Post by Greg Stamper on Mar 4, 2015 13:50:12 GMT -5
Trout stockings in East Fork of Indian Creek in Menifee County postponed until fall
Last updated: March 03. 2015 12:45PM
FRANKFORT - The March, April and May stockings of rainbow and brown trout in East Fork of Indian Creek in Menifee County will be delayed until October due to a stream restoration project.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources usually stocks 3,000 rainbow trout and 300 brown trout in the stream each spring. The creek is a small waterway that can be easily jumped in several locations.
“We are removing two concrete culverts and two concrete plank crossings along the East Fork of Indian Creek,” said Rob Lewis, environmental engineer consultant for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We are having some erosion issues from the concrete plank crossings. The culverts impound short stretches of the creek and will be removed.”
The project is designed to stabilize the banks and restore a more natural stream-bed to the creek.
A plank crossing is a series of concrete planks – similar to over-sized railroad ties – held together by steel hinges. They are used in several areas on the property for stream crossings. The plank crossings being removed are causing bank erosion and sediment deposit in the creek.
Existing culverts occasionally get clogged, which blocks the movement of fish and can present a danger to hikers.
These crossings are along Forest Service Road 9B, also named on some maps as KY 1203 or East Fork Indian Creek Road. The stream crossings are within the boundaries of the Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Only one of the four crossings is currently open for vehicles: a culvert just upstream of the confluence of East Fork of Indian Creek and Little East Fork of Indian Creek. Plans call for that crossing to remain open to vehicles after completion of the project.
Lewis said the obsolete crossings will be replaced with man-made riffles that can easily be crossed on foot. The constructed riffles provide better habitat for fish. The culvert on Forest Road 9B will become an environmentally friendly low water crossing that allows easier upstream access for fish in the creek.
Hikers and anglers will still be able to walk the trail following completion of the restoration project.
An additional benefit of the project will be the construction of campsites along the restored sections of East Fork of Indian Creek, a popular camping spot for visitors to Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Excess soil from the stream restoration project will be used to develop the new campsites.
The project will begin in March, as weather permits. Construction will take up to six months.
www.floydcountytimes.com/news/sports/152150842/Trout-stockings-in-East-Fork-of-Indian-Creek-in-Menifee-County-postponed-until-fall
Last updated: March 03. 2015 12:45PM
FRANKFORT - The March, April and May stockings of rainbow and brown trout in East Fork of Indian Creek in Menifee County will be delayed until October due to a stream restoration project.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources usually stocks 3,000 rainbow trout and 300 brown trout in the stream each spring. The creek is a small waterway that can be easily jumped in several locations.
“We are removing two concrete culverts and two concrete plank crossings along the East Fork of Indian Creek,” said Rob Lewis, environmental engineer consultant for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We are having some erosion issues from the concrete plank crossings. The culverts impound short stretches of the creek and will be removed.”
The project is designed to stabilize the banks and restore a more natural stream-bed to the creek.
A plank crossing is a series of concrete planks – similar to over-sized railroad ties – held together by steel hinges. They are used in several areas on the property for stream crossings. The plank crossings being removed are causing bank erosion and sediment deposit in the creek.
Existing culverts occasionally get clogged, which blocks the movement of fish and can present a danger to hikers.
These crossings are along Forest Service Road 9B, also named on some maps as KY 1203 or East Fork Indian Creek Road. The stream crossings are within the boundaries of the Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Only one of the four crossings is currently open for vehicles: a culvert just upstream of the confluence of East Fork of Indian Creek and Little East Fork of Indian Creek. Plans call for that crossing to remain open to vehicles after completion of the project.
Lewis said the obsolete crossings will be replaced with man-made riffles that can easily be crossed on foot. The constructed riffles provide better habitat for fish. The culvert on Forest Road 9B will become an environmentally friendly low water crossing that allows easier upstream access for fish in the creek.
Hikers and anglers will still be able to walk the trail following completion of the restoration project.
An additional benefit of the project will be the construction of campsites along the restored sections of East Fork of Indian Creek, a popular camping spot for visitors to Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Excess soil from the stream restoration project will be used to develop the new campsites.
The project will begin in March, as weather permits. Construction will take up to six months.
www.floydcountytimes.com/news/sports/152150842/Trout-stockings-in-East-Fork-of-Indian-Creek-in-Menifee-County-postponed-until-fall