October 7, 2008
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
Mitigation project aimed at restoring wetlands near Catching Slough Road
By Kristina Nelson
COOS BAY - The second and final phase of a key creek mitigation project shuts down a portion of Catching Slough Road in Coos Bay as work crews begin tearing out a part of the road to make way for a bridge.
The $1.25 million Matson Creek Mitigation project began last year and is now in the final stages. Its part of a water supply expansion project started by the Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board 14 years ago, this particular phase is aimed at re-establishing estuarine flows to about 57 acres of pasture land, owned by the Wetland Conservancy, creating wetlands, where they once stood 90 years ago. "As use of this land as a pasture, all the water needed to be diverted away to the edges of the pasture. So we've re-diverted the water back to its original course or approximately its original course through the middle of the pasture," says Water Board General Manager Rob Schab. Crews will tear out the portion of road blocking water from flowing into the pasture, and replace it with a short span bridge. While the project won't affect drinking water supply in any way, Schab says it will have benefits. "Certainly it's gonna add more efficient fish passage to this area. So there's certainly going to be, besides a wetlands component, there's a benefit to the fishery. And, anytime you can put something back to its natural state, there's going to be a tendency for wildlife to become more diverse." The project is projected to wrap up by the end of August. |
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