Work started today on SAWC’s Pat Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project!
Photo: Mike Brunfelt, with Interfluve, Inc., works with Brett Woodbury, BW Enterprises to improve fish habitat to Wrangell’s Pat Creek.
Location: Wrangell Island, Southeast Alaska
Fish: Salmon (Coho, Pink, Chum, Sockeye), Dolly Varden char,
Cutthroat Trout
History: The valley bottom was logged in the 1960’s-70’s. This
logging occurred before stream buffers were required, and trees
on the stream’s banks were harvested.
Restoration Need: Fish like trees (when they fall in they create
pools and other preferred habitats). The lack of mature trees
along (and also in) the creek has resulted in less than optimal
fish habitat including overwidened areas lacking pools and cover.
The Project: During the summer of 2019, “large wood” (tree
trunks/roots) will be added to the creek within a 1 km section
to improve fish habitat and stabilize the streambanks. An
abandoned logging road will be breached to allow the channel
to naturally migrate across the floodplain. The division of
Forestry has already completed a portion of the project,
decomissioning a road that was blocking salmon from accessing
important habitat.
Upcoming Events: A field trip highlighting the project during the
annual Family Fishing Day on June 15th, 2019 at 11am and 1pm.