December 2006

The Winchuck: Protecting an Important Klamath-Siskiyou Salmon Stream

The Winchuck River is the southernmost river on Oregon's coast, an important fishery that tumbles out of the Siskiyou Mountains. Though small by Oregon standards, the Winchuck's 71-square-mile watershed supports healthy runs of steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, chinook and coho salmon. It is also home to most of the last remaining ancient redwoods in the state.

The U.S. Forest Service came to Western Rivers Conservancy looking for help with a high-priority acquisition on the East Fork Winchuck River: a 43-acre property with critical habitat for marbled murrelets and spotted owls. WRC seeks to conserve this stretch of the Winchuck by ultimately conveying the property to be part of the surrounding Siskiyou National Forest . The land is adjacent to the historic Ludlum House, a WWII-era cabin offering overnight stays, access to wooded hiking trails and wildlife viewing.

The property boasts old-growth stands of coast redwood and Douglas fir, key wetland habitat and the lower reach of an important tributary, Wheeler Creek. Chinook and steelhead favor the property's mile-long stretch of stream for spawning. The land also contains habitat for northern river otter, osprey, bald eagle, Del Norte's salamander, yellow-legged frog and four sensitive bat species. WRC is working to secure funding to convey the land to the U.S. Forest Service, which is committed to preserving this beautiful example of an intact forest.

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