DESCRIPTION
The Chelan County Natural Resources Department (CCNRD) implemented the Skinney Creek Culvert Replacement Project to correct a problem culvert (WDFW 040148) and to reduce blockages that interrupt adult and juvenile salmonid migrations. This project was identified as part of a Chelan County Fish Barrier Inventory Study completed by the Harza/BioAnalyst Engineering Co. in 2000. The culvert on Skinney Creek was a substantial barrier to fish due to the presence of a high outfall drop distance and high velocities. The replacement of this culvert directly addressed a physical barrier that interferes with salmonid passage to spawning and rearing habitat. The existing fish passage barrier culvert was replaced with a 30-foot span modular bridge unit to open up habitat for spring Chinook, steelhead, bull trout and coho on Skinney Creek. This culvert replacement was a part of a greater effort entitled 'The Upper Wenatchee Passage Program' (UWPP) a collaborative effort between Chelan County Natural Resource Department, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to acquire funds to replace nine barrier culverts that interrupted adult and juvenile salmonid passage in the Chiwawa and Middle Wenatchee subwatersheds. The biological goal of the UWPP was to increase fish passage into Alder Creek (2 culverts), Clear Creek (3 culverts), Beaver Creek (3 culverts) and Skinney Creek (2 culverts). All fish passage UWPP barriers (except Skinney Creek #1 due to an upcomin
The Chelan County Natural Resources Department (CCNRD) completed the Skinney Creek Culvert Replacement Project to correct a passage barrier culvert and reduce blockages that interrupt adult and juvenile salmonid migrations. This project was identified as part of a Chelan County Fish Barrier Inventory Study completed by the Harza/BioAnalyst Engineering Co. in 2000. The culvert on Skinney Creek was a substantial barrier to fish due to the presence of a high outfall drop distance and high velocities. The replacement of this culvert directly addressed a physical barrier that interfered with salmonid passage to spawning and rearing habitat.
Skinney Creek is a tributary of Chiwaukum Creek and is one of the watersheds that makeup the Wenatchee subbasin in North-central Washington. Chiwaukum Creek, the parent creek of Skinney Creek, has a known occurrence of endangered spring Chinook/ Summer steelhead and threatened bull trout. Adult steelhead were documented in Skinney Creek 10 years ago by USFS fisheries biologist Dan Rife and on a recent site visit the Chelan County natural resources specialist located juvenile steelhead/rainbow in a pool immediately above the culvert. Due to the occurrence of endangered and potentially threatened species in Chiwaukum Creek and the historical presence of steelhead in Skinney Creek, it was a high priority to replace the Skinney Creek culvert.
