DESCRIPTION
This feasibility study examined the alluvial fan and floodplain reaches of the Illabot Creek drainage, located approximately 5 miles east of Rockport, within Skagit County. Illabot Creek is a very productive tributary of the Skagit River that supports populations of Chinook, chum, coho, and pink salmon, native char, and steelhead trout. The selected reach - in the vicinity of the county road and bridge crossing - were targeted in this study because of several existing habitat impacts present in an otherwise highly productive environment. Removal of the impacts and restoration of the site could potentially restore channel forming processes, increase channel complexity, and floodplain connectivity. Thus, significant gains in salmon production potential could be realized.
SRSC developed a final report that included general information about the Illabot Creek watershed and fish use in the area, a review of historic channel conditions from aerial photography, a characterization of current habitat conditions, and a detailed assessment of habitat impacts caused by sediment, riparian vegetation, fish passage, and hydromodification. A number of habitat impacts were identified, including but not limited to: riparian degradation, a fish passage barrier, and hydromodifications (rip-rap dikes) associated with the county road and bridge crossing. The resulting assessment concluded with three potential alternatives (one with three sub-alternatives) to eliminate or alleviate the disturbances caused by the rip-rap dikes along Illabot Creek in the vicinity of the Rockport-Cascade Road and its bridge crossing over the creek, as well as a cost analysis for each alternative. In addition, the report addressed additional restoration prescriptions that included targeted riparian restoration and fish passage barrier removal.