DESCRIPTION
Box Canyon Creek supports critical life stages of one of three genetically distinct populations of threatened bull trout in the upper Yakima Basin. The Creek is a tributary to the Kachess Reservoir approximately 6 miles northwest of the dam and adjacent to the USFS Kachess Campground. There is approximately 1 mile of habitat available for spawning and rearing bull trout with a barrier falls (Peekaboo Falls) located at the upstream extent of the project area. 2016 population and habitat surveys revealed that approximately 0.6 miles below Peekaboo Falls to Big Pool Falls was deficient in complex habitat features, large wood, and low densities of rearing bull trout. This area contains the highest densities of bull trout redds and available spawning gravels. The project will utilize large wood to increase habitat complexity and provide refugia for rearing bull trout during high flow events that currently wash juvenile fish downstream below Big Pool Falls, a passage barrier for this age class of fish. This will increase the available habitat for rearing bull trout, ensure that these fish can mature to the sub-adult phase, and increase the likelihood of survival as these fish enter the reservoir.
Box Canyon Creek supports critical life stages of one of three genetically distinct populations of threatened bull trout in the upper Yakima Basin. The Creek is a tributary to the Kachess Reservoir approximately 6 miles northwest of the dam and adjacent to the USFS Kachess Campground. There is approximately 1.6 miles of habitat available for spawning and rearing bull trout with a barrier falls (Peekaboo Falls) located at the upstream extent of the project area. 2016 population and habitat surveys revealed that below Peekaboo Falls to the confluence with the Kachess Reservoir was deficient in complex habitat features and low densities of rearing bull trout. The area above Big Pool Falls (RM 0.8) contains the highest densities of bull trout redds and available spawning gravels. The project will utilize large wood to increase habitat complexity in the lower 1.6-mile reach of Box Canyon. This will provide refugia for rearing bull trout during high flow events that currently wash juvenile fish downstream into Kachess Reservoir before they have matured and leaving them vulnerable to predatory lake dwelling species including burbot and pike minnow. Complex habitat features from large wood installation will increase the available habitat for rearing bull trout, ensure that these fish can mature to the sub-adult phase, and increase the likelihood of survival as these fish enter the reservoir.
