DESCRIPTION
From RM 13.3 to RM 13.8, Nason Creek was re-located into an artificial channel in the late 1950's when the BNSF railroad was built. The creek flowed east between two constructed levees that protected the CPUD powerlines to the north and the BNSF railroad to the south. There was no spawning for spring Chinook or steelhead within the project area, despite spawning being present just upstream and downstream of the project area. The existing bed was incised due to channelization and Nason Creek was disconnected from the adjacent 30 acre floodplain wetland to the north. This project relocated Public Utility power lines out of the floodplain and removed ~0.5 mile of levee then re-located 0.5 miles of straightened mainstem into a reconstructed meander alignment and reconnected 27 acres of floodplain. The primary goal of the project was to improve and increase salmonid habitat in this important stretch of Nason Creek to increase the abundance and productivity of ESA-listed UCR spring Chinook salmon and UCR steelhead. This project addressed the #1 ecological concern identified in the RTT Upper Columbia Biological Strategy by enhancing peripheral and transitional habitats in the #1 priority area in the Wenatchee Basin (Nason Creek). This project will addressed the #2 ecological concern in Nason Creek by improving in-stream complexity through the addition of large wood (332 pieces).
The Upper White Pine Reach Assessment (US Bureau of Reclamation 2009) identified several anthropogenic alterations in the Upper White Pine Reach. For example, this section of Nason Creek was re-located in the late 1950's when the BNSF railroad was built in it's current location. Thus, under current conditions, Nason Creek flows east between two constructed levees that protect the CPUD powerlines to the north and the BNSF railroad to the south (RIver mile 13.3 - 14). There is no spawning for spring Chinook or steelhead within the project area, however, salmon spawning is present just upstream and downstream of the project area. The existing stream bed is incised due to channelization and Nason Creek is disconnected from the adjacent 30 acre floodplain wetland to the north. This project will remove ~0.5 mile of the river left levee, re-locate ~1,400 linear feet of straightened mainstem into a new meander alignment and re-connect ~30 acres of channel migration zone. This project will re-locate the CPUD powerlines out of the floodplain to accommodate stream restoration actions. The primary goal of the project is to improve and increase salmonid habitat in 0.5 mile of Nason Creek to increase the abundance and productivity of spring Chinook salmon and steelhead which are listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. This project will address the #1 ecological concern per the Biological Strategy by enhancing peripheral and transitional habitats in the #1 priority area in the Wenatchee Basin. This project will also improve in-stream complexity through the addition of large wood (332 pieces).The restoration plan (alternative project analysis) is posted online - see the link in the middle right side of this page. The 60% design plans and design report are also posted as a pdf file available for download from the middle right side of this page. The grant proposal also provides an overall project description. The project is slated to begin construction in 2016.
This project is being undertaken jointly by US Bureau of Reclamation (funding design), the US Forest Service (land owner), and the Chelan County Natural Resources Department (project sponsor). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) involvement will contribute to the implementation of salmonid habitat improvement projects in Columbia River Basin tributaries to help meet commitments contained in the 2008 Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (BiOp, NOAA 2008). This BiOp includes a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA), or a suite of actions, to protect listed salmon and steelhead across their life cycle. Habitat improvement projects in various Columbia River tributaries are one aspect of this RPA. Reclamation provides technical assistance to States, Tribes, Federal agencies, and other local partners for identification, design, and construction of stream habitat improvement projects that primarily address streamflow, access, entrainment, and channel complexity limiting factors. Reclamation's contributions to habitat improvement are all meant to be within the framework of the FCRPS RPA or related commitments.
Wenatchee Sub-basin
