South Fork McKenzie River Diversion Update

As part of the South Fork McKenzie River Floodplain Enhancement Project, the McKenzie Watershed Council and U.S. Forest Service are temporally diverting the lower mile of the South Fork McKenzie River into a floodplain side channel. The diversion began yesterday, Wednesday 6/27, evening. Contractors will slowly draw flow down in the South Fork over the course of the next 24-36 hours to allow for fish escapement. Fish salvage operations will occur during that time. Project activities, including the diversion, will continue until August 15, 2018.

The USACE has reduced flow in the South Fork to 300 cfs during Project implementation. Contractors used a helicopter to fly large wood into the diversion channel and surrounding floodplain on June 25/26. Project managers designed large wood placement to slow flows, which, along with natural vegetation in the diversion channel, will allow suspended sediment to settle out in the floodplain. The diversion channel enters the McKenzie River in a side channel just downstream of the South Fork/McKenzie River confluence.

Project managers expect that the diversion may cause short-term turbidity pluses to the McKenzie River immediately downstream of the South Fork McKenzie River confluence.

For more information, please contact project managers, Jared Weybright, McKenzie Watershed Council Executive Director, at jared@mckenziewc.org, 458-201-8150 (office), or 541-505-0501(cell); or Kate Meyer, USFS McKenzie River Ranger District Fisheries Biologist, kmmeyer@fs.fed.gov, 541-822-7230

McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival and Dave Helfrich Memoir

VIDA, OR —  Each year fishing guides and wooden boat fans gather on the opening day of fishing season to swap stories while admiring the McKenzie River and the unique wooden boats that were designed for these crystal-clear waters.  This year’s festival will be April 28^th, 2018 at Eagle Rock Lodge which is located at 49198 McKenzie Hwy, Vida, Oregon on the McKenzie River at milepost 35, just upriver from Silver Creek boat landing.  Come, relax and learn about the river and the history of this influential double-ended boat from 10AM – 4 PM.  Admission is free and there will be a lunch available; proceeds help provide a free lifejackets loan program so everyone can safely enjoy being on this white-water river.

The McKenzie River Drift Boat is designed for fishing in the pools and rowing through the rapids of Oregon’s McKenzie River.  In 1925 Guide Veltie Pruitt built the first very light board and batten Drift Boat that began to resemble those in use today.  Later, Tom Kaarhus was the first to convert from spruce planks to new marine plywood.  These McKenzie’s were made wider with a wide square end on the downriver side so two anglers could fish at one time.  It was Woody Hindman who built the first boats with a prow, or pointed end, on both ends and then in the winter of 1946, he added a squared transom on the upriver end creating the final design that most modern Drift Boats use today.

At the show you will be able to see several examples of these boats from the past, as well as modern wood drift boats built by professional boat builders and other lovers of this unique boat design.

This year a special treat will be the debut of a memoir from Dave Helfrich, a lifelong McKenzie River resident, guide, and legendary campfire storyteller.

“Around the Campfire with David Prince Helfrich”, is set to be released on Saturday, April 28 at the annual McKenzie River Drift Boat Festival. Dave Helfrich was a Northwest river legend whose roots run deep in the McKenzie River Valley. This book is a treasure chest of stories about his early years including the wilderness characters he knew, tragedies he observed and many hilarious moments as well. As a backcountry pilot, pioneering river guide and expert marksman, Dave guided many lives on and off the river, never losing sight of the pioneering Helfrich family values he represented. The book is the posthumous publication of Dave’s life and tales told in his own words. With help from author Roger Fletcher and Terry Sambrailo, Dave’s life partner, Dave’s stories were recorded, transcribed and edited to retain David’s unique speaking style. With contributions from family, friends and longtime river guides, this book contains an abundance of complementary images.

Dave Helfrich slipped out of the river current into the Eddy on October 7, 2016. Several of his immediate family and friends will be at the Wooden Boat Festival for conversation and reminiscences. The book sells for $20 and can be purchased at DaveHelfrich.com beginning April 28^th, 2018.