Map shows the section of Forest Service Road 5160, south of Starkey, that will be closed through September.

LA GRANDE — A section of a Forest Service road south of Starkey will be closed for the rest of September while crews move a section of the road, replace a culvert to make it easier for fish to pass, and do restoration work on a reach of Little Fly Creek.

The project has closed a section of Road 5160 on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

The road now crosses Little Fly Creek on a culvert that is too small to allow fish to pass easily, and has also contributed to degradation of the creek downstream, according to the Wallowa-Whitman.

The new stream crossing will reconnect 1.8 miles of stream that is habitat for Snake River summer steelhead, a federally protected species, and other native fish.

Forest Service Road 5160 will be closed from the junction with Road 5160-155 to the rock pit above Sheep Creek. The northern section of Road 5160 can be accessed from Highway 244 and the eastern section from Road 5100 near Sheep Creek.

The rerouted section of Road 5160 is anticipated to be open by Oct. 1.

More information about this project and others is available by calling the La Grande District at 541-962-8500.