Deyo Reservoir update: 82+ acres ready

Joe Dupont, Fisheries Manager for the Clearwater Region of Fish and Game gave a presentation on the Deyo Reservoir at the March 7 Pierce-Weippe Chamber meeting at the Weippe Discovery Center. The reservoir is to be located four miles out of Weippe on the former Schmidt Mill site. The land, 82+ acres, was donated by the Deyo family. An additional eight acres has been donated by the Howard Bird family.

Dupont says when the reservoir is completed it will be stocked with 30,000 fish; warm water fish such as bass and bluegill along with cold water trout. There will be year round access. Motorboats will be permitted (no wake). The reservoir will encompass 55 acres and be 33 feet deep at the highest point. There will be wetlands, waterfowl, 60 foot docks along with parking, toilet facilities and fresh water. The dam may be completed this winter with fishing in three years – depending on weather and how long it takes to fill.

Items to be completed before construction starts include obtaining a 404 permit – Corps of Engineers dredge and fill permit, finalizing grants for funding to develop fishing water and finalizing the contract with the low bidder.

Plan is to break ground when weather permits (late June to early July). When completed the project will have an estimated cost of 1.45 million.

The Friends of Deyo Reservoir, a volunteer group in Weippe led by Marge Kuchynka, have worked on this project for many years, obtaining grants, contacting groups, pushing forward at every hurdle, determined to see this through to completion.

How can people help? A volunteer workforce for general clean up is one way. These donated hours can be used as in-kind for grant applications. Kuchynka named several projects that might be done by volunteer labor and asked that anyone interested in assisting with this call her at 435-4362.