McCaw Reach Fish Restoration (Design) Phase B

Walla Walla County Conservation District developed final designs and specifications to restore fish habitat on 5650 ft of the Touchet River near Waitsburg, WA. This project is Phase B of a two phase project on the McCaw property; Phase A was completed in 2013 (#11-1580). The project is located in the Touchet River Major Spawning Area for Mid-Columbia steelhead and is located in a priority area for restoration as identified in the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan. The overall goals of the design were to increase roughness elements, promote sediment storage and create a dynamic channel environment with complex side channels and large wood features. The existing channel is reduced in complexity and roughness, has degraded riparian vegetation and has incised in some areas. This project will place large wood features in the main channel and side channels to encourage the activation of side channels, improve overall channel complexity, increase bar deposition and stream length, and develop pools. The project, when constructed, will provide Mid-Columbia steelhead rearing habitat, Bull Trout wintering habitat, and non-listed Chinook Salmon passage and holding habitat.

This project developed final designs to encourage the activation of side channels, improve overall channel complexity, increase bar deposition and stream length, and develop pools.