September / October Newsletter Now Available

The latest (September/October) issue of the chapter newsletter is now available.  Click on the link to the right to download.

Update on the Circle Creek culvert removal and volunteer opportunities

The work at Circle Creek continues. Here is Troy's update:


"Project update:  The footing work went very well, with the abutments now completely in place.  Wayne Fulmer’s dad passed away this past week so coordinating the next step in the construction sequence was put on hold.  Wayne is the Golf Course owner.  They had their memorial this past weekend so I will be getting in touch with him this week to further schedule this out.  Ideally, Wayne would like us to minimize disturbance of golf play so we must maintain a crossing as best as we can to keep play going.  I’m working on seeing if he will let us put the bridge approaches in as the next step (another volunteering opportunity) so we are ready for golf traffic onto the bridge right away once we are done with our decking work.  If allowed to do this way, I see us as being able to keep the heavy equipment on site to remove the culverted crossing once the bridge is put into play.  Also in the works is the Oregon division of state lands has our easement permit out for 30-day public review, with the comment deadline of August 28.  I am assuming we will get the easement approved with no problems so I am proceeding forward with construction as best as possible.  Right now, it is looking like the last week of August for our volunteer work party planning purposes."

Based on Troy's update, Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited is planning a work party for Saturday August 28. There will be fishing opportunities before and after. I plan on trying for the (to me) as yet elusive Searun Cutthroat Trout. The work will start at 10 AM. Plan on bringing a lunch and gloves and appropriate clothing. I'll send out updates as plans solidify. 

It would be nice to have an idea how many can come so please reply to Michael Ellis at tvturestoration@gmail.com if you can attend.

It is possible to float tube from the ODFW put in on Hwy. 101 and float to the mouth of Circle Creek. With fishing it could take 3 hours at least. This would be great after the work party! I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Michael Ellis

Culvert replacement work at Seaside golf course begins

After over a year of delays our chapter was able to start work on the culvert replacement at Circle Creek last Saturday, July 17. TVTU Members Mike Coddington, Alan Moore, Mike Gentry, Bill Schoen, Tom Wolf, and, Michael Ellis joined Troy Laws of ODFW and two members of the Rainland Fly Casters, Bob May and Ernie Rose to clean up the main support beams for the bridge.

We pulled nails, removed bolts and pressure washed. Troy, with Bob and Ernie's help, measured and cut the beams to length. More work will be needed this summer/early fall to install the deck surface and restore the area where the culverts have been removed.

Most of the crew, from the left,: Mike Gentry, Alan Moore, Bill Schoen, Tom Wolf, Troy Laws, Mike Coddington, Michael Ellis. Managing to escape being photographed are Bob May and Ernie Rose.

Next work party set for July 17/18

Our next work party will be the weekend of July 17 and 18 and will be a weekend long event planned around fishing for native Sea Run Cutthroat trout!  We can begin gathering Friday evening. The schedule will be fishing early and late, with  work in the middle of the day. You can camp or stay in a motel and there will be a hosted barbecue Saturday night. Stay tuned to this site for more information, or, e mail tvturestoration@gmail.com and ask to be put on the e mail list for the next work party/fishing trip.

I hope we will be working on the bridge at Circle Creek, but if that doesn’t work out we will work at either the Thompson Creek site or at Neitzel Farms.  This should be a great opportunity to help improve habitat and go fishing too!

I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Michael Ellis

July/August Newsletter Available

The latest (July/August) issue of the chapter newsletter is now available.  Click on the link to the right to download.

Help a smolt, volunteer today

Neitzel Farms work party a huge success

Eleven members and friends of the Tualatin Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited met at Neitzel Farms near Seaside Saturday, May 15 to further the restoration of this stretch of the Necanicum river. In attendance were Site Manager Doug Ray, as well as one of the Neitzel family, Les, who dedicates countless hours to maintaining the restoration work on the farm. Our volunteers included Jeff VanHoy, Don Kaster, Mike Coddington, Bill Schoen, Jeff Disney, Sharon Cook, Tyrone Snelling, George Wilson, Alan Moore, Michael Ellis, and, the man who attends EVERY work party, John Burger.

We planted several hundred Cottonwoods along the off stream wetland and about eighty Ninebark plants near the mainstem of the Necanicum. We also maintained some previous plantings of conifers by mowing and mulching. The weather was most cooperative. It didn’t rain or get too hot. As you can see from the before and after photos, the entire crew came through with all limbs and body parts intact in spite of the fact that several were operating power tools! 

We all had a great time listening to Doug’s plans for the Necanicum and how the work we are doing will help shape the restoration of the watershed. There are some exciting opportunities coming up on the Necanicum and it is exciting to be involved in this restoration work. 

The Coho fry that over wintered in the off channel area are gone now and have been replaced by the this years hatchlings. It was really nice to see the structure being used by the fish.

Mowing non native vegetation

Planting Cottonwood trees

Planting Ninebark

Spreading mulch

After the work was done, Doug took us over to the North Coast Land Conservancy's Circle Creek property and showed us some primo Steelhead and Sea Run Cutthroat runs. This kind of info is just a side benefit of participation in these work parties.

Our next work party will be in mid July and will be a weekend long event planned around fishing for native Sea Run Cutthroat trout! Stay tuned to this site for more information, or, e mail tvturestoration@gmail.com and ask to be put on the e mail list for the next work party/fishing trip.

We really need to do a fishing survey of Spirit Lake.

Thirty years ago Mount St. Helens exploded and reconfigured the landscape, and transformed Spirit Lake. Here's a link to a fascinating story from National Geographic about the remaking of the lake, and the mysterious reintroduction of rainbow trout--which are now averaging only 2 1/2 pounds, down from 4-5 pounds. The lake is still off-limits, despite a 95-1 Washington house vote in favor of opening up a limited number of annual permits for fishing. Someone ought to call SW Washington Fish & Game biologist, John Weinheimer, about doing a creel survey soon. It's all in the name of science.

Circle Creek work party undergoes metamorphosis, becomes Neitzel Farms work party

Well, the permits for the bridge are still stuck waiting for some engineering work and it looks like we won't be able to work on the bridge project May 15, but wait! Fortunately TVTU is involved in more than one restoration project in the Seaside area, so, the Circle Creek  work party has morphed into the Neitzel Farms work party. Same date and time, even the same general area and I hope that you all will be able to come. 

We will still carpool from Portland. I don't have good directions to Neitzel Farms yet, but will provide them within a week or so If you want to meet at the work site. Here are my woefully lacking directions for your amusement: From Portland Neitzel Farm is on highway 26 on the North side before the junction to Cannon Beach. Look for the trees with their root wads in the air! 

There is mulch to spread, native plants to plant, and canary grass to be removed so a pleasant time is guaranteed for all! Plus, you will be able to meet Doug Ray, the Project Manager for Neitzel Farms, who will be delighted to fill you in on the details of his plan for this project.  Doug is thinking on a very long term time line and it is incredibly interesting to hear him talk about the work we are doing.

If you want to carpool from Portland, meet at the Sunset  Fred Meyer, 22075 NW Imbrie Dr. Hillsboro, Oregon, by the can return area, at 8:30 am May 15. We would like to have an idea of how many people will attend, so, please respond by e mail to Michael Ellis (tvturestoration@gmail.com ) if you are interested.

Bring gloves, a lunch,  and  appropriate clothing (raingear).

As for the Bridge at Circle Creek, I am hoping that it will get done this season and am starting to plan for a work party in July, permits pending.

Sincerely,

Michael Ellis

Jeff Gottfried presents Self-Guided Alaskan Tours at May 12th meeting.

Greetings!

I am looking forward to presenting a talk on self-guided fishing trips in Alaska at the next chapter meeting of Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited on May 12.

I have taken 13 trips to Alaska with groups of friends. The trip that I will be highlighting in my presentation will be a 90- mile rafting journey on the Kisaralik River in the lower Kuskokwim watershed.

On this trip each of our four anglers caught 10 species of fish on flies and caught at least one of every species on an egg-sucking leech! We saw lots of bears (black and brown), musk oxen, caribou, beaver, moose, wolves...it is the wilderness trip of a lifetime for me.

The Kisaralik allows no guides, so if you choose to make this trip, you are on your own. I'll be showing images telling our story and giving suggestions for self-guided trips.

Jeff