DESCRIPTION
This project addresses the lack of habitat diversity by constructing several instream structures and by planting/under planting riparian zone vegetation. The riparian planting will also help moderate Entiat River water temperature extremes. Additionally, the existing surface water diversion which acts as a fish passage barrier was replaced with a new diversion screen and bypass to meet ESA compliance standards to ensure safe juvenile salmonid passage exists.In spring 2011, maintenance included manually removing invasive weeds such as Russian thistle, tumble mustard, and spotted and diffuse knapweed, as well as clematis vine which have invasive characteristics, and additional mulch applied to plantings.In fall 2011, maintenance consisted of gently up-rooting all conifer trees within the first 30 feet of the stream bank and replanting outside active ice flow/accumulation area. Conifers were replaced with approximately 1000 live-stake cuttings from willow spp. and red osier dogwood shrubs found on adjacent site. Also, all project areas were back filled with additional plants to replace any plants that had not survived the summer 2011 growing season.The goal of the project is to restore native riparian vegetation along salmon bearing streams. The objective of the project is to restore natural streamside vegetation, improve stream temperature, reduce erosion, filtration, and recruit large woody debris.
The project upgraded the existing Keystone Diversion and improved Entiat River salmon habitat diversity by replacing an instream push up dam that is reconstructed each year with a rock wing dam that directs water into a sluiceway. The rock structure also serves as a grade control and creates multiple small scour pools. The diversion and screen component of this project site was funded by project number 08-2185 and not funded as part of this agreement. Large woody debris was added in the Entiat river to increase habitat diversity (pools/cover) for juvenile and adult salmonids in the form of two LWD structures, comprising five logs each and one ELJ constructed of about 30 logs. Five boulder cluster structures comprising five, four-foot diameter boulders each, were also be placed instream. The wing dam, LWD structures, ELJ, and boulder clusters significantly improve habitat diversity (main limiting factor on lower Entiat River). The diversion fish screen and bypass on the diversion hav been upgraded to comply with ESA standards to ensure safe juvenile salmonid passage. The instream component of this project was funded with project number 08-1782 and not funded in this agreement.
Native trees and shrubs have been planted and under-planted in the riparian area (conifers, deciduous trees/livestakes, and shrubs), and have been planted in the floodplain riparian area to enhance the existing riparian zone and also to establish a long-term source of LWD to the Entiat River. Enhanced riparian vegetation also helps moderate the high and low stream water temperatures that adversely affect juvenile salmonids. The project is located on the right and left banks of the Entiat River between RM 1.0 and RM 1.45.
