Eagle Creek Springs is a tributary of the Sol Duc River aproximately 26 miles up stream from the Pacific Coast.  This crystal clear water comes from 19 underground springs at a  year round temperature of 47 to 50 degrees F.  The creek is 1000 feet in length and flows at a rate of 11 cubic feet/second or 4937 gallons/minute.  The creek is a spawning ground to native runs of summer and fall Coho Salmon.  The creek also supports a small run of Native Sockeye Salmon and wintering over of Chinook Salmon (King Salmon), Steelhead and Native Cutthroat Trout.

                                                   Eagle Creek Springs               Before           After

Wintering-Over Pond

Coho Salmon spend 18 months in fresh water before they go to sea. In this time, they develop their survuval skills and grow big enough to make the trip. These salmon need a place that protects them from floods and predators and gives them an ample food supply. This is why the small streams and wetland areas in a river are so important. If we can increase the survival rate during these 18 months. The retruning runs of spawning salmon will increase. An agreement was reached in 1998 between the family of Eagle Creek Ranch, Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition and Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. This agreement developed into enhancing all fo the needs required for salmon survival. Everthing that the fish biologists say is needed has been done on this creek. Over 1000 hours of volunteer time has been invested along with the professional help of Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.

Fish Count

 Underwater screenshots taken with donated underwater camera of fish wintering over in  Eagle Creek Springs.

Fall Run Coho 2001

Summer Run Coho 2002

Before the new  culvert we used to think it was a good year if 12 Coho spawned in the creek

Culvert Replacement

 culvert      culvert construction

An enginering crew from Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife installed a large baffled culvert in the summer of 1999. This style of culvert uses metal baffles that acts as a fish ladder. This enabled the water in the creek to rise to the high water line of the previous dams that were abandoned. This is the second time in Washington state that this baffled culvert was used and is the only one at this steep angle.  This culvert services as a demonstration project for Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife.                                  

Woody Debris

Four Spruce Triangles    

While the heavy construction equipment was on site it was used to place tree stumps and other woody debris in the creek. A work crew from Clearwater Correction Honor Camp placed the woody debris in the main channel and using large rope, secured the woody debris to the banks of the creek to prevent it from blocking the culvert. In the upper part of the creek, a new idea was implented to bundle spruce tree branches together. A plastic ABS pipe was made into a triangle shaped float and spruce branches are tie wrapped to the legs. After 10 to 15 branches, the trianlge forms and underwater barrier, a lot like a big tree root ball. These spruce triangles provide cover for small fish and are also used by spawning Coho to hide from predators. To date, 16 spruce trianlges are providing cover in Eagle Creek Springs. The best part of this new cover is that a 2 person crew can place these anywhere in a stream without the use of heavy equipment.

Spawning Gravel

Coho salmon require small to medium size rock to spawn in.  Several areas of the creek were identified for improvement.  Under the supervision of Fish and Wildlife these areas received over 135 cubic yards of "State approved" gravel. This gravel had to meet the size requirements and be cleaned of dirt. 135 cubic yards is 13 dump truck loads. The work crew from the Clearwater Correction Honor Camp had carried 35 cubic yards of gravel into the creek. The rest was done by volunteers. Over the past few years an increase in the Coho Salmon has adapted to this new gravel. The winter of 2001 also saw cuttthroat and steelhead trout spawning for the first time.

Tree Planting

At the end of the project the landscaping and the tree planting were left for the local landowners to complete. The project leader organized volunteer work party's from the employees of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. In a 3 year effort to plant native trees and wetland plants.

Salmon Nutrients

At the beginning of this project, this creek was barren of vegetation in the water. In 1998, the Salmon Coalition began placing surplus Coho Salmon carcasses from the Sol Duc Salmon Hatchery in the creek. Every winter 200 to 600 salmon carcasses are laid over the entire length of the creek. This enhances the food chain in the creek. As an added benefit, these carcasses remain in the creek during high water in the Sol Duc River.  This keeps the flow of nutrients at a high level through the months of the spring. This helps to enhance the Sol Duc River for several miles down the stream  from the creek. The downside to this, Eagle Creek Springs smells like dead salmon for several months. We would like to thank the landowner for putting up with the smell.

Coho Salmon carcasses  

Dave's Spruce Triangles

Triangle in use

Small fish need cover to hide from birds and larger fish.  In areas where it was not practical to bring in heavy wood debris, the salmon coalition developed Dave's Spruce Triangles (DST).  They are black 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe filled with foam for buoyancy.  The DST is a float and tying long lasting spruce branches to it provide cover.  The DST does not become waterlogged and sink, and can be anchored in slow water.

We have been using DST in Eagle Creek since the winter of 1999.  Small fish gather around like any natural obstruction.  Spawning fish were using them for protection from birds, and frogs were laying eggs in one.

Cut the pipe:  2 @ 31 inches,  1 @ 43 inches, 2 @ about 4 inches for the endcaps.

Fill the legs with foam fill slowly allowing for expansion, allow to dry overnight.

Glue the 2 - 31 inch pieces to the elbow.

Glue the 'Y' fittings and the 43 inch piece.

Glue the short pieces and end caps on the open ends of the 'Ys'.

Drill starter holes in the elbow and 'Y' fittings and install the screws using glue to seal them. 

Cover your spruce triangle in place with 10 to 14 branches.  Secure with ty-wraps or rope.  

Anchor it to a stump or rock to keep it in place.