spawning steelhead

LOSS OF RIVER COMPLEXITY CONTRIBUTES TO FLOODING, BUT FISH SHOULD SURVIVE

1-20-12

CORVALLIS, Ore. – In the space of a few days, many rivers in western Oregon have gone from near-record low levels to flood stage, jeopardizing riverside homes, causing flooding and challenging Chinook salmon, steelhead and other native fishes.

The reason for the high water is mostly evident – heavy rainfall from a strong “pineapple express” storm from the southwest has pounded western Oregon and melted the snowpack, adding to the flood peak. But decades of human alterations to Oregon’s river systems has also contributed to worsening the situation, according to hydrologists.

What once were complex, braided rivers, with multiple channels that spread the impact of flooding, have been transformed into single channels that act like pipelines, according to Oregon State University ecologist Stan Gregory.

“Historical river systems were much more complex and their multiple channels spread the impact of the flooding, and slowed the currents,” said Gregory, a professor of fisheries and wildlife at OSU. “It also created holding places for migrating and resident fish. But dams, development, and the transition from natural forests to housing tracts and pastures have eliminated complexity from many river systems.”

Gregory says salmon, steelhead and native fish should be able to survive the floods. After all, they have had thousands of years to adapt to flooding. There can be short-term damage, however, he pointed out. Recently deposited eggs and young fry can be washed downriver. However, steelhead typically migrate from Thanksgiving through March – or longer – in many rivers, so single flooding events rarely result in catastrophe for all fish.

The impact of a single flood event on steelhead is hard to gauge, Gregory says, because the juvenile fish live in streams from one to three years and then go out to the ocean where most spend one or two years. A flood can affect a part of the overall steelhead population, while other individuals are in the ocean phase of their life.

“Adult steelhead are large, strong fish and can navigate most rivers even at flood stage,” Gregory said. “And flooding is actually beneficial in many cases. It can improve habitat by scouring out river bottoms, creating new pools and cleaning out silt.

“We have found populations of cutthroat trout in streams in the Cascade Mountains to be highest in the summers following the largest floods,” he added, “while winters with low flooding are followed by low populations.”

Smaller native fish also have proven adept at surviving floods – and using what humans have provided for them. In 2009, OSU ecologist Guillermo Giannico and his colleagues published a study that found farmers’ fields that are inundated with floodwater play a role in creating a sanctuary for native fish, where they may find both food and temporary shelter from fast waters and introduced fish species.

“Floods have always been a dynamic part of the system, much the same way that snow is for elk in Yellowstone,” said Giannico, also a faculty member in OSU’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Over time, animals will adapt to get the most out of their habitat.

“We have found that native fish have adjusted their behavior to use these floodplains, mostly in agricultural lands, to great benefit,” Giannico said.

The McKenzie Masters Invitational was held this past week and through its
Foundation, the group made a $1,000 donation to the McKenzie River
Guides Association to help fund the lifejacket lending program and the
neighborhood watch program for boat landing security. During this 20th
annual event, the Masters also made a donation to EWEB to be used for
amenities at the new Goodpasture boat landing at Leaburg Lake. Through
its’ 20 year history, the MMI group has made numerous donations for
projects along the McKenzie which include wild fish population studies,
landing maintenance and signage, college scholarships, etc.

20 volunteers from the McKenzie River Guides Association met a Ben & Kay Dorris Park Monday morning to clean up the park of storm debris, overhanging brush along roadways and trails, clean BBQ pits and repair tables and benches. Thanks go to Lane County Parks for allowing this group to participate in such a large undertaking.

Ben and Kay Dorris were honorary members of the McKenzie Guides Association and donated the park to the State in 1943. It is a important boat landing just above Marten’s Rapid with scenic trails along the river, paved wheelchair accessible trails and about 8 picnic sites. Ben and Kay Doris Park is a very family friendly park with much use in the Summer months.

Event organizer, Jon Payne felt that asking Members of the McKenzie River Guides Association for volunteers was the right thing to do at a time of budget crunches and the condition of the park after this winters windstorms. Twenty volunteers showed up and was able to finish the clean-up in 5 hours.

Next time you drive into the entrance of the park you can thank Mike Reardon, Doug Caven, and members of Cascade Fly Fishers for doing outstanding work.

When enjoying a picnic on one of the new benches and tables you can thank George Recker, Buzz Klevin and Dan Bentsen. Trails and road crews included Steve Schaefers, Jon Payne, Tom Lusby, Gary Williams, Don Wouda, Gene and Phyllis Highfill, Dick Evans, Dave Helfrich, Ethan Nichol, Barrett Christiansen. A big thanks goes to Dave Stark of Ike’s Pizza for providing delicious Pizza for lunch.

With such a good turn out, the Association is already planning to do more clean-up at other parks in the future, “parks are important to us and it’s very important that visitors to Lane county can enjoy these special areas in the future” Jon Payne said.

The McKenzie River’s place in history is anchored by the fabulous redside trout fishing that once lured anglers from afar.
But a case can be made that the McKenzie is actually better-known as the birthplace of the uniquely-shaped fishing boat that bears its name.
Over several decades, many fishing guides and boat builders played roles in the evolution of the drift boat now seen on rivers throughout the West — and beyond.
One of the biggest chapters in the story of the McKenzie drift boat, however, was written by Keith Steele, a Leaburg Fish Hatchery employee who went on to become the area’s busiest builder of wooden drift boats.

Read the entire article by Mike Stahlberg of the Eugene Register-Guard on this link.

HISTORY OF THE MCKENZIE RIVER DRIFT BOAT

The History of the McKenzie Drift Boat can be traced to the very river that bears its name. As early as 1910, Fishing Guides began running the
McKenzie River and they found the need for a more durable boat than the 20′ scows used at the time. By the 1920′s the first light board (spruce) and batten riverboat was being plied in Oregon Rivers such as the Rogue and McKenzie. These boats were smaller and lighter than traditional boats and proved more maneuverable.

Torkel Gudmund ‘Tom’ Kaarhus, an early Eugene, Oregon resident had developed skills necessary to make fine furniture and boats. His love of fishing drew him to the McKenzie River and ultimately to boat building. In fact, as a planer, at a Eugene lumber mill it was he who milled the spruce planks for some of the first light board and batten boats. It was soon after World War I that a new building material became available that revolutionized the boat building process, plywood.

In the 1940′s ‘Tom’ Kaarhus built and sold the first square ended style McKenzie Drift Boat. The early McKenzie River Drift Boats began a transition at the hands of guide and boat builder Woodie Hindman. Woodie became interested in the McKenzie, its fishery and the boats. Woodie’s boat building career began in 1935 under the tutoring of Kaarhus. By 1941 Woodie had built his own shop in Springfield, Oregon and began building boats full time.

It is believed Woodie’s 1939 trip to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River led to a new design, the ‘double-ender.’ This design became Woodie’s boat of choice. The boat’s popularity was tied to its functionality. It was a charm to row due to the accentuated rocker. It would pivot on a dime. This boat sports the most extreme rocker of the early McKenzie’s. Its crescent lines are lovely. As Woodie noted in one of his diaries, the lines had a purpose: “…to resemble the crescent shapes of the waves …” This boat became the choice of many Oregon River Guides in the 1940′s.

In 1946 Woodie modified the double-ender. He removed the up river bow and replaced it with a small tombstone type rear transom. Oregon River Guides at this time, being tired of rowing the lower stretches of the Rogue and Umpqua rivers asked Woodie built a double-ender with a small transom so they could hang a motor off the transom to move more quickly through the slow tide waters. It was this boat that set the standard for all subsequent McKenzie Style Drift Boats. It also resolved questions and debates about which end of the boat was the bow and which end was the stern.

Legendary McKenzie drift boat builder, Keith Steele built several thousand drift boats over the course of his career, a career that began in the mid to late 1950s and ended with his untimely death in 1995. As with most of the McKenzie River boat builders he was self taught but had the advantage, as a young man, to rub shoulders and work with people like John West, Veltie Pruitt, Tom Kaarhus and Woodie Hindman.

Steve Steele, Keith’s son continues to build these boats in his shop in Albany, Oregon and in the town of Nimrod, McKenzie River Oregon, the Greg TatmanMcKenzie driftboat is also being built full time.

Today the McKenzie Drift Boat is made out of many different materials, Wood, Fiberglass and Aluminum. Wood, its beautiful lines, glides quietly through the water, yet requires yearly maintenance. Fiberglass, though durable and quiet, is heavy, which can help keep the boat from swaying and yaw in windy weather. Aluminum, though noisy, requires little maintenance and proves very maneuverable in rough water.

The maneuverability and durability of this boat is remarkable. Able to maneuver through rocky rapids and cut through high river waves, the
McKenzie Drift Boat is the standard for all Oregon River Fishing Boats.

Some information provided in part from http://www.riverstouch.com/
Thanks to Roger Fletcher

The event held every year on the weekend before Opening Day of Fishing Season at Hendricks Bridge Park also featured The McKenzie River Guides Cook-Off! Last year Billy Pruitt’s Hot Tamales narrowly beat Jon Payne’s Grilled Spicy Chicken. This year Jon and Billy had matching final scores. The tie-breaker was decided by the single score card with the highest total… And the winner is…. Jon Payne’s “Perfectly Spiced” Chicken w/ Saffron Rice and Fresh Pineapple. Billy’s Rockin’ P Ranch Cheeseburger Pie was fantastic as was his Sweet Potato Chili and Pecan bites.

Chris Olsen “Oly” took down the “Best Desert” with his Dutch Oven Biscuits and Strawberries! George Recker and Steve Schaefers matched wits with Fried Chicken and they are still debating who’s was best. This friendly competition will continue next year.

Next years event planners are already working on making this another great day to promote river safety, tell fishing stories, compare McKenzie Driftboat styles and eat great homemade food!

Special thanks to Oregon State Police, Lane County Parks, Oregon State Marine Board, The McKenzie Guides Association members of Northwest Steelheaders and all that attended this great event.

April 16th the second annual McKenzie River Guides Association Boat Rodeo and Outdoor Cook-Off.
This event is open to the public and a great chance to receive your 2011 boat safety inspection.
Also featuring a McKenzie Guides Cook-Off. These meals will be judged by Eugene radio personalities and is a great opportunity to see how experienced Guides cook delicious meals on the river. Featuring Grilled delights, Dutch oven Biscuits and other fine cuisine.

Last year it was a tight race for the Main course competition with Billy Pruitt’s tamales narrowly beating Jon Payne’s Chicken by 1/2 point. This friendly competition will continue at the 2011 event.

The event will be held at Hendricks Bridge Park, April 16th, from 9:00 to 3:00 with food judging at 1:00. The public is encourage to bring your boat to have Oregon State Police perform the annual boat safety inspection before the coming of Opening Day of Trout season April 23rd. No parking fees during the event and Lane County Parks will be providing 2011 park passes for sale.

For more information contact Jon Payne, 541-579-3474 jon@o2fish.com

April, 10th, 2011 the McKenzie river was cleared of a complete river blockage known as mile post 44. This obstruction was completely blocking the river in two locations. The first obstruction was just out of sight upstream of the highway near mile post 44. A single log, approximately 4.5 ft in diameter at the base was across the entire river. A single cut on the far shore from the root base allowed the tree to come to rest parallel of the bank and completely out of the current channel. This tree is now resting along the bank providing habitat many forms of aquatic life.

The second blockage was visible from the highway and took considerable more work. With a down stream safety crew put in place, a drift boat was lowered to the tree blocking the river. After spending three hours cutting the tree through it seemed it would not budge. After a shore lunch an attempt was made to cut the tree from the opposite end. It became apparent that the tree was being held in place by a second tree just under the surface. When the second tree was cut the entire mass began to moan and pop. The McKenzie river once again became clear for safe boat navigation.

A heartfelt thanks should be extended to Wade Scofield and volunteers from The McKenzie River Guides Association and McKenzie Fire and Rescue for helping making safe passage on this section of the McKenzie River.

Log Jam Removal on McKenzie River at Mile Post 44 4.10.11
By McKenzie River Guides Association  |  View on Facebook