DESCRIPTION
This is a salmon habitat restoration project to recreate habitat that is below historical and optimal conditions. This project involves the construction of a channel along a historic alignment of Nason creek, installation of 5 engineered Large Woody Material Structures (LWMS)s, sloping of the eroding bank to restore native vegetation, addition of habitat wood roughness along the river margins and placement of vertical logs to increase the stability of a natural log jam.
Nason creek has been ranked by the regional technical team (RTT) as the highest level priority for restoration within the Wenatchee watershed. The Lower White Pine (LWP) reach of Nason creek is constrained by State HWY 2, a Railroad, and two transmission line corridors. As discussed in the 2009 Bureau of Reclamation, Lower White Pine Reach Assessment. This project was identified through the 2011 Yakama Nation, Nason Creek LWP Inner-Zone Project Identification.
Within the project area, Nason creek is eroding the stream bank at an unnatural rate due to historic clearing of the riparian zone.
The 1st Bend project will restore the native riparian zone vegetation and immediately improve salmonid habitat while the riparian zone grows and matures.
Constructing a channel along the (approximate) Nason creek 1980s alignment and adding wood roughness along the river margin will reduce sheer stress on the eroding bank. The eroding stream bank will be sloped to a stable natural grade and replanted with native vegetation. These actions will allow the riparian zone to reestablish (please see planting plan).
The 5 LWMSs will function to provide low flow, instream salmonid habitat, and create a split flow condition (at higher flows) between the 1980s channel and the current channel alignment.
Vertical logs will be driven using vibratory equipment to increase stability within the only naturally occurring log jam in the LWP reach. This will increase the stability of the jam to provide continual salmonid habitat.
