South Fork Toutle Headwaters Design (STHD)
About
This project includes 4.9 miles of instream and 216 acres of floodplain habitat restoration in the headwaters valley of the SF Toutle River benefitting ESA-listed Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Since 2018, LCFEG completed preliminary designs and implementation plans covering 16.5 miles and 730 acres of mainstem and tributary habitat, building upon the 3.9 miles of instream and 160 acres of floodplain restoration already completed in the watershed between 2007 and 2021. LCFEG has been working with WA DNR and Weyerhaeuser on large-scale restoration design and implementation in the SF Toutle for nearly two decades and plans to spend the next two decades implementing these designs. This project is located in the upper third of Chinook distribution in the SF Toutle watershed and core habitat region for steelhead and coho. With this project we're focusing on diversifying the spatial distribution of Chinook and increasing the climate resiliency for the upper anadromous zone of the ESA-listed fish in the Cascade strata of the Lower Columbia.
1. Address the key limiting factor for succession and habitat
formation by adding wood to the channel and floodplain, thereby
improving water storage, hyporheic exchange, sediment sorting
and retention, and habitat diversity
2. Increase the climate resiliency of the SF Toutle riparian and
aquatic environments by accelerating natural recovery of
floodplain processes in the headwater’s valley
3. Increase productivity of ESA-listed Lower Columbia fall
(Tule) Chinook, spring Chinook, coho, and summer and winter
steelhead in the SF Toutle River by increasing spawning habitat
for all species and winter rearing habitat for coho and steelhead
4. Improve native vegetation colonization within the active
floodplain by reducing channel migration rates, raising the water
table, and increasing retention of water, sediment, woody debris,
and nutrients
Project Manager, Brice Crayne, inventorying and helping to sort logs in preparation for helicopter transport.
Logs staged by size.
Here is another shot of the helicopter as it was flying by a viewpoint.
Project Manager, Brice Crayne, inventorying and helping to sort logs in preparation for helicopter transport.
Project Goals:
Drone footage of SF Toutle post-helicopter wood placement.
Target Species
Chinook ​
Coho
Steelhead
Metrics
216 Acres of Floodplain Treated, and 4.9 miles of instream habitat covered
​
Partners/Contractors & Consultants
Weyerhaeuser, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, WADNR, Wolf Water Resources, Smayda Environmental Associates, Waterfall Engineering
Funding
WA RCO (Project #22-1074) $5,000,000 with a sponser match of $435,171.00