BRETT CREEK PROJECT
(A tributary to the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho)

6/24/04

This restoration project is a continuation of earlier work by USDA Forest Service personnel. Several clubs and organizations, Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club included, are contributing time and money. Several IEFFC members contributed to the project. On June 24th Jerry McBride, Chuck Pierce, Scott Fink and Bob Bates visited Brett Creek. These pictures were taken by Bob.

Background
(From the USDA Forest Service proposal)

Brett Creek is located about 2 miles above Big Hank Campground on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. During the past several years the work in the upper watershed has been implemented which involved 19 miles of road removal and 42 stream crossings (culverts) removed. This has reduced sediment sources and decreased the risk of sediment delivery to the lower watershed. With the headwaters of Brett Creek rehabilitated, an evaluation of the lower Brett Creek channel was under taken in 2002. This evaluation showed that the lower section of Brett Creek was unstable due to past removal of woody debris and increased bank erosion. This condition causes chronic sediment production from its own stream banks and reduced habitat quality for native westslope cutthroat trout. High sediment loads can change stream structure by filling pools, causing the stream to become wider and shallower. High quality pools are necessary for fish over-wintering and rearing for the first two years, while they reside in Brett Creek. Cover is also needed to improve habitat and decrease predation from birds such as eagles, osprey, and herons.

Description of the Proposed Work

This proposed work includes stream restoration in the lower 1.5 miles of Brett Creek. There would be in-stream pool structures constructed from large boulders and woody debris cover logs installed to improve habitat quality, hiding cover, and overall fish production. Stream work would be completed through a contract and would involve the use of heavy equipment to place structures and logs.

06/24/04 Activities

Quit a bit of baseline work is needed to show project benefits. It is not hard work, it just takes time. First was the obligatory safety talk by Matt Davis, USFS, and signing forms stating that we had read the warnings about electrical, heat, insect, and general safety hazards. Then we hiked a couple of blocks to a huge log deck, which was an 8- or 10-foot high pile of logs with their roots. These will be used for the in-stream structures.

Matt Davis, USFS, described how the logs will be moved into place with special equipment: Spyder hoe, Bob Cat and other equipment. Some of the equipment has very low pressure tires to minimize damage to the ground and bushes. Photo by Frank Faha.

Then on to the work site.

		Before we arrived, Forest Service personnel brought in equipment and laid out a tape for the stream profile measurements.
				A level is used to measure the elevations at break points along the profile.

Before lunch we collected aquatic insects and measured stream-gravel sizes. To collect insects a one-foot square metal frame with a net attached was used. The frame was placed on the stream bottom, rocks picked up inside of the frame were wiped off and dislodged insects drifted into the net. Then we picked out the insects and put them into sample bottles. We saw mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, caddis cases, worms and some things we couldn't identify. Talk to Jerry and Chuck about the scientific way of measuring gravel.