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INTRODUCING THE PROPOSED ELK RIVER SALMON EMPHASIS AREA (ERSEA)
ERSEA: To Protect & Enhance the National Wild & Scenic Elk River & its Fishery
Background
The National Wild & Scenic Elk River of southwest Oregon is one of the premier salmon and steelhead streams on the West Coast of the United States. Owing to its high fishery values, Elk River has been recognized by the Wild Salmon Center as a Salmon Stronghold, a stream vitally important for future salmon conservation. The fishery resource of Elk River is also crucial to the economy of Port Orford, where local businesses depend on sport and commercial fisheries.
Broad local support helped gain wilderness designations for significant portions of the watershed above the Elk River Salmon Hatchery; however, key fish-bearing tributaries still have no adequate long-term protection.
In order to provide a stronghold for salmon into the future, Friends of Elk River’s goal is to secure the best possible management for all federal lands within Elk River Watershed. To protect and enhance the National Wild & Scenic Elk River and its fishery, we propose establishing the Elk River Salmon Emphasis Area.
ERSEA Management Area Includes
- 30,900 acres already-designated wilderness
- 29 miles already-designated National Wild & Scenic River
- 27,780 acres managed for watershed and fishery protection and backcountry use
- 22.4 miles of Elk River tribs (Blackberry/Panther/Bald Mtn/Rock) proposed for W&S designation
- 2 miles of spawning and rearing habitat reopened by removing Blackberry Creek culvert
ERSEA Management Directives
- The US Forest Service shall manage the entire area with emphasis on protecting fisheries and water quality.
- Forest resources shall be managed in ways that prevent sedimentation and damage to streams.
- A fire management plan shall be developed specifically to protect the current and future fishery values.
- Any resource management conflict shall be resolved in favor of fisheries and water quality.
- The area shall be withdrawn from new mineral entry, subject to valid existing rights.
- Control of noxious weeds and invasive species must take fisheries values into account as a primary concern; pesticides known-to-be-harmful to native aquatic species shall not be used within the ERSEA.
ERSEA Management Opportunities
- Hunting and fishing are permitted per Oregon State regulations.
- Motorized travel is permitted in accordance with USFS Travel Management Plan.
- Chainsaw use is permitted.
- Firewood cutting is permitted per USFS regulations.
- Mountain bikes are permitted unless contraindicated in specific locations for resource protection.
- Road reconstruction is permitted for thinning projects inside existing plantations.
- Logging in riparian zones is permitted in accordance with Northwest Forest Plan.
- Thinning is permitted in plantations, except in areas with steep slopes
ERSEA Management Restrictions
- Logging is prohibited outside existing plantations.
- No new road building.
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