December 15, 2001

The South Fork of Bear Creek is a tiny stream that runs for many miles parallel to the headwaters of the Mattole. You may see this creek while driving on Chemise Mtn. Road, or at the bottom of the switchbacks between Shelter Cove and Thorn Junction. Despite its small size, this stream is very important habitat for Mattole salmon and steelhead. Since the mid-1990s, BLM and MRC have co-operated on a number of projects to reduce road-related sediment problems that could impact the prime salmonid habitat in this creek. This summer, BLM and MRC teamed up to remove 0.9 miles of road network just downstream of where the South Fork of Bear Creek crosses the Shelter Cove Road. Jenny Safier coordinated the project, and heavy equipment work was done by the Arcata’s Twin Parks Company. The old road surface was removed, and the hillslopes recontoured to remove traces of the old network, and all stream crossings, where culverts have the potential to plug and fail, were excavated. The project site was mulched, and Douglas-fir trees will planted on the site to further the processes of recovery. If you are interested in a field tour of the site, call Jen Glorioso at the MRC office (629-3514).


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Table of Contents for Mattole Restoration Newsletter, Issue 17 - Winter/Spring 2002