Whitefish Island project is associated with the Bird Island Acquisition proposed in 2010. The proposed action is an active restoration effort to restore natural processes, improve existing conditions and protect riparian and side channel habitat along and adjacent to the Methow River. The effort proposes to enhance existing habitats in support of the recommendations identified in the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Plan (UCSRB, August 2007) and the Middle Methow Reach Assessment (Bureau of Reclamation, August 2010).
The proposed action seeks to aid in the restoration of listed native salmon throughout the Methow River system through a series of targeted actions. These actions are designed to restore natural function and improve floodplain and side-channel habitats on participating private and public properties along the river from RM 45.5-49.1. Restoration sites may be within the active channel(s) of the Methow River or on upland areas adjacent to the active channel(s). Actions may occur on private, state, federal, or other ownership properties. To ensure long-term access and monitoring occurs, MSRF is actively seeking to work with landowners that have previously entered into conservation easements/agreements with other agencies and organizations or are willing to enter into agreements during the planning stage of this project. Some of the lands targeted are currently protected under a combination of landowner agreements, conservation easements, or other conservation restrictions established prior to and separate from this project. As part of this proposed action, landowner outreach will be conducted within the project area to identify landowner willingness and concerns. Landowner agreements will be prepared by MSRF, as the Project Sponsor, to ensure landowner concerns/responsibilities are fully addressed prior to initiating any actions on the affected properties. This proposal would seek to remove placed barriers (dikes, levees, and fill), address prior bank stabilization projects (riprap armoring, Detroit riprap, and root-rap), improve side-channel connectivity, increase instream habitat complexity, and reestablish appropriate riparian plantings and habitat function where appropriate. All riparian areas disturbed by the proposed actions will be replanted with native riparian vegetation following construction. Upland areas disturbed under this proposal will be restored to pre-project conditions or better in conjunction with landowner requirements. Public and private safety will be assessed and disclosed prior to implementation of any actions.
The proposal would also seek to increase channel complexity within reaches where natural levels of wood have been reduced by past removal or bank clearing. Wood structures may be installed on either or both riverbanks or may be placed within the active channel to simulate accumulations of wood that would have naturally occurred over time. Wood placement sites will be carefully selected to minimize potential negative effects to characteristic uses of the water. Wood placements will be engineered to function over a range of flows and in a manner that presents the lowest level of risk to river users. Corridors will be retained through all treated areas for wildlife access, migration patterns, and recreation access throughout the project sites. Noxious weed treatment will be completed concurrently in disturbed upland areas to reduce the persistence of seed source impacting riparian efforts.