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Bear Creek River Mile 19.0
Lynn Newbry Park
Restoring natural stream processes in Bear Creek by improving fire-damaged floodplain and side channel connectivity.
Restoration Objectives
10
Acres of riparian rehabilitation
34
Strategic large wood placement locations
0.22
Miles of secondary channel enhancement
Cascade
Stream
Solutions
Project Timing & Impact
This project is under construction! Our timeline for restoration is in accordance with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in-water work period to protect migratory and sensitive fish species, which is June 15 to September 15. We expect construction to take 8 or 9 weeks, starting July 15. We intentionally scheduled our start date to minimize the project’s impact to nesting birds, and we will work closely with the contractor to reduce any negative impacts of moving heavy equipment through the riparian area. The scale of this restoration project provides an extensive list of long-term benefits, including for wildlife that utilizes the stream and its surrounding area.
We completed work on the Greenway side of the project, so we do not expect any further interruptions to Greenway Traffic. There will still be construction on the opposite bank for the first two weeks of September.
Community
Benefits
Ecosystem
Benefits
Protect Infrastructure
This project will help prevent erosion, stabilize the streambank, and protect infrastructure through riparian rehabilitation and large wood placement, which will help protect the infrastructure of Lynn Newbry Park and the Bear Creek Greenway, a main transportation corridor and recreation resource.
Cascade
Stream
Solutions
More from the Bear Creek Watershed
Listen to Project Manager, John Speece, and Community Engagement Project Manager, Beth Boos, discuss the project.
Safeguard Drinking Water
Bear Creek and the Greenway that runs
along it, connect the communities of Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, and Medford, before joining the Rogue River near Central Point. Downstream communities, like Rogue River and Grants Pass, provide drinking water straight from the Rogue River to more than 10,000 Rogue Basin community members. This restoration project will help improve the quality of water.
Restore Habitat
Bear Creek's Streamside areas are dominated by non-native Himalayan/Armenian blackberry thickets that outcompete native vegetation and played a large part in fueling the 2020 Almeda Fire. Through careful removal of noxious weeds and supplementary plantings, this project will help improve the condition of the native floodplain forest plant community. A healthy floodplain forest along Bear Creek would provide food and habitat for wildlife, shade for the stream, and decreased wildfire fuels.
Project Timeline
RRWC restoration biologists and project partners take substantial time and effort to ensure that our restoration projects have the best possible opportunity to succeed. This process takes years and involves multiple stages including planning, outreach, construction, and monitoring.
Project timelines are tailored to project objectives, funding availability, and restoration needs. Check out the timeline for Bear Creek RM 19.0 to the right!
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