DESCRIPTION
The Nason Creek Floodplain Reconnection project is located just downstream from Coles Corner near Highway 207. The re-alignment of SR 207 in the 1940’s disconnected Nason Creek from the adjacent floodplain in several areas. Nason Creek contains major spawning areas for ESA-listed spring Chinook salmon and steelhead, and it is a bull trout core area. The Wenatchee Watershed Implementation Schedule identifies channel connectivity, off-channel habitat, and channel reconfiguration actions as Tier 1 biological priority actions necessary for species recovery. An alternatives analysis was completed to evaluate ways to re-connect Nason Creek to the adjacent floodplain. The alternatives analysis evaluated the following alternatives to reconnect floodplain near RM 4.6 on Nason Creek: SR 207 Relocation, Full channel reconnection - causeway, Full channel reconnection - two large bridges, Partial channel reconnection - culverts, Engineered log jams, and the No action alternative. Following completion of the Alternatives Analysis in Febuary 2012, the Regional Technical Team requested more information about the feasibility of SR 207 relocation and the biological benefit of reconnecting 77 acres of floodplain habitat. CCNRD completed a feasibility study and SR 207 relocation is estimated to cost 10-20+ million depending upon the alignment selected. There does not appear to be funding for SR 207 relocation so this proposal is to reconnect the 13 acre floodplain through 2 culverts under SR 207.