DESCRIPTION
Kittitas Conservation Trust (KCT) will assess, design, and plan watershed restoration efforts in the lower Gold Creek Valley to improve habitat and flow conditions for a bull trout population in the Yakima Basin. Gold Creek is the largest headwater tributary to the Keechelus Reservoir providing cold clean water to the Yakima River. Gold Creek is the sole tributary that supports all life history phases of an isolated, genetically distinct population of threatened bull trout at high risk of extirpation. The lower reaches of Gold Creek has been impacted by mining, deforestation, road construction, reservoir operations, and development that destabilized the creek channel causing seasonal dewatering, simplified habitat, and disconnection from the floodplain. KCT has been engaged in assessment and design work to address limiting factors to bull trout since 2012. This project will 1) assess geomorphic, hydrologic, groundwater, sediment transport and existing habitat in the lower 2.1 miles of Gold Creek (both historic, present, and proposed conditions) to meet restoration objectives, 2) determine potential positive and negative impacts on bull trout habitat of widening the existing frontage road bridge near the mouth of Gold Creek, 3) develop three conceptual design alternatives for Gold Creek Pond and 30% designs for the preferred alternative, 4) develop final designs and bid documents for instream restoration of Gold Creek (RM 1.0-2.1), 5) develop a community-supported phased resto
Kittitas Conservation Trust (KCT) assessed, designed, and planned watershed restoration efforts in the lower Gold Creek Valley to improve habitat and flow conditions for a bull trout population in the Yakima Basin. Gold Creek is the largest headwater tributary to the Keechelus Reservoir providing cold clean water to the Yakima River. Gold Creek is the sole tributary that supports all life history phases of an isolated, genetically distinct population of threatened bull trout at high risk of extirpation. The lower reaches of Gold Creek have been impacted by mining, deforestation, road construction, reservoir operations, and development that destabilized the creek channel causing seasonal dewatering, simplified habitat, and disconnection from the floodplain. KCT has been engaged in assessment and design work to address limiting factors to bull trout since 2012.
This project
1) assessed geomorphic, hydrologic, groundwater, sediment transport and existing habitat in the lower 3.0 miles of Gold Creek (both historic, present, and proposed conditions) to meet restoration objectives,
2) determined potential positive and negative impacts on bull trout habitat of widening the existing frontage road bridge near the mouth of Gold Creek,
3) developed three conceptual design alternatives for Gold Creek Pond and 30% designs for the preferred alternative, and advance to Preliminary and Final Design for RM0.5-3,
4) completed a cultural resources assessment and survey for USFS to complete Section 106 consultation,
5) developed final designs and bid documents for instream restoration of Gold Creek (RM 0.5-3),
6) hosted stakeholder meetings with landowners and other technical stakeholders,
7) developed a community-supported phased strategic restoration plan for lower Gold Creek,
8) completed a communication strategy, outreach materials, and federal and state permitting to support the overall restoration efforts planned for Gold Creek Valley, and complete Gold Creek Valley acquisition planning to identify priority parcels to expand the restoration area, and
9) protected bull trout habitat by installing a gate at Keechelus Boat Ramp to provide a motor vehicle barrier when the lake is at low pool and the boat launch is inoperable due to low lake levels.
Full project tasks and deliverables are detailed in Amendment 6 to Contract C190001 (RCO IAA No. 19-15), attached in PRISM.
