Project was not funded in 2011 SRFB round and project status is indefinite at this time 10/26/12.

Project has been significantly redesigned by Dr. Abbe since the initial proposal. Please refer to PRISM for latest designs and budgets. This project was only partially funded by the 2011 SRFB round. TAG and SRFB RP will review 30% & 60% designs as they are developed. Budget of $323,596.08 is current as of sponsor estimated from October 2011. Therefore the project is approximately $100K short of funding for final implementation.

This project will continue to implement recommendations from the December 2004 Quilcene River Reach Ananlysis and Feasibility Study , RM 1.8 to 2.7 by Herrera Environmental Consultants

This project is Phase 3 of a restoration project to restore the spawning habitat between MP 2.4 and MP 2.9 of the Big Quilcene River. During the last 30 years property owners have been grading the river channel in this section of the river to divert flood waters away from their properties. The manipulation of the river channel has resulted in approximately one half mile of the river being severely incised and devoid of spawning gravel.

The restoration of this section of the Big Quilcene River is critical to summer chum spawning. According to Tom Johnson of WDFW this reach of river is at the upper boundary of the summer chum habitat. The construction phase of the restoration project has been ongoing for the last two years. Phase One of the project (completed in 2009) included adding three engineered log jams to a south side channel. The goal of this phase of the project was to add wood to the stream and improve fish habitat. A diversion structure was planned but was deemed unfeasible. Phase Two of the project (completed in 2010) added more LWD to the north and south channels, removed several hundred feet of "sugar" diking from the flood plain, and constructed several flood barrier structures for downstream properties.

The habitat improvements made to the river in Phases One and Two performed well 2010 during flood events. However, the north (main) channel of the river is still deeply incised and devoid of spawning gravel. Phase three of the project proposes to re-grade the upper "inactive" flood plain of the river between RMP 2.4 and 2.9 (See Enclosed Concept Design Drawing) and to construct a new channel spanner jambs at the head of the new excavated channel. The river grade in the existing north channel averages 1.06 percent. It includes several riffles with slopes near, or in excess of, 2 percent. (the existing north channel is 2026 feet long with a total fall of 21.5 feet.)

The area being regraded will include LWD "assemblies" that will create pools and other habitat features for salmonids. The regraded area consists of quality spawning material so no import will be necessary. (Note that there is an abundance of large river cobble at several locations in the existing flood plain.) Some diversionary ELJs will be adaptable to additions of more logs as the river seeks it own level.

The river will likely still utilize the entire active flood plain during flood events. Based on our experience on the Little Quilcene River the river will generally return to its own "fish flow"

We propose to maintain unobstructed flow in the river throughout the construction period by building new channel in sections. We have found the existing gravel in active flood