The Problems Presented to Trout Trying to Spawn on Iron Canyon Reservoir, Shasta County, California, due to fish passage barriers.

Iron Canyon Reservoir contains native Rainbow and Brown Trout and planted Rainbow Trout which carry over.  These fish use the feeder creeks to spawn in.  The reservoir is fed by the McCloud River and is the forebay for the James Black Powerhouse owned by P,G.& E.

If you want some history and some solutions click here - Iron Canyon History

For a Map of the Reservoir click here - Iron Canyon Map

Below are pictures of the problem presented by the raised or perched culverts.              
 

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

This is an example of a raised culvert on Deadlum Creek at Iron Canyon Reservoir, May 4, 2004.    

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

This is the stream below the culvert.  Notice low gradient and high gravel content.

Next is Cedar Salt Log Creek which a is very good spawning creek. 

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

This is an example of a raised culvert on Cedar Salt Creek at Iron Canyon Reservoir, May 4, 2004.  If one looks closely the embankment to the right of the culvert has been eroded from back eddy almost to the pavement.

== >We revisited this culvert on February 26, 2005 to look at the fish barrier and count fish success.  The fish were unable to make it into the culvert. SEE HERE

The drop below the Cedar Salt Log culvert is 3-4 feet.     

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

Cedar Salt Log Creek below the culvert.     

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

This is Cedar Salt Log Creek above the culvert.

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

Native Rainbow Trout caught in the Reservoir   (2004).

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2004

Picture by Norman Ploss (C) 2005

Picture by David Green (C) 2005

Fisherperson (Cathy) from Tracy Fly Fishing Club (2000) with eighteen inch brown.

YIKES!