Project oVerview

Started: 3/22 Completed: 9/23

Hughey Creek is a tributary to the Wilson River located near the outskirts of Tillamook just before Highway 6 leaves the farmlands and climbs into the coastal mountain range. Half a mile up the stream, Hughey Creek crossed under Fairview Road via a failing culvert that TCPWD (Tillamook County Public Works Department) was forced to remove in 2022 due to its risk of imminent collapse. After pulling the culvert, Fairview Road sat closed for the winter with the creek flowing over an exposed stream bed.

After the culvert was removed, it was decided that the best solution to the problem would be installing an open bottom arch pipe culvert that would be sized to accommodate over 1.5 times the active channel width of Hughey Creek. Trout Unlimited, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, and US Fish and Wildlife Service supported the permitting process of this emergency fix and the project went to bid in July of 2023 with a quick turnaround and completion in September of 2023. The new arch pipe culvert restored fish passage to Hughey Creek and re-opened Fairview Road for locals in the area and restores access to nearly 2 miles of habitat that supports multiple species.

Highly successful Partnership

The Hughey Creek project was successfully implemented with the collaboration of Salmon SuperHwy partners. Federal and state agencies along with willing private landowners combined technical skills and funding to reopen this important local road and reconnect high quality spawning and rearing habitat for Oregon’s anadromous fish. 

Tillamook County Public Works Department worked closely with Trout Unlimited, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to secure permitting for the project in an expedited manner to re-open Fairview Road.

Species + Infrastructure

Hughey Creek sees runs from multiple anadromous fish including ESA (Endangered Species Act) listed Oregon Coast Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Winter Steelhead Trout, Pacific and/or Brook Lamprey, and Coastal Cutthroat Trout. 

Fairview Road is utilized by locals as a bypass for Highway 6 and provides access to multiple farms and landowners. The road was closed for over a year when the culvert that contained Hughey Creek was pulled due to risk of collapse. During the road closure, the creek flowed over an open stream bed as designs were developed and permitting secured by project partners.

Benefits

•  Restores access to nearly 2 miles of anadromous fish habitat known to support multiple species

•  Improves sediment and large wood transport

•  Provides safe, climate-resilient access for Tillamook’s farming community, residents and industry using Fairview Road

cost + funding

TOTAL PROJECT COST: $235,000

TCPW: $235,000

Partners

Tillamook County Public Works Department, Trout Unlimited, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Contractors

K & B Quality Excavating