Cascade Forest Conservancy

WE ARE RESTORING CRITICAL AQUATIC HABITAT IN THREE TRIBUTARY REACHES OF SALMON CREEK AN UNDAMMED STREAM IN THE LOWER COWLITZ RIVER SUBBASIN THAT FLOWS WEST FROM MOUNT ST. HELENS TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER. THE WATERSHED SUPPORTS POPULATIONS OF PACIFIC LAMPREY COHO AND STEELHEAD AND IS RANKED AS IMPERILED S2 FOR LAMPREY CONSERVATION. BEGINNING IN 2025 THE PROJECT WILL INSTALL 30 LOW TECH WOOD STRUCTURES BEAVER DAM ANALOGS AND POST ASSISTED LOG STRUCTURES PLANT 1200 NATIVE SEEDLINGS ALONG 1.68 MILES OF STREAM AND CARRY OUT SURVEYS FOR LAMPREY PRESENCE AND HABITAT QUALITY METRICS. WE WILL CONDUCT PRE AND POST IMPLEMENTATION SURVEYS TO TRACK LAMPREY PRESENCE AND HABITAT CHANGES USING NON LETHAL PROTOCOLS. THE INSTREAM AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE SEDIMENT SORTING ENHANCE SPAWNING AND REARING CONDITIONS RECONNECT STREAM CHANNELS WITH THEIR FLOODPLAINS CREATE HABITAT FOR LAMPREY AND SALMONIDS AND IMPROVE DRINKING WATER QUALITY FOR THE DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES OF VADER AND CASTLE ROCK WA. THE PROJECT ADVANCES OUR BROADER MISSION TO RESTORE DEGRADED FLOODPLAIN AND INSTREAM HABITAT IN WORKING FOREST LANDSCAPES. IT ALSO ADVANCES OUR EFFORTS SUPPORTING NATIVE FISH RECOVERY AND INVOLVING THE PUBLIC IN MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION EFFORTS OFFERING UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH VOLUNTEER OUTINGS AND OUTREACH EVENTS. WITHOUT INTERVENTION THESE TRIBUTARIES WILL REMAIN SIMPLIFIED INCISED AND FRAGMENTED LIMITING THE RECOVERY OF IMPERILED NATIVE FISH. THIS PROJECT BUILDS DIRECTLY ON RECENT ASSESSMENTS CARRIED OUT BY CASCADE FOREST CONSERVANCY AND LICHEN LAND AND WATER AND FUNDED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IT REPRESENTS A TIMELY AND STRATEGIC STEP TOWARD RESTORING KEY STREAM REACHES WITH THE HIGHEST ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL.