Story of Disaster Creek

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Disaster Creek


	Is this any way to treat a spawning stream?		(Click on any photo for larger view)


	Late in March 1993, an unnamed creek in the Elk River watershed blew out in a big way. Located in the Southwest Quarter of Section 19, Township 33 South, Range 14 West, approximately six miles southeast of Port Orford, Oregon. This stream is now known as Disaster Creek.		Nearly all of the soil and vegetation along the entire half-mile length of Disaster Creek was carried away by the torrent of mud and debris that roared down its channel.


	The slide tore out the road that crossed Disaster Creek at its confluence with Bear Creek and dumped much of the largest debris into Bear Creek’s spawning habitat.		Within the steep, unstable Elk River watershed, Disaster Creek feeds Bear Creek which runs into Bald Mountain Creek, a Class I stream with highly productive steelhead spawning habitat. Bald Mountain Creek empties into the Elk River, a National Wild & Scenic River and an Oregon Scenic Waterway. The Elk is recognized as one of the most productive salmon rivers in the nation.


	The slide originated within the boundaries of the Siskiyou National Forest in a clearcut on private land. When the land was clearcut logged about three years prior to the event, no buffer was left along the stream, and the channel was choked with slash. Disaster Creek was an accident waiting to happen.		The long-range consequences from the Disaster Creek landslide are expected to impact the Elk River watershed’s outstanding fisheries for years to come.


			Is this stream next? A healthy, unlogged stream of similar size in the steep Elk River watershed offers a stark contrast to Disaster Creek, not far away.


	All photographs © Elizabeth Feryl. Disaster Creek © 1993, Friends of Elk River. Printing and publication of this document made possible through the generosity of John Paul Mitchell Systems.
	Copies of this booklet have been distributed to the following organizations:

	AFSEE American Fisheries Society Association of Oregon loggers Cape Arago Audubon Society Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians Curry Anadromous Fishermen Curry County Commissioners Curry Guides Association Friends of Coquille River Friends of Sixes River Headwaters Independent Troll Fishermen of Oregon John Paul Mitchell Systems Kalmiopsis Audubon Society Klamath Forest Alliance Lane County Audubon Leopold Club National Audubon Society National Wildlife Federation Natural Resources Defense Council Northcoast Environmental Center 1000 Friends of Oregon Oregon Natural Resources Council Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Oregon Department of Forestry Oregon Governor’s Forest Planning Team Oregon Lands Coalition Oregon Parks & Recreation Department Oregon Secretary of State	Oregon State Representative Tarno Oregon State Senator Bradbury Oregon Trout OSU Department of Fisheries & Wildlife Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association Pacific Rivers Council Port Orford Library Portland Audubon President Clinton’s Office of Environmental Policy Public Forestry Foundation River Network Rogue Institute for Ecology & Economy Selma Citizens Advocating Responsible Forestry Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Siskiyou Regional Education Project Society of American Foresters SOTIA South Coast Fishermen’s Association SW Oregon Chapter of NW Steelheaders Subcommittee of National Parks & Public Lands Tenmile Creek Association The Center for the Study of the Environment The Wilderness Society US Congressman DeFazio US Secretary of Interior US Senator Hatfield US Senator Packwood Western Ancient Forest Council Western Environmental Law Clinic
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