Upgrades on the way for Willamette National Forest.

Byline: Mike Stahlberg / The Register-Guard

Spring is showering us with outdoors news, including announcements of a pair of Willamette National Forest projects that will soon flower into new recreation facilities.

First, Middle Fork Ranger District officials say they intend to go forward with construction of a much-needed "snow play" area in the Highway 58 corridor east of Oakridge. An environmental assessment (EA) of the proposed Salt Creek Falls Snow Play Area was recently released for public review.

District Ranger Rick Scott said he proposes to implement "Alternative 2" in the EA. That calls for construction of a snow sledding and tubing area about one-half mile east of the Salt Creek Falls day use area.

The facility would be built on the south side of Forest Road 5893. The project involves paving about 500 feet of that road, installing guardrails on the existing bridge, construction of a paved one-acre parking lot and construction of restroom facilities.

The new area would become part of the Oregon Sno-Park system. The current sno-park at Salt Creek Falls would no longer be plowed during the winter.

Currently, there is no designated snow play area in the Willamette Pass area. An unofficial area on the south side of Highway 58 opposite the Willamette Pass Ski Area receives heavy use but is the site of many accidents and is considered unsafe by forest officials.

Federal regulations provide for a 30-day public review period before a final decision can be made. Copies of the EA and project details are available from Tim Bailey at the ranger district office in Westfir (541-782-2283).

Meanwhile, the McKenzie Ranger District has begun construction activity at two riverside locations along Highway 126 east of McKenzie Bridge. The work is associated with the National Scenic Byway program.

Veraz Construction, Inc., of Tualatin began work earlier this month on a new Wild and Scenic River Viewpoint, six miles east of the McKenzie River Ranger Station. The facility will include a paved parking area as well as a barrier-free accessible footpath and trail-bridge leading to a rock masonry viewpoint of the McKenzie River.

Also, the trailhead for the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is receiving a major face lift, including a paved parking area, a redesigned entrance/exit from Highway 126, pedestrian walkways and information panels.

The McKenzie River Trailhead will be closed to public use during weekday construction periods until the beginning of June.

However, the trailhead will be open for public use most weekends and holidays.

The two projects, which will cost about $350,000, are expected to be completed by June. Interpretive and orientation signs, however, may not be finished until next year.

Waterfowl numbers down

While spring showers have been plentiful, the scarcity of precipitation in Canada last year had a predictable impact on waterfowl populations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says its annual aerial survey of wintering waterfowl in the Willamette Valley found about 185,000 birds. That figure included about 85,000 ducks, 99,000 geese and 1,100 swans.

Duck numbers were down 17 percent from the previous winter, and were about 16 percent below the 10-year average.

Greenwing teal were the most numerous (32,900) duck found in the valley this year, posting a 36 percent increase over last year. There were about 34,500 mallards and 10,700 northern pintail.

Canada geese populations were close to their 10-year average numbers, with 85 percent of those counted being the cackling Canada goose subspecies.

A ground count in February indicated that 25,000 Canada geese made their home at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area west of Eugene.

Outdoor writer Mike Stahlberg can be reached at 338-2332 or mstahlberg@ guardnet.com