Background: Cherry Creek is a major tributary to Middle Creek (the largest tributary of the North fork Coquille). This large tributary had a small splash dam that operated every year until the 1920’s. That practice effectively removed that any large woody debris, structure, and gravels from the steam channel. The active channel is approximately 30 feet with a summer depth of 8-12 inches.

Scope of Work: This project was a second phase to a project originally started in 2000. Phase 1 was completed in the summer of 2001. Work on this phase started July of 2002. Five full channel spanning boulder weirs were constructed and boulder barb (partial weir). A total of 500 cubic yards of ¾ - 1 ½ yard size boulders were used to complete phase 2. Each full weir was approximately 80 to 100 cubic yards each and the barb was 30 cubic yards. The weirs were constructed by a CWA employee who was trained through the Jobs in The Woods program to operate heavy machinery and do stream restoration work. The machine that was used was an excavator rented from Hertz equipment rental. Hertz specially equipped this machine with “fish friendly” fluids to help minimize any impacts to the stream in case of an accident. After the work was complete, the stream bank areas impacted by the excavator were planted with native grass seed, trees and mulched. This helps to minimize sediment inputs into the stream when it begins to rain. The purpose of these weirs was to collect spawning gravel and create pools.