Jack Zunka of River Design Group uses a GPS-enabled device to map locations in Bear Creek last week near Hawthorne Park in downtown Medford. The consulting group is working with several local organizations under a federal grant to study barriers to fish passage in the creek.

A study looking at barriers to fish passage in Bear Creek is underway in the heart of downtown Medford.

Jack Zunka of River Design Group of Corvallis was in the creek last week taking readings as part of an effort to come up with options on how to deal with the barriers, one of which is a utility line that creates a drop of several feet in the creek channel under the Jackson Street Bridge.

It’s not certain what might be done to overcome the barriers — they probably won’t be removed — but one solution might be “bioengineering” of the creek channel, according to Greg Stabach, natural resources program director with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, the organization that obtained a federal grant to conduct the study and possibly implement some solutions. The fixes might make the barriers easier to overcome and help the creek become cooler and contain more oxygen.

“It’ll make it a lot better for maintaining a healthy stream, particularly for the juveniles getting back out to the ocean,” Stabach said.

The study, which began about two weeks ago, is expected to take about three to six months. Funding for the study comes from a $766,439 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program. A public meeting about the project might be held, if there’s enough interest.

Project partners include the city of Medford, Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“The utility line in particular has been on ODFW’s radar for a long time,” Stabach said.

Fall chinook salmon currently are migrating upstream to spawn. They’ll typically make their way into tributaries of Bear Creek.

“We still have a pretty healthy run of salmon,” Stabach said. “They settle in streams and build redds. They’ll get into some smaller streams. They’re just huge fish coming by.”

Scott Wright, project engineer with River Design Group, said that last week’s survey, which involved the use of a GPS tool to map points in the stream, will be used to develop hydrologic models.

“We’ll be working with the stakeholders to try to improve fish passage,” Wright said.

State proposes protections for ‘wildlife connectivity areas’The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input through Oct. 31 on a draft Wildlife Corridor Action Plan that provides guidance for preserving habitat connectivity so that wildlife can roam.

“Connected habitats aid wildlife [by] allowing animals to safely move to seek new habitat following disturbances like human development, wildfire, drought, severe weather, the spread of invasive species and changing climate,” the agency said in an announcement Monday.

Among the plan’s suggestions are possible road closures, removal of grazing leases and avoidance of logging, mining or energy development on lands already under some form of protection. Land purchase is another option.

The plan is posted online at dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/. It contains a map outlining corridors and habitat areas. For more information, call Rachel Wheat, ODFW wildlife connectivity coordinator, at 503-947-6141.

Panel discussions on climate set for Grants Pass, MedfordSouthern Oregon Climate Action Now is participating in panel discussions in Grants Pass and Medford this weekend:

• Alan Journet, SOCAN co-facilitator, will join artists Ann Chadwick Reid and Natalie Niblack from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Grants Pass Museum of Art, 229 S.W. G St.

Reid and Niblack created works for an exhibit running Oct. 6-Nov. 10 that celebrates the social and environmental landscape while questioning its survivability under climate change. For more information, call 541-479-3290.

• Journet will participate with state Rep. Pam Marsh and others in a panel discussion titled “Beyond Smoke and Fire” from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at the Medford library. Participants include Dave Gilmore, former Jackson County commissioner; Rene Braga of Unite Oregon; and Echo Fields of the Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission.

The event is being held in cooperation with Rogue Valley Health Care for All Oregon, an organization that supports universal health care. For more information, call 541-324-4501.

Land Conservancy to host Open Lands Day at preserveSouthern Oregon Land Conservancy is hosting a spooky Open Lands Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28, at the Rogue River Preserve in Eagle Point.

Visitors can explore the trails and take guided or self-guided hikes. Visitors are encouraged to wear a costume. The preserve includes two miles of riverfront along the Rogue River, a large floodplain forest and oak woodlands with meadows. It is open to the public during special events, work parties and youth education programs.

Register online at www.landconserve.org/events. For more information, contact Kristi Mergenthaler, 541-482-3069, ext. 105, or kristi@landconserve.org.