Sauk Roads Sediment Reduction
This project includes upgrading and decommissioning forest roads on United States Forest Service property in the Dan Creek and Sauk Prairie WAUs within the Sauk River basin. The objective is to reduce sediment impacts in Dan, Gravel, Dutch, Green, and Everett Creeks along with several unnamed creeks and several off-channel habitat areas including Hyachuck ponds, Dan Creek Slough, among others. The Sauk River is also likely to benefit from reduced sediment inputs. Elevated sediment supply can affect aquatic habitat in a number of ways, including reducing pool depth, increasing redd scour and fill, and widening channels. Reducing sediment supply is expected to improve spawning and rearing habitat conditions for all species that use this system, including Chinook, pink, coho, steelhead, cutthroat, and native char.
Upgrading roads involves upgrading stream crossings, adding and upgrading drainage structures, cleaning ditch lines, and removing or stabilizing hazardous fill material. Decommissioning roads involves removing all culverts, constructing water bars to increase drainage across the road, removing hazardous fill material from stream crossings and unstable slopes, and blocking the road to vehicle access.
Before (left) and after (right) pictures of an upgraded road.
Project Status/Timeline
Funding was secured in 2002. The Darrington District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest completed the Environmental Assessment in 2002. In 2003, SRSC completed approximately 9 miles of road decommissioning. In 2005, SRSC completed an additional 4 miles of road decommissioning and 8.4 miles of road upgrade. Work was not entirely completed on Prairie Mtn Road, so the Forest Service continued the upgrade work in 2006 and SRSC has received additional funding to complete the work. Construction is expected to occur during the summer of 2008.
Primary Project Contact
Devin Smith, Senior Restoration Ecologist
Funding Sources
Salmon Recovery Funding Board
Bureau of Indian Affairs Watershed Grant
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forest/Snohomish County Resource Advisory Committee Grant
Project Partners
United States Forest Service (Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest)