The Eightmile Ranch has been idendfied as a critical area of concern in both the Chewuch Rvier Reach Assessment and Aquatic Restoration Plan Lower Chewuch River 10th Field Watershed. Channel morphology varies from boulder step-pool at the upstream end to long runs near the downstream end. Future LWD recruitment is low due to a number of factors: clearing of the majority of the terrace surface on the west side of the valley, coarse banks that erode slowly, and residential development near the downstream end of the reach. Human alterations at the Eightmile Ranch are relatively negligible in comparison to natural constraints on channel form. There are sections of riprap along river-right at several locations and clearing on the high terrace along the west side of the valley in the upstream half of the reach. There is little potential for future recruitment due to riparian clearing and natural constraints on lateral channel adjustments. Additionally, there is both development and pasture on the high terrace along the west side known as the Eightmile Ranch.

The prioritized reach-scale restoration and preservation strategy for the Eightmile Ranch is included below. The strategy focuses first on protecting existing conditions from further impairment. This objective is followed by reconnecting the fundamental bio-physical processes that will create and maintain habitat conditions over the long-term. The restoration concepts behind achieving these goals are restoring cleared areas, assessing connectivity, removing riprap, and floodplain and side channel reconnection.