Vista overlooks Clear Creek spawning

A NEW VIEW — An overlook provides a view of salmon spawning habitat in Clear Creek for Ken Maples and his son Briar, both of Redding.

A newly-minted concrete overlook onto Clear Creek marks the most recent success of the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD) in its restoration of a creek that was torn apart by gold and gravel mining.

With the help of California's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the district has spent $1.1 million to construct the overlook, which connects 12.5 miles of trails along Clear Creek.

The WSRCD garnered $14 million in funding since 1995 to restore Clear Creek. The effects of gold mining had caused the creek to separate into seven channels in places, District Manager Mary Mitchell said. The district secured the funding to put the creek back to its natural meander, she added.

The overlook serves as a vista point to show off the results of the district's efforts.

Before the district began its restoration work, the fall salmon run amounted to 1,650 in 1995. In 2006, the count skyrocketed to 16,000 salmon.

"I generally see 20 to 30 salmon every time I go out there," WSRCD Project Coordinator Ryan Teubert said.

Teubert recommended looking for "the redds," parts of the river that have a reddish tinge that indicate a salmon has dug into the gravel for nesting.

The overlook is located 5.1 miles west on Clear Creek Road from Hwy. 273. A grand opening for the overlook is planned for 10 a.m., Nov. 20. Amenities include ample parking and restrooms. Informative kiosks and trail system are scheduled for completion in spring, 2009.

The trails will be open to non-motorized traffic, including horses and bicycles, and lead to two seasonal 50-foot waterfalls.

The WSRCD stretches from Burney Mountain to the western border of Shasta County. Recent efforts by the district include three fish weirs including video surveillance, four tire removal grants, and a ditch piping project.