Sean C. Morgan
The American Fisheries Society recently presented Wayne Shilts with an Award of Merit.
Only two awards were presented this year on March 11. The award is given for a “major contribution, above and beyond normal job requirements to fisheries or the society over one or more years.”
Shilts, a retired U.S. Forest Service engineer, provided more than 700 hours as a volunteer and consultant on the Ames Creek Restoration Project in 2003 when the project was in its third phase, with work completed at Sankey Park.
The Sankey Park project opened the way for fish to pass upstream of the dam at Dahlenburg Bridge. A series of in-stream improvements were aimed at helping provide fish habitat.
“I have been involved in the project as a member of the Ames Creek Steering Committee and then as a member of the core team for the preparation and on-the-ground inspection of the Ames Creek Restoration Project,” Shilts said. “I feel the award is not just to me but to all that worked on the project. There was great teamwork and cooperation by all.”
Shilts was initially involved in the second phase of the project, between Long Street and Main Street.
“I just had an interest in continuing on and helping with the rest of it,” Shilts said. “I’ve always had an interest in stream improvement work.”
In the early 1960s, Shilts worked on a few stream improvement projects with the U.S. Forest Service, including a fish passage project in the Umpqua area.
“The challenge on this one was to figure out the equipment,” Shilts said. “We needed flexibility. We didn’t know what we’d find in the bottom of this old mill pond as far as materials. We found a lot of blue clay that we had to haul out and replace.”
The work around Weddle Bridge was tricky, but Jim Tack provided the solution in a small piece of equipment that could fit under the bridge to excavate.
Shilts developed the contract for the Sankey Park portion of the project. He also worked with the hydrologist and engineer.
“The whole challenge for me was to stay on top of any engineering problems and stay flexible,” Shilts said. “…It was really an effort by everyone. The award is not for me. It is for all those folks involved.”
Among those Shilts includes and who have worked on the project are Sweet Home District Ranger Mike Rassbach, fishery biologist Todd Buchholz, Phase III Project Manager Daren Utley, botanist Alice Smith, botanist Noel Bacheller, engineer Rob Piehl, fishery biologist Wayne Somes, hydrologist Dave Halameier, City Manager Craig Martin, Public Works Director Mike Adams, Community Development Director Carol Lewis, planning assistant Charlene Adams, Maintenance Supervisor Pat Wood, the Public Works crew, South Santiam Watershed Council Coordinator Greg Pendle and Education Coordinator Christine Hurst.
He also lists contractors Tack Logging, Wes Staley Excavating and Rod Wolfer Construction, including Jim Tack, Dan Juza, Greg Renoud, Randy Gibb, Doug Graham, Brent Graham, Ron Romeo, Rod Wolfer, Mike Dadey and Kim Banta.
Other organizations and community members include School District 55, Billy Snow’s class from the Sweet Home High School, Lebanon Community Consortium, Kris Richardson’s class from Pioneer Middle School, Dan Desler of Development by Design, the Sweet Home Tree Commission volunteers and The New Era for all of its coverage.