The project will create 1,200 feet of new and enhanced side channel habitat for juvenile salmon and steelhead. The project will also restore native riparian vegetation and floodplain connectivity on multiple acres of Twisp River floodplain that were converted to agricultural production and housing in the past century. The site has been the focus of other restoration actions for nearly a decade, including large wood enhancements placed in the stream for juvenile salmon habitat, side channel creation and enhancements, and riparian vegetation restoration in the old pasture areas. Buildings and derelict vehicles have been removed from the site to promote habitat restoration opportunities and allow natural processes to interact with the site to promote habitat creation and ecological resiliency. The proposed side channel project was identified in the 2010 Lower Twisp River Reach Assessment as a high priority salmon recovery action; however the project was not pursued at that time due to the reluctance of a key landowner to participate in the project without having the land purchased by a public entity. That key piece of land has now been sold to a new private owner who is supportive of implementing this restoration action.

The project will create a new inlet aperture through existing riprap and a pushup berm. This will allow perennial flow to access a constructed side channel system on the left bank and floodplain of the Twisp River. The new aperture will use existing riprap materials and large logs to control how much water can access the new side channel system. One primary goal of the project is to ensure the new channel is perennially inundated with surface flows from the Twisp River, including at low flow conditions; however the aperture will be installed with a flow controlling sill that will only allow a small portion of flow to be diverted from the main channel at low flow conditions. The project will create a flow through side channel system and a groundwater fed alcove channel enhancing roughly 2 acres of floodplain. Douglas-fir logs will be imported to the project site and used to create diverse aquatic habitats in both of the channel features. Spoils produced from digging the channels will be placed on the floodplain near the valley wall, impacting another 1.5 acres on the site. Spoils will be placed in a manner that will not increase flood hazard to adjacent landdowners. An existing ditch will be decommissioned, and a derelict rock gabion and the concrete/metal headgate of the abandoned ditch diversion will be removed during this project.

Extensive vegetation planting of native cottonwoods, willows, dogwood, snowberry and other native shrubs will occur on the site following site grading. All disturbed soils will be decompacted and and seeded with a native grass seed mix, then mulched. Temporary deer exclusion fencing will be erected to protect the new plantings. The site will be monitored and managed for vegetation establishment and weed control for three to five years post construction.