FOX CREEK

Fox Creek is a perennial stram that is part of the Hely CalWater Planning Watershed, and is contained within the Hely Creek Sub Basin. At a length of 4 and a half kilometers (2.8 miles), Fox Creek is a relatively small watersbody, which begins in the northwestern area of the Hely Creek planning watershed, and empties into the Van Duzen River near the project center. Fox Creek runs through a residential area in a second growth Redwood Forest that borders Fox Creek Road.

Fox Creek is unique because it is the southernmost end of the California coastal cutthroat trout range. The Eel River and its tributaries represent the southernmost streams in the distribution of the coastal cutthroat trout whose territory ranges from the Eel River to British Columbia.

Cutthroat Trout
(Bill Luscombe, BC's Coastal Cutthroat Trout - In Sportfishing.com)

At the point where Fox Creek runs under Highway 36, a culvert was contructed that completely blocks passage and eliminates any chance for salmon from the Van Duzen River to migrate into or spawn in Fox Creek. As are the salmon, coastal cuttroat are also anadromous and migrate to the ocean when possible. The overt blockage at Highway 36 also serves to complete restrict the re entry of coastal cutthroat back into Fox Creek. The Van Duzen Watershed Project (VDWP) Volunteer Monitor is Barry Stewart who lives near the creek and has a deep concern for the quality and health of Fox Creek. In October of 2002, a staff plate was installed at the Fox Creek Site, and Barry began taking turbidity samples. Barry has been sampling and recording the turbidity of Fox Creek since then on his own, in cooperation with the Friends of the Van Duzen River, and was very keen to participate in the VDWP project program.

Staff Plate installed at Fox Creek Rd. in October 2002

The Fox Creek watershed has been the focus of intensive timber harvesting over the past 15 years. Pacific Lumber Company owns 5,985 acres or 90.5% of the 6,612 acre area. Intensive timber harvest has had a significant impact on the watershed.

Statistics gathered in 2004 by Friends of the Van Duzen from PALCO information shows that:

Results from Friends of the Van Duzen's study showed high turbidity during the 2005-2006 year. From January 3, 2005 through June 11. 2006, Barry Stewart took 116 samples with multiple samples during days with rain events. Average turbidity from these samples was 153.99 nephlemetric turbidity units (NTU) . During the 06 Hydrologic Year, six days recorded over 1000 NTU, suggesting significant impairment of the watershed.

In the results from the Van Duzen Watershed Project, Water Quality Control Board Grant during the 07 Hydrologic Year from November 2006- May 2007, turbidity monitoring at Fox Creeek registered the second highest maximum turbidity value recorded (1,533 NTU).

The Fox Creek stations has been a continual site for our turbidity and suspended sediment investigation into the Van Duzen River Basin. For more statistical information, please note the graphs from the 2007 Hydrologic Year and the Monitoring Report for 2007, which can be viewed on our website, www.fovd.org