Author: Allen Childs

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

The Willow Creek watershed provides significant habitat for federally listed Snake River summer steelhead, potential spawning and rearing habitat for spring Chinook salmon, and supports a variety of native resident fish. The Willow Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project includes over 4 miles of spawning and rearing habitat with forested, higher gradient, C4 channels in the upper reaches of the project area and low gradient, wetland meadow, C4/C5 and E channel forms in the lower 2/3's of the project area. The area presents extensive potential to provide summer and winter rearing habitat for salmonids with suitable spawning habitat for steelhead in the upper project reaches. Project implementation began in summer 2012 with the stream bank shaping, placement of large wood complexes along project area streams, and excavation and reactivation of a 1 mile historic channel segment along lower Willow Creek. Following construction, disturbed areas, including streambanks, large wood sites, upland terraces and the re-activation channel reach were planted with a native grass seed mix and mulched with straw. An extensive riparian tree and shrub planting effort is scheduled to begin during spring 2013 to facilitate development of riparian vegetation. Additional activities planned for 2013 include weed control and replacement of 4 undersized culverts on fish bearing, spring fed tributaries. The following table provides an overview of the Willow Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project.