Forum Index > Trip Reports > Copper Creek - new culvert is an amphibian death trap
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ranger rock
One of the boys



Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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ranger rock
One of the boys
PostSat Sep 22, 2012 9:12 pm 
We wandered up the Copper Creek trail. We were told that the gate on the bridge over Lake Cushman would open to the public this week. The bridge was not open so we had to walk about a mile to the trail head. We were happy to see the huge new culvert and the washout repair. We were horrified to find out that the culvert had somehow become a death trap for Western Toads and Rough Skinned newts. I'm not sure what the problem was. The dead were laying in pools of water, but some were just laying on the bare culvert and were all dried up. We took all the live amphibians out of there and moved them about 50 feet up stream. We went into the caves and saw cave crickets and a bat. We got near the third bridge and the wasp nest, but no one got stung.
huge-culvert / death trap
huge-culvert / death trap
Toad and newt rescue
Toad and newt rescue
Snail on moss
Snail on moss
Blue Heron
Blue Heron
Cave Cricket
Cave Cricket
Bat
Bat
Bat
Bat

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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostSat Sep 22, 2012 11:00 pm 
Now that's what I call a culvert!

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IanB
Vegetable Belayer



Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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IanB
Vegetable Belayer
PostSun Sep 23, 2012 8:31 am 
Thank you for your amphibian rescue efforts!

"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
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olderthanIusedtobe
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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostSun Sep 23, 2012 7:38 pm 
up.gif Good job on the rescue operation.

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Oarboar
Comically unhip



Joined: 28 Jan 2007
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Oarboar
Comically unhip
PostSun Sep 23, 2012 8:08 pm 
olderthanIusedtobe wrote:
up.gif Good job on the rescue operation.
Seconded. RR, what agency is in charge of that project? Seems like it could use a heads-up on the situation so the problem can get fixed.

Sadly, right now I'm a poseur. Sigh.
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ranger rock
One of the boys



Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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ranger rock
One of the boys
PostSun Sep 23, 2012 8:57 pm 
Oarboar wrote:
Seconded. RR, what agency is in charge of that project? Seems like it could use a heads-up on the situation so the problem can get fixed.
This is on an Olympic National Forest road that cuts across a corner of Olympic National Park at Staircase. It is the culvert for Copper Creek. They also just did or are in the middle of reparing a second culvert on that road where Elk creek crosses it. Both culverts should probalby be investigated.

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Ski
><((((°>



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Ski
><((((°>
PostSun Sep 23, 2012 9:13 pm 
what's wrong with the culverts? looks to me like the problem is no water in the ditch. might have something to do with no rainfall.

"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSun Sep 23, 2012 9:38 pm 
Nice work saving the frogs. It seems crazy to have a culvert that big for a stream that is essentially dried up in September.

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Slugman
It’s a Slugfest!



Joined: 27 Mar 2003
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Slugman
It’s a Slugfest!
PostMon Sep 24, 2012 5:47 am 
It doesn't look like anything is holding up that culvert. What supports the weight if a vehicle goes over, the thin pile of rocks, or the sheet metal of the culvert?

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Backpackapalooza
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Backpackapalooza
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PostMon Sep 24, 2012 8:03 am 
it would seem to me that once water starts flowing over the culvert ridges that they will start to fill in with silt and smaller rocks, and the issue will simply go away in a couple of months. While it's a shame some are dying now, I would think this problem will go away on its own in the not too distant future.

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Bruce
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PostMon Sep 24, 2012 8:57 am 
Didn't open as planned, due to "stage 4" fire level and lack of potential resources...

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ranger rock
One of the boys



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ranger rock
One of the boys
PostMon Sep 24, 2012 9:17 am 
Bruce wrote:
Didn't open as planned, due to "stage 4" fire level and lack of potential resources...
Oh I see.. It's just as well really with all the Western Toadlets on the road.. they would get smashed if traffic was there. Snow Lake can wait another year. I agree the culvert problem will be fixed by itself when the rain falls and the creek runs again. Too bad they did not know to put some dirt in there now, that would save the Western toadlets that have just morphed. Rough skinned newts are dying in there too. The culvert must be strong enough to hold up a vehicle. The roundish shape should make it quite strong. It does look strange though.

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