STHD 1-SF Toutle Reaches A, B, and C Restoration

This project includes 2.8 miles of instream and 108 acres of floodplain habitat restoration, predominantly implementing large wood placement, riparian planting and invasive weed control, in the headwaters valley of the SF Toutle River benefitting ESA-listed Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Since 2018, the Lower Columbia FEG completed preliminary designs and implementation plans covering 16.5 miles and 730 acres of mainstem and tributary habitat, building upon the 3.9 miles of instream and 160 acres of floodplain restoration already completed in the watershed between 2007 and 2021. LCFEG has been working with WA DNR and Weyerhaeuser on large-scale restoration design and implementation in the SF Toutle for nearly two decades and plans to spend the next two decades implementing these designs. This project is located in the upper third of Chinook distribution in the SF Toutle watershed and core habitat region for steelhead and coho. With this project the sponsor will be focusing on expanding the spatial distribution of Chinook and increasing the resilience to temperature and flow fluctuations for the upper anadromous zone of the ESA-listed fish in the Cascade strata of the Lower Columbia. The SF Toutle offers low risk, watershed-scale restoration opportunities with willing landowners and a supportive community, all we need to accomplish these admirable goals is a funding source capable of implementing the plan.

Address the key limiting factor for succession and habitat formation by adding wood to the channel and floodplain, thereby improving water storage, hyporheic exchange, sediment sorting and retention, and habitat complexity. Increase riparian and aquatic environments by accelerating natural recovery of floodplain processes in the headwater’s valley. Increase productivity of ESA-listed Lower Columbia fall (Tule) Chinook, spring Chinook, coho, and summer and winter steelhead in the SF Toutle River by increasing spawning habitat for all species and winter rearing habitat for coho and steelhead. Improve native vegetation colonization within the active floodplain by reducing channel migration rates, raising the water table, and increasing retention of water, sediment, woody debris, and nutrients