Salmon Stronghold Habitat Restoration
AT A GLANCE
Vegetation and in-stream habitat restoration was focused within specific reaches of our upper watershed- along Salmon River and Still Creek. The in-stream work created higher value spawning habitat including pools and riffles in an already productive area of the upper Sandy basin.
6
2011
8 ACRES
Project Description
This project focused on vegetation and in-stream habitat restoration within specific reaches of our upper watershed- along Salmon River and Still Creek. Through this project, we have created partnerships with local neighbors, the Freshwater Trust, BLM, the US Forest Service, and Project YESS among others. We met our goals to repair these target river reaches with key salmon spawning habitat and establish a healthy native riparian community.
Individual aspects of this project included six side-channel inlet activations completed in 2013, placement of large wood to increase pool complexity and emulate natural in-stream structures, removal of invasive species in riparian corridors, and replanting the stream banks with native vegetation. An intact riparian corridor ensures cooler water temperatures, prevents erosion, and maintains ecosystem functioning. The in-stream work creates higher value spawning habitat including pools and riffles in an already productive area of the upper Sandy basin.
Newly Planted Douglas Fir Tree
We finished our associated riparian plantings in this project and collecting native seeds with Project YESS for future plantings in 2014 and followed up these partner efforts by conducting invasive plant monitoring and removal in 2013 and 2014.
Featured Story
The improving health of the Still Creek in the upper Sandy River, Our observations
Over the last 20 years our family has spent a good portion of our time enjoying the wonders of Still Creek (a small stream in the upper Sandy River watershed). As fishery biologists we have always been keenly interested in the native salmon populations that reside here. Having a cabin along the creek has allowed us to witness the positive changes that have occurred over the years.