Western Native Trout Initiative

Proposed Accomplishment Summary
The Georgetown Road Relocation Project is a multi-year project to remove approximately 2 miles of road from the bottom of Georgetown Creek (including 3 impassable culverts) to improve aquatic and riparian habitat, water quality, and aquatic organism passage in the canyon. In 2008, the new road was built in the uplands and in 2009, the Forest proposes to initiate the removal of the old road.

The importance to the Resource
Georgetown Creek is a tributary to the Bear River. It is a priority restoration stream in the Idaho Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Management Plan. Fluvial BCT have been tracked entering the stream. Other migration barriers are currently being addressed, including a hydroelectric diversion headgate and a diversion dam.

The problem
Past phosphate mining in Georgetown watershed created a road up the bottom of Georgetown Canyon. Slag from the mine added to the road fill increased the width and height of the road. Fill and 3 impassable culverts are eroding causing water quality problems and filling adjacent floodplains and springs/wetlands with sediment.

The method
In 2008 a road was constructed in the uplands of Georgetown Canyon. The old road and associated culverts will be removed by excavator and transported to the upland to fill previously excavated areas. Topsoil will be placed on the fill, the stream and riparian area will be recontoured and all will be planted with native vegetation.

Further description
An environmental analysis for the project was prepared in 2008 in cooperation with IDEQ. Considering the size of the road, this will be a multiple year project.