Habitat Project Update: Big Elk Creek

By Pat Hoglund, CCA Oregon Executive Director

A flash and then a dart. Then the chinook salmon came into focus, its gray body holding in the soft current. It was milling about in a shallow pool on the Big Elk River waiting for the water level to rise. It would eventually pass over the exposed granite ledge and continue its upriver migration. For now, it waited in the tannin-stained water where Jerry Massey and I stood. We were there to get an in-person look at one of two habitat projects CCA Oregon helped fund.

The Big Elk Creek flows west out of the Coast Range Mountains where at Elk City it joins the Yaquina River. It eventually winds its way past the town of Toledo before joining Yaquina Bay near Newport. All told Big Elk Creek flows 31 miles. The Big Elk is known for its winter steelhead fishing, and even more so its fall chinook fishing opportunities.

The upper portion near Eddyville is prime spawning habitat for steelhead, salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout, which Massey and I bore witness when a second chinook flashed in the pool.

Kailee Fiorella, Agricultural Restoration Program Specialist with the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District (LCSWD), walked us through the project pointing out work that has been completed and what more work that still needs to be done. There are culverts to install, brush to be cleared, fences to put up, and native trees to plant.

“We were originally going to make three paddocks, how we just have to run basically two fence lines to make two paddocks,” Fiorella said, noting that the landowner Tom Runion has taken it upon himself to purchase and install several culverts already. “So, we actually don’t need to section off as much as we were going to originally.”

Fiorella points out that the money saved from Runion’s purchases will be spent additional riparian plantings.

“Tom has graciously offered to run culverts himself and then we will eventually install native trees and shrubs here in the riparian area to help create a cover to cool off the Big Elk.”

Historically, cattle grazed along the water’s edge which spurred blackberry growth all but eliminating any chance for trees to grow. And that’s where CCA Oregon’s funding comes into play. From its habitat fund, CCA Oregon committed $14,000 to this project. Money

CCA Oregon committed goes toward purchasing fencing, culverts, native plant species and paying workers to clear the land.

“Knowing how important it is to have good spawning habitat, and the importance of the Yaquina River, we felt it was a worthy project to support,” Jack Smith, Habitat Committee chair said. “It’s a small slice of habitat, but a very important slice.”

It is estimated that just over a quarter of a mile will be repaired. The work on this project is expected to be completed by June of 2026. Said Fiorella, “We really couldn’t complete any of this without our partners in conservation, CCA being one of them.”

To view Photos of project CLICK HERE

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Trash, Junk Removed from Sandy River

On Saturday, October 11th, the Mt. Hood Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association Oregon joined forces with the Sandy River Chapter of the Northwest Steelheaders for a successful joint cleanup effort along the Sandy River in Troutdale, Oregon. This biannual initiative brought together dedicated volunteers from both organizations, united by a shared commitment to preserving the health and beauty of our local waterways. Together, we removed 36 large bags of garbage and hauled out 27 bulky items—including storage totes filled with discarded clothing, portable RV waste containers, tables, and even bike parts. In addition, hazardous materials were safely delivered to Metro for proper disposal, ensuring they won’t pose a threat to the environment.

This spring and fall tradition is more than just a cleanup—it’s a celebration of community collaboration and environmental stewardship. Volunteers were fueled by donuts and camaraderie as they worked side by side, reinforcing the strong partnership between our two non-profits. We’re proud of the impact we made and always welcome new volunteers to join us in future efforts. Whether you’re passionate about conservation, fishing, or just want to make a difference, there’s a place for you in our next cleanup.

We’d love to have you. Please reach out if you want to work alongside a group of dedicated volunteers.

Wade Radke

Mt. Hood Chapter President wade.radke@gmail.com

State Banquet:

Last year’s state banquet and awards ceremony drew over 200 guests.

10 Down. One BIG One To Go

Believe it or not, we have held 10 chapter banquets, our most recent finished in September with better than expected turnouts. The Portland Chapter held its golf tournament at Colwood Golf Course in early September while the Columbia Gorge Chapter’s banquet wrapped up Sept. 27th.

Both banquets mirrored the previous chapter banquets. Turnout was good, spirits were high and we raised a good amount of money for the fish. These fundraisers are so important to our organization’s health and we can’t thank you for your support.

And while the chapter banquets are behind us for this year, we have one more event: the 2025 Statewide Banquet & Awards Ceremony Nov. 15, 2025. Like last year it will be held at the Wingspan Event & Conference Center in Hillsboro. And like last year, it will be our biggest party of the year.

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Debbie Colbert, ODFW Director, as our keynote speaker. She will address the importance of hatcheries and CCA Oregon’s relationship with the department. In addition, we’ll hand out member awards and we’ll award the Chapter of the Year.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Highlights For This Year’s Event

• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Debbie Colbert, ODFW Director
• Plenty of Fishing Trips, Gear
• Golfing Vacations, Couples Getaways
• Duck Hunting Trip w/ Dave Smith Decoys
• Holiday Gifts & Household Items
• Women’s Jewelry, Firearms
• Free CCA OR t-shirts, Columbia Sportswear Employee Store passes
• Great Silent Auction and Raffle items.

To register hit the link below. And keep in mind anyone who signs up before Nov. 1st will be eligible to win a Camp Chef Pro 60X grill valued at $299.99.

Details/Register:

https://ccaoregon.ejoinme.org/2025StatewideHome

For overnight guests, rooms are blocked out at the nearby Larkspur Landing Hotel. Details on registration page.