BLUE POOL – Last week, the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) completed significant habitat improvements on the upper McKenzie River at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project. Using helicopters, they placed 2,000 tons of gravel and 20 bundles of brushy treetops into the river.
Crews also pulled 10 large trees into the water with a pulley system.
This gravel and woody material enhances spawning habitats for Chinook salmon and bull trout. Salmon and trout build nests in gravel, while the branchy trees provide cover for young fish, helping them evade predators. The structure creates pools for fish and rapids that oxygenate water, benefiting the eggs.
The project targets a section of the Upper McKenzie with minimal gravel due to its proximity to Tamolitch Falls, where the river emerges from volcanic rock. This area is among the highest and coldest habitats available for salmon as they adapt to a warming climate.
“This reach is particularly important as climate change grows more and more severe,” EWEB Fisheries Biologist Andy Talabere, “As fish continue to move further upstream, to be in colder and colder habitat, this habitat improvement project will add resiliency and make this even more of a climate refuge for fish than it already is.”
Weekday closures at the Blue Pool Trailhead were necessary to ensure safety during heavy machinery work. Now that the project is complete, the trail, a popular hiking destination along the river, is open again.
