brice Moss wrote:
.... it's my intent when I get around to writing my recomendation section to say "bronson creek is too trashed to ever exect it to return to a natural salmon suporting state................
I took a class like that a few years back, and would warn against having the outcome pre-determined. Much better off if you try to set aside biases and jump in weighing different goals, tradeoffs and costs against each other. The process might surprise you.
The assessment we did was on a proposed widening of the road. Instinctive response is that roads were bad, put a brake on development by saying no to road expansion. But the congestion on the narrow road was to the point where air and noise pollution would be worse by choosing the 'no action' option ... all that stop and go reduces mileage and means more noxious chemicals from engine fluctuations. Diesel trucks are the worst - until they get to a steady speed, they spew lots of nasty particulates.
Also, while I know nothing of that creek, it sounds like you have given up. You may be right about using it for mitigation, but are there examples of other streams in equally bad shape making a comeback??