Merritt Oxbow Reconnection Restoration

This restoration project addressed high priority ecological concerns in Nason Creek by establishing a perennial side channel with connection to off channel wetland habitat, installing wood structures to increase instream complexity and habitat, and establishing riparian vegetation in the floodplain and newly created side channel. The project is located on Chelan-Douglas Land Trust property at RM 10.8 - 11 on Nason Creek. The project benefited ESA listed spring Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout in Nason Creek. The following project actions were completed during implementation in 2022:
a. excavated 592 feet of side channel to create connection from oxbows to mainstem
b. connected to relic oxbows and “First Bend” side channel to new side channel to create a total of over 1700 linear feet of side channel
c. increased floodplain connection during high-frequency floods by providing a total of 2.67 acres of additional off-channel habitat at the 1.25 year event.
d. placed one constructed riffle in the mainstem Nason Creek and one in the new side channel to improve side channel longevity and provide fish passage at all flow ranges.
e. increased instream structure, complexity and habitat through installation of 19 LWD structures.
f. 1.1 acres of riparian vegetation restoration.

These actions and metrics are consistent with what was proposed. No cost or scope amendments were necessary for this agreement.

The goal of this project is to improve abundance, productivity and spatial structure for ESA-listed species by addressing the highest priority ecological concerns in Nason Creek, which is the highest priority Assessment Unit for restoration in in the Wenatchee watershed. The ecological concerns that this project will address in priority order are:


1) Peripheral and Transitional Habitat (Side Channel and Wetland Connections)

2) Channel Structure and Form (Bed and Channel Form)

3) Riparian Condition

4) Channel Structure and Form (Instream Structural Complexity)