Spillway Creek Repairs
The flood of 2009 removed a number of habitat structures from the Spillway Creek
section of the Lower Mountain Fork River and changed the benthic topography of
the river significantly. Since the flood Spillway Creek has been a bedrock
dominant stream and very little pool habitat remained.
Throughout the summer of 2010 we developed a plan to improve the habitat within
Spillway Creek by reconstructing conservation pools along the stream. We added
12 new pools to the stream utilizing logs provided by the Pushmataha Wildlife
Management Area and with the assistance of the Corp. of Engineers, the Lower
Mountain Fork River Foundation, Oklahoma Department of Tourism, Martin Marietta
Materials, and Warren Cat.
The pools were constructed by laying a log perpendicular to the stream and
burying it as far underground on either side of the stream as possible. Once the
logs set the grade we back filled the pool with large cobble to create habitat
for macro-invertebrates. We also added boulder clusters in the pool to create
overhead cover for resting trout. As a result of the structures that were
implemented, the water level increased in the pools which allowed water to rise
up to the vegetation that was overhanging the stream and inundate the undercut
features of the bank, which in turn created more beneficial habitat for trout. A
small but noticeable reduction in stream speed also assists with wade fishing.
Prior to enhancement the fast moving shallow water racing through Spillway
Creek, along with the slippery nature of the substrate made for extremely
difficult wading.
