WOE CC MMINIl1
P. 0. BOX 3503

COLUMBIA RIVER FISHERY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Closing Report
AGENCY: Oregon State Game Commission
PROJECT TITLE: Habitat Improvement to Enhance Anadromous Fish Production
PROJECT NO: 221.2-0G-2.2
CONTRACT NO 14-17-0001-1014
PERIOD COVERED: December 1960 through June 30, 1965
By Duane C. West, James A. Reeher, Jr., James A. Hewkin
ABSTRACT
Clear Creek, tributary of North Fork John Day River, is a mountain stream located in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon.
It joins Granite Creek about
1.5 miles below the old abandoned mining town of Granite.
Gravel removed from
Clear Creek by gold dredging activity was replaced in a 3.37-mile section of the stream in 1961.
The purpose of this work was to provide new spawning areas and resting pools to accommodate adult spring chinook salmon.
A total of 123 hours was required to move an estimated 13,158 cubic yards of gravel into the channel.
The cost was $1,470 or 110 per cubic yard.
Physical stream surveys indicated that a considerable amount of the introduced gravel washed from the areas of introduction but in most cases was still usable.
Log barriers worked satisfactorily as a means of stabilizing the gravel.
At the peak of the spawning period each year, observations were conducted to determine the amount of spring chinook activity on the introduced and natural gravels of the stream.
These observations indicated that the run of salmon increased during the study period.
One chinook redd was examined periodically to determine the rate of development and approximate time of fry emergence from the gravel.
The young salmon remained in the gravel for eight months before emerging.
The slow rate of development is attributed to low temperatures during the winter months.
A limited number of intragravel dissolved oxygen samples were also taken

® 2 during the time of egg development.
The dissolved oxygen content was satisfactory for egg and fry development.
REPORT OF OPERATIONS
During the spring of 1961 the project area was selected for the study on the lower portion of Clear Creek.
The stream section 3,37 miles in length had been left almost entirely devoid of spawning gravel by past gold dredging operations
(see Figure 1).
After selection of the site, particular attention was given to the composition of the tailings adjacent to the stream and plots were chosen accordingly.
Tailings that were selected generally consisted of gravel ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 inches in diameter with some scattered larger rocks.
A D-7 tractor operated eight hours a day spreading gravel in the channel to a depth of two to three feet.
The width of the channel varied considerably throughout but averaged 21 feet.
A total of 123 hours was required to move an estimated
13,158 cubic yards of gravel.
At the rate of $12.00 an hour for the tractor and operator, the cost of moving the gravel was $1,470 or 110 a cubic yard.
Large quantities of gravel tailings adjacent to the stream were readily available.
Forty-eight plots 1,772 yards in length were established and numbered in three groups.
The "A" plots were located in the lower 1.5 miles of the project area and numbered from the upstream end downstream.
The "B" plots started at the mouth of Congo Gulch
200 yards upstream from plot A-1 and were numbered from the downstream end upstream.
The "C" plot was located between plots A-1 and B-1.
In the 3.37 miles of stream the drop in elevation was 218.24 feet and the overall gradient 1.21 percent.
Table 1 presents the 1961 and 1964 survey data, and shows the elevation and gradient differences before and after the addition of gravel.
During the spring runoff the following years, a portion of the gravel washed from the lower end of the plots.
In some cases the gradients were improved and the gravel located in a more stable position.
Generally, the B plots in the upper stream had a higher percentage of washing than did the A and C plots in the

3
Table 1
Gradient and Elevation Survey, Clear Creek, 1961 1964
Plot
Number
Length of
Plot ft,
1961 Elevation 1964 Elevation
U stream Downstream U stream Downstream
1961 Gradient
1964 Gradient ercent
21A
20A
19A
18A
17A
16A
15A
14A
13A
12A
11A
10A
9A
8A
7A
6A
5A
4
3A
2A
1A
39
18
210
1,179
48
36
120
45
54
30
72
180
111
555
42
24
114
18
117
330
6o
100
90.54
101,45
-
103,71
105.91
-
115,70
118,87
-
126,08
144 92
-
148,68
151,33
155.10
157.73
160,60
162.91
167.70
172,14
185,13
90,13
98,14
-
103.37
103,91
-
115.24
116.61
-
125,09
128.16
-
148.18
149.17
154,17
157.61
160,58
159.40
165.31
170.63
175,85
_ 1C
-
1B
2B
3B
4B
5B
6B
14B
15B
16B
17B
18B
19B
20B
21B
22B
7B
8B
9B
10B
11B
12B
13B
23B
24B
25B
26B
48
51
36
60
51
192
96
42
42
60
60
66
66
51
15
63
30
285
102
60
60
87
81
66
21
120
202,71
205,34
-
213,09
220,03
-
-
224,86
226.12
229.01
232,48
236.93
-
244,16
-
260.13
-
-
-
-
-
_
o
-
202.64
205.06
-
209.91
216,14
-
-
222,87
225.34
228,93
231.35
235.04
-
243.79
-
257.61
-
-
-
-
-
_
m
233,12
236,20
241.39
245.36
247.39
261,60
265.38
273,70
276,22
281,29
285,04
290,01
293,16
297.19
200,82
202,33
203.72
205,99
208,28
213.21
219,08
220.49
222,32
225.94
228,44
230.25
(Stream elevations are taken on the streambed.)
91,19
98.86
104.00
105,42
108,21
114,58
116,58
119,92
125.48
129,77
145,96
148,54
150.20
154.27
156,69
159,30
161.69
164,90
169,75
173,58
186,62
189,17 187.67
241,25
244,31
246.99
258,36
264,22
267.77
274,81
279,08
282,90
288,17
291,98
294.10
199.65
201.41
202.81
204.72
207.14
208.83
217,07
219.92
221,11
223,62
227,16
228.71
232.23
235.53
90,22
97,09
101,95
104,92
105.93
109,01
115,92
119.62
123.87
127.07
129.58
147 35
149,63
150.23
154.87
158,76
161,24
163.42
165.83
171,44
176,16
0.98
13.80
1,89
1.71
0.77
5.80
0,47
1,42
-
-
0,19
0,47
-
1,65
5,89
-
-
3,32
1.30
0.12
1,71
3.72
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,59
-
0.88
-
1.39
1.80
2,06
0,22
0,07
4,88
1.33
1.37
1,67
2.31
6,63
1.80
2.78
1,95
1.69
1.10
0.77
8.95
1.29
1.38
2.49
1.58
3.37
4.05
1,00
1.5o
2.03
2.18
1.93
1.89
0.50
2.44
1.80
2.52
2,12
2,24
2,29
2,10
1.36
2,89
3.87
2.14
2.34
1.35
1,31
0.93
1,67
1.33
1,14
1.14
9,88
2,35
2.54
2,64
2.79
5.62
2. 8

- 4 lower area.
This was due in part to the steeper gradient in the upper project area.
In most cases where the gravel was moved from the plot it was deposited immediately downstream and was still usable.
In several cases the gravel was deposited in large gravel bars located above the September water level, making the gravel unavailable for Chinook use.
The formation of these bars usually occurred where the stream did not have a restricted channel.
A oonsiderable amount of gravel was deposited in bars out of the channel around a point or obstruction which caused an eddy.
On two plots the technique of installing a log across the stream was used to stabilize the movement of the gravel.
Some difficulty was experienced in anchoring the log to,prevent the current from washing under and around it.
All plots of introduced gravel were visually surveyed twat years after installation to determine the square yards of good and marginal gravel remaining.
The gravel that washed from the plots was surveyed and listed as either good, marginal or dry.
The dry category included all gravel of desirable size which was deposited above the
September water level.
Plots
A
B
Total
Length
(yds.)
1,134
638
100
1,872
Table 2
Status of Introduced Gravel
Square Yards Gravel
Good on Plots
Marginal
367
92
250
709
398
92
100
590
Square Yards Gravel Washed
Good from Plots
Marginal Dry__
622
122
37
781
937
215
46
1,198
1,230
1,530
240
3,000
Most of the gravel loss occurred in the steeper areas of the B plots.
Perhaps additional log barriers could have prevented this.
Seven holding pools were provided by gravel placements in the upper half of the project where a large percentage of the area was too steep for good spawning habitat.
These areas remained relatively stable during the study period and provided good resting and holding areas for

adult chinook salmon during the summer period.
During the first week of September observations were made to determine the amount of spring chinook spawning activity on the introduced and natural gravels of the stream.
The majority of the spawning occurred in the lower two miles below
Congo Gulch in the A and C sections.
Table 3 shows the spawning data by plot number.
Table 4 summarizes the 1958-64 spawning data and shows heavy use of the
Plot Number lA
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
1C
1B
2
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
3
4
5
6
7
8 introduced gravel by spawning chinook.
Table 3
14
100
16
17
12
14
20
20
22
22
17
5
20
17
64
32
14
Length of ds.
Clear Creek Spawning Data by Plots
Redds on Plots
31
Redds on Washed Gravel
62
16
1 61
1
1 62
4
6 2
4 7 185
4 37
60
4 4 1 2
1 7 5 2 3
2 24
10 1 2
3
2
18 3
1
2
3
2
1 40 2 3
2
1 12 1 1
4
10
16
393
70
1
22
1
24
6
27
3 5
4
1
6 10 6
6 2
13 2 1 1 2
1
20 1 3
6
3
5
2
2 2
110
39
6
1
5
4
1 2
6
1
1 5
5
3
38
8
5 5
1
3
11
1 7
5
6 3
1
3
1
1
4
1
13
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
4
1
1
1
3
5
2
1
1
5

6
Table 3 Continued
Redds on Plots
1961 1962 1963 1964
Redds on Washed Gravel
1962 1963 1964
1
1
Year
1958
72//
1959 tii
196o -/
1961
1962
1963
1964
Table 4
Clear Creek Spawning Data
No. of Fish
Observed
4
26
47
14
461
292
327
Number of Redds
Introduced Gravel 1/ Natural Gravel
-
9
154
104
154
10
13
49
1
44
13
45
-I/ Includes gravel washed from plots and redeposited.
Counts made previous to study.
During the winter of 1963 one chinook redd located in natural gravel was selected and examined periodically to determine the development and time of emergence.
Table 5 shows age and growth information obtained from the examination of this redd.
Emergence required approximately eight months.
The slow rate of development is attributed to anchor ice in the streambed and low temperatures during the winter months.

7
Date
November 29
January 21
February 15
March 14 1/
April 15 -I
2.1 Fry emergence.
Table 5
Growth of Chinook Fry at Clear Creek
Length in Millimeters Length in Inches
24.5
25.5
27.3
30.5
33.3
0.96
1.00
1.07
1.20
1,31
Water Temperature
32.0
32.5
36.0
36.0
42.0
Intragravel dissolved oxygen samples were also taken in conjunction with the egg development study.
Samples were drawn from 19 standpipes located at random on what appeared to be good chinook spawning gravel.
data collected.
Table 6 summarizes the
The dissolved oxygen content of the stream was 12.8 ppm and the average dissolved oxygen content of intragravel water was 10.68 ppm, which appeared to be sufficient for successful chinook spawning.
Table 6
Dissolved Oxygen in Intragravel Water at Clear Creek
Sample Number Location Dissolved Oxygen (ppm)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
1
2
Plot 19A
Plot 16A
Plot 11A
Natural gravel
II It
II
It
11
Plot lA
,,
,t
Plot 10B
I, tl
Plot 16B
14.50
11.50
11.04
11.50
10.88
10.88
11.00
...
11.50
11.50
10.04
1.84
9.66
10.58
11.50
13.34
9.66

Figure 1.
Gravel removed from Clear Creek by dredging activity.
Figure 2.
Upper end of gravel plot 19A.
Note log placed across plot to stabilize gradient.

Figure 3.
Closeup of chinook spawning gravel on plot 11A.
Figure 4.
Gravel plot 1B.
This plot was installed primarily to create a chinook resting pool.

Figure 5.
Upper end of plot 23B0 gravel washed from plot.
All spawning
Figure 6.
Gravel plot 19A.
The spawning gravel has been washed from the lower half of plot.
Above the log the gravel is still in place.

1
I

CONGO
IG U LCI-.1
ILTAWN
CHECKED
SCALE
0111116mill'
CLEA12. CZEL14_
HABITAT
0
21:0
400
&CC, &DO
SCALE. 1,4 CELT
INTRODUCED GRAVEL
OREGON STATE GAME COMMISSION
PORTLAND. OREGON
DESIGNED
APPROVED By
CHIEF ENG1NEER
APPROVED BY
DECCTOR
SHEET
0
SHEETS
I DRAWING NO
115 6