Chimney Rock Creek Upslope Watershed and Instream Habitat Restoration Project

The goals of this Project are to restore salmonid habitat by increasing the density of large wood by installing approximately 198 key log pieces within 1.7 miles of Chimney Rock Creek in at least 52 unique instream features. The addition of approximately 198 key pieces of large wood will increase the overall density of key pieces from 221 to 246 per mile, or approximately 15 pieces/100 meters for small channels (1-10 meter average bank full width). This would result in reaching the Very Good target rating according to the NFMS CCC Coho Recovery Plan 2012 (11+ key pieces per 100m). Additional goals include the reduction of sediment delivery by permanently decommissioning 3.5 miles of abandoned, legacy streamside and riparian road, preventing approximately 11,721 cubic yards of eroded sediment from entering Chimney Rock Creek and treating 34 individual sediment source delivery features within the watershed, including 13 stream crossings and 20 potential fill failures.

Implementation of this project will directly benefit CCC Coho Salmon by enhancing the quality of instream habitats for all life stages in Chimney Rock Creek. Instream large wood is known to assist with sorting and storage of stream gravels, as well as pool formation associated with bed scour. Studies have shown that pool formation associated with large wood can increase the quality and quantity of instream habitats for salmonids, which has been positively linked to survival rates. This project will reduce sediment delivery from a legacy riparian/inner gorge logging road system and normalize the lower hillslope hydrology along Chimney Rock Creek. By reducing both chronic and episodic sediment delivery to the stream system, and normalizing the hillside hydrology, this project will greatly accelerate the natural recovery of anadromous fish in the watershed.