DESCRIPTION
This project will provide preliminary designs for the protection and
restoration of a unique Deschutes River spring fed wetland and
stream complex. This 22-acre tributary property belongs to the
Meyers family, which is committed to working with the project team
to identify and implement protection and restoration actions that
improve habitat quality while enabling them to continue farming
their land (pasturing 8 cows, 2 horses). Preliminary potential
restoration actions include removing two failing culverts, restoring
fish passage at a third undersized barrier culvert, livestock exclusion
fencing to protect streams and wetlands, and riparian restoration.
Beaver dam analogs may also be appropriate. We will assess a
comprehensive range of protection and restoration alternatives, work
with the landowner to identify preferred actions that maximize
benefit to salmon habitat, and develop preliminary designs and a
design report for the selected suite of actions. As funding allows, the
team will begin the permitting process.
The project team will subsequently explore funding opportunities
from SRFB, PSAR, FFFPP, CREP, NRCS, and/or the Washington State
Conservation Commission to implement measures for habitat
protection, restoration, and farm sustainability.
This project was performed to identify, prioritize, and provide preliminary designs for actions that protect and restore a unique Deschutes River spring fed wetland and stream complex. This 22-acre tributary property belongs to the Meyer family, which worked with the project team to identify and implement protection and restoration actions that improve habitat quality while enabling them to continue farming their land (pasturing 8 cows, 2 horses). Restoration actions identified include removing three failing culverts, livestock exclusion fencing to protect streams and wetlands, instream LWD placement, and riparian restoration, along with a suite of farm management BMPs. We conducted a baseline fish use assessment and monitored water temperatures through summer 2021. The team began the permitting process, met on site with WDFW Habitat Bio, performed an assessment and wetland delineation.
