Finger Creek Aquatic Organism Project
Located on a tributary to Gales Creek, the Finger Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project is a key restoration effort aimed at enhancing aquatic organism passage and improving riparian habitat. Identified by NetMap in 2022 as needing restoration with a focus on steelhead trout, the project will restore natural stream functions, improve habitat connectivity, and support the recovery of fish populations. The project is set for construction in Summer 2025.
Project Elements:
Replace two culverts under the road with concrete modular bridges to ensure unimpeded fish passage.
Remove an unused concrete splash board dam, which has been a barrier to fish migration.
Remove a degraded, unused railway trestle and realign the stream to safeguard nearby homes and roadways from future erosion and flooding.
Install large wood structures in the stream to slow water flow and accumulate gravel, providing excellent conditions for fish spawning.
Outcomes
Removing Fish Passage Barriers
The primary focus of the Finger Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project is the removal of barriers that impede the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms. By eliminating the two culverts the concrete splash board dam and the abandoned railway trestle, the project will restore vital migratory pathways for fish, particularly salmonids. This improvement will ensure fish can move freely throughout the creek, enhancing overall aquatic health.
Restoring Spawning and Rearing Habitat
A major focus of the project is protecting habitats crucial for spawning and rearing. By removing in-stream barriers and strategically placing large woody debris (LWD), the project will address issues such as sedimentation and habitat degradation. These efforts will create optimal conditions for spawning and rearing and help sustain salmon populations within the creek.
Revegetation Effort to Enhance Habitat Restoration
The Finger Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project will be paired with a comprehensive revegetation effort funded by Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District (TSWCD) and Clean Water Services (CWS). This revegetation project will focus on restoring native plant species along the stream’s riparian zone, improving streamside conditions and providing essential habitat for wildlife. By stabilizing the banks, reducing erosion, and enhancing water quality, the revegetation will complement the fish passage improvements, creating a healthier, more resilient ecosystem for aquatic species and the surrounding environment.
Project Funding and Partners
The Finger Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project is funded by Clean Water Services, Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and NRCS through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Grant. For more information, visit the Tualatin SWCD website.
Contact Information
For the latest updates or questions about the project, please contact Antonella Fillet at antonella@trwc.org.
By restoring natural stream functions, improving habitat quality, and enhancing aquatic connectivity, this project will deliver long-term ecological benefits to the Gales Creek BEA, contributing to the health and sustainability of local fish and amphibian populations. Construction is scheduled for Summer 2025.