewable at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/ec/e/enhome.htm