By Ron Brown
 
September 17, 2009
 
NEAR MERLIN, Ore. - Fishermen are trying to improve habitat for salmon and steelhead in streams near Grants Pass.
 
The Middle Rogue Watershed Council is sponsoring restoration work on Quartz Creek near Merlin.
 
Logs, rocks and root wads are being placed in places where decades of neglect have removed most water features favored by migrating fish.
 
"We've got quite a few landowners that are involved with the program, developed relationships with them over the years. We've been planting trees to put shade on the creek for six years now, and now we're moving into doing some in-stream work in the creek," said Chris Van Schaack with the MRWC.
 
Organizers say they have put more than 30 structures in Quartz Creek so far and hope to do more upstream next year.
 
Other structures have been put in louse creek in an attempt to imitate natural features that will promote fish spawning and rearing.