Restoration work recently completed on a bridge well-used by Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers and equestrians on the Lassen National Forest should provide for both a more aesthetically pleasing and safer experience. The rehabilitated structure crosses the North Fork Feather River about a mile south of Domingo Springs Campground. The North Fork Feather River PCT Bridge Restoration Project, which took a crew about two weeks to finish, was completed in mid- August.
A number of repairs were made to the structure. Where broken and unstable railing had existed, railing lumber and hardware was replaced and reinforced with custom bracing. The planks spanning the deck were replaced to address tripping and falling hazards to both people and stock. On the north abutment where the fill had eroded, leaving an eight to ten inch drop from the bridge to the bank, additional aggregate was placed to minimize the drop-off. All the new lumber was treated with preservative/stain.
The work was necessary for the safety of PCT users and for the longevity of the bridge itself. It will serve as a baseline for a new maintenance schedule, which will be used to retreat the lumber and inspect the condition of the bridge every few years so that the materials will not need to be replaced again in the near future
“The area gets a good amount of snow every year, so it’s important we’re diligent about preventive maintenance on these structures. It’s a beautiful bridge in a picturesque location, and we’re lucky to have something like it on our district,” said Michelle Ahearn, Recreation Officer on the Almanor Ranger District of the Lassen National Forest.
The project was made possible through a combination of funding. Recovery Act funds were used last year to purchase materials and supplies; internal funding then paid for the Almanor District resource crew, consisting mostly of youth from the local area and Chico, to perform the work this August.
To view a photo gallery of the project, please visit the Lassen National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/lassen. You may contact Recreation Officer Michelle Ahearn at 530-258-2141 with any questions or comments concerning this project.
Give a man a fish and he has food for a day; teach him how to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend. —Zenna Schaffer
Stream fishing
For the past few months I have emphasized the fishing opportunities in our local lakes.
I have not had much good to say about stream fishing.
The Sierra experienced unusually heavy snows this winter. The resulting runoff kept our streams running high and cold. Stream fishing has been tough at best.
Abalone divers’ gear and license underwater
Question: I believe the regulations say you must carry an abalone gauge and a fishing license when diving for abalone. Does that mean both need to be on my person when diving or is having those items in my float tube sufficient?
—Mr. Chee
Answer: It depends on the circumstances. The short answer is that they may be left in the dive tube only if the dive tube remains in your immediate possession. The long explanation follows:
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| A proud young angler with her first fish and some great memories. The Smurf snow boots and Dad’s Powell 5wt fly rod make a great fashion statement. (And yes, that is my daughter. I like to live dangerously.) Photo by Michael Condon |
“She ain’t even thinkin’ ’bout what’s really goin’ on right now
But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in
And she thinks we’re just fishin’.”
—Trace Adkins, country singer, reflecting on fishing with his daughter
I love those lyrics. They hit home with me.
My daughter is a grown woman now. Yet some of my favorite memories of her childhood, and hopefully some of her favorite memories as well, were the times we went fishing together.
You only get a few chances to create those memories.
Take a young one fishing. The rewards will be immeasurable — for both of you
Bucks Lake
This time of year Bucks Lake is full of wake boarders, jet skis and swimmers on any given afternoon.
The mornings are another matter. The mornings belong to the anglers.
The mornings are quiet and beautiful with only a few fishing boats and maybe a couple of float tubes on the lake.
Fishing at Bucks changes with the seasons. In the spring, the big Mackinaw are on the prowl. Rainbow and brown trout feed in the shallow water near shore.
By this point in mid-summer, western and Clark’s grebes have been on our Plumas County lakes for a few months. These large water birds have distinctive red eyes and are quite common in our region. Their raspy calls travel across the water with ease and can be heard from a great distance. They nest on lakes and swamps that support healthy fish populations from here all the way out to Minnesota and from Mexico up into Canada. The grebes in our region are important, however, because about 30 percent of the nesting colonies occur in Northern California.
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