DESCRIPTION
The proposed project is in a particularly dynamic section of river with numerous constraints on the river channel from roads and land uses (including an upstream mining operation). The landowner has significant and reoccurring challenges with rapid channel migration that has damaged a private well (resulting in abandonment of a residence) and continues to threaten infrastructure, most notably a home and a second well that serves two residences. The landowner lost about 5 acres to erosion during the winter of 2015-16. Flooding is severe, occurring every 6-7 years on average, and has reportedly caused greater damages during more recent flood events. The landowner reports seeing large numbers of salmon and eggs stranded after being flushed into his fields during high water. A permit was received in 2016 to construct a high flow channel to reduce erosive pressure along the banks of the main channel; however the channel serves as a short term fix and far more work is needed to provide sustained relief.
This proposed project will likely need assessment to determine the most cost-effective strategy for addressing flood and erosion concerns, but would likely include strategies to address severe and chronic erosion, threats to infrastructure, and loss of agricultural land, while restoring natural processes and improving instream and off channel habitat. Techniques used may include construction of one or more high flow channels, bioengineered structures, revegetation of the riparian