Lower Cowlitz Project Development

This proposal will address high-priority data gaps identified by the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board's Salmon Recovery and Fish and Wildlife Sub Basin Plans. The results from this project development assessment will facilitate the implementation of biologically and technically sound habitat restoration projects. Within the Lower Cowlitz River Basin, habitat restoration projects will be evaluated and assessed to identify restoration sites and develop project designs that address specific habitat limiting factors identified for this subbasin.

Potential project types targeted by this assessment will include: reconnection and creation of off-channel rearing habitats; placement of in-stream rock and wood structures; construction of groundwater-fed spawning and rearing habitat; restoration of riparian and floodplain habitats; and removal and/or modification of hydrological modifications.

A ranked list of projects for the project area will be produced as well as preliminary designs and budgets for the highest priority projects within the subbasin. The priority list will be developed together with our partners to include landowner interest and biological/logistical factors. Habitat data derived from this project will be used to address the data gaps identified within the Lower Columbia Plan and to identify the 6-Year Habitat Work Schedule. The final product will enable the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (our Lead Entity) to target future restoration projects while more effectively benefiting fish.

Cispus River/Yellow Jacket Creek & Columbia Springs Channel Assessments

Click Here to View OTAK's Final Cispus Report

This project will acquire site-specific data needed to design two off-channel spawning and rearing habitat restoration projects located in the Upper Cowlitz and Salmon-Washougal watersheds, both of which contain multiple, high-priority ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations. Project partners for the Cispus River/Yellow Jacket Creek assessment include the USFS & North Gifford Pinchot Resource Advisory Committee. Project partners for the Columbia Springs Spawning Channel include Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, Evergreen School District, Clark Public Utilities, WDFW, and landowner Donna Eagan. Project partners for the Washougal River project will include WDFW & Skamania County.
Each of these project locations and types were selected for implementation based on the known physical site conditions at each location, the presence of a high priority donor stock, existing ownership and the long-term value of providing a public outreach forum where local citizens can visit and interact in close proximity with adult spawning salmon.

Carcass Analog Study Level II

This project increasingly illustrates the importance of food in the freshwater aquatic ecosystem that ultimately determines the rearing density of wild juvenile salmon. Level II of this project, beginning next summer, places carcass analogs in stream sections within the Lewis and Wind River watersheds previously identified by USGS in Level I (2003-5) as nutrient-deficient. The analogs are pasteurized, nutrient-rich, low-cost, easy to handle and transport, and are formulated to mimic the rate of decay of actual salmon carcasses. After placement of carcass analogs, USGS will monitor the responses of algae, aquatic insects, anadromous fish, and water chemistry over the growing season and compare these responses to those from nearby streams that receive no nutrient enhancement.

Successful completion of this project will allow the region to reach its salmon recovery goals in a timely and cost-effective manner by providing scientific support to the concept of programmatic carcass analog distribution throughout the Lower Columbia River basins using existing non-native biomass (shad) and local hatchery (non-native) salmon carcasses as protein for carcass analog production. The results of this project will be shared with the tribes, NOAA Fisheries, USFS, USFWS, WDFW, BPA and the local Lead Entities responsible for salmon recovery. Project partners include USGS, USFS, WDFW, Dr. Ken Ashley of British Columbia, and several local conservation groups.

Lockwood Creek Restoration

This project will restore habitat complexity and 2,000 lineal feet (LF) of degraded floodplain habitat through placement of in-stream large woody debris (LWD) and native riparian plantings at Lockwood Creek, a Lewis River tributary supporting cutthroat, steelhead, chum, Chinook, and coho salmon. This project, occurring at the creek's confluence with the East Fork Lewis River, supplements 2004 on-site restoration activities (funded by Clark Public Utilities' Centennial Clean Water Grant), cumulatively restoring 26 acres of riparian habitat, 5,000 LF of stream channel with Large Woody Debris placements, construction an off-channel rearing pond, and re-connection of the stream to its adjacent floodplain and wetlands through removal of a 2,500 foot long dike. LCFEG project partners include Clark County Public Utilities, Clark Conservation District, Washington Department of Ecology, and a private landowner (the Monahan family).

Woodard Creek Project Development

This proposal will address the high priority data gaps within the Woodward Creek basin necessary to identify restoration sites and to develop designs that address specific habitat limiting factors identified for this subbasin. Potential project sites targeted by this assessment will include; reconnection and creation of off-channel rearing habitats; placement of in stream rock and wood structures; construction of groundwater-fed spawning and rearing habitat; restoration of riparian and floodplain habitats; removal and/or modification of hydrological modifications; and channel realignment.

A ranked list of projects for the project area will be produced as well as preliminary designs and budgets for the highest priority projects within the subbasin. The priority list will be developed together with our partners to include; landowner interest and biological/logistical factors. The final product will enable the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board (our Lead Entity) to target future restoration projects that will more effectively benefit fish.

Nutrient Enhancement

The WRIA 27/ 28 Nutrient Enhancement Project is a joint effort between LCFEG, Fish First & WDFW to maximize the nutrient enhancement efforts in these two basins. This project addresses the logistical needs of our on-going project by providing funds for labor and equipment needed to effectively store, transport and place the tens of thousands of salmon carcasses put into these watersheds each year.

The goal of this project is to maximize the availability of marine derived nutrients in the Kalama, lower Lewis, East Fork Lewis and Washougal River sub-basins. The need for nutrient enhancement using salmon carcasses has been established by numerous scientific studies that highlight the importance of nutrients to the aquatic ecosystem. Salmon carcasses are the ideal delivery system for MDN as they decay slowly and provide a direct carbon transfer to juvenile salmon rearing in the streams where the carcasses are placed. Studies have shown fish density increases of up to 800% as a result of the addition of nutrients (Ken Ashley, pers. communication).

Fish First & LCFEG place over 25,000 salmon carcasses per year into the Lewis and Washougal watersheds and are seeking to expand this program to the Kalama River. This proposal is requesting funds needed as cost-share to acquire the equipment and labor. We will leverage these funds by seeking donations from a local truck dealer who will be asked to provide a 1-ton truck to haul the trailer, chipper and other materials needed for this project. We will seek Pacifi-Corps' help to fund an industrial grade, custom built chipper that will be used to mulch the carcasses as well as woody debris for our riparian projects.

Lower Goble Creek LWD/Gravel Retention Project

Located in Kelso (Water Resource Inventory Area 26/Cowlitz), this project includes the construction and installation of boulder and log weirs in lower Goble creek upstream of its entry point to the Coweeman River. The goal of this project is to capture gravels for use by spawning adult salmon/ steelhead and to create habitat complexity for juvenile salmon in a high priority tributary of the Coweeman River. Partnerships with local landowners will be established along with Cowlitz County and private timber owners in the watershed. Community involvement includes outreach to and education by nearby private landowners, members of local angling organizations, and students from a local college who will assist with project design, implementation, and monitoring.

Wildhorse/Gobar Creeks LWD/Gravel Retention Project

Located in Kalama (WRIA 27/Lewis-Kalama), this project will construct and install boulder and log weirs in Wildhorse and Gobar creeks where they enter the Kalama River. Goals of this project include the capture of gravels for use by spawning adult salmon/ steelhead, creation of habitat complexity for juvenile salmon, educating landowners and the community about local restoration efforts, and involving students and volunteers in LCFEG activities in these two high priority tributaries of the Kalama River. Members of local angling organizations and local college students will assist with project design, implementation, and monitoring. Additional partners include Weyerhaeuser and Cowlitz County.

Little Washougal Riparian Restoration

The Little Washougal River riparian restoration project is a continuation of efforts begun last year to restore salmon habitat in the lower river near Stauffers dairy. LCFEG will continue to restore and maintain approximately 1,000 Linear Feet (LF) of stream channel and five acres of floodplain habitat along the Little Washougal River. These areas, currently devoid of trees and shrubs due to many decades of grazing by dairy cows and/or infested with Himalayan blackberry, reed canary grass, and Japanese knotweed., will undergo intensive community-based restoration through the installation of over 5,000 native riparian plants, fencing , and herbicide application. Benefits to salmon include increased shade, inputs of organic materials and reduced water temperatures. Partnerships with the local landowners, WADNR, schools and interest groups are already in place as a result of previous efforts in this watershed.

Lower Washougal River Restoration Project

This project addresses degraded floodplain habitat identified as limiting salmon production by the SW WA Salmon Recovery Plan. The project directly benefits a primary population of ESA-listed chum salmon as well as a contributing population of ESA-listed Chinook salmon. Other species frequenting the area at various life history stages include coho salmon, sea-run cutthroat trout and ESA-listed summer and winter steelhead. Four Phases of this Project are scheduled for implementation through 2010 as follows:

Phase 1: Gravel Ponds Restoration (2006-2007). Place existing excavated material from project site into gravel ponds to create shallow water zones/wetlands. Connect three ponds together via excavated channels. Seed and plant disturbed areas. Install native riparian plantings along perimeter of project site.

Phase 2: Gravel Ponds Restoration (2007-2010). Place additional clean material into ponds from other sources such as Georgia Pacific, adjacent restoration projects, developers to create more shallow water zones/wetlands. Reconfigure pond inlets/outlets. Seed and plant disturbed areas. Maintain and/or install native riparian plantings along perimeter of project site.

Phase 3: Bowling Alley Side Channel (2008-2009). Excavate side channel in floodplain adjacent to bowling alley. Place excavated material in floodplain, but not in wetlands. Revegetate disturbed areas.

Phase 4 - East Bank Side Channel (2009-2010). Excavate side channel on east bank of river downstream of bridge to allow reconnection of the river. Revegetate disturbed areas.

The low cost of this project is made possible by incorporating into the project the abundant natural materials (boulders) left over from the gravel mining that ended in the mid 1970's. The property is owned by the City of Camas and Georgia-Pacific. Project partners include the City of Camas, Georgia-Pacific, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership, Concrete Products, Inc. and several private property owners.