Starvation Flats Floodplain Restoration Project

The improperly functioning culvert was removed. The floodplain road was decommissioned by removal of road fill, mechanical decompaction, minor slope contouring, and seed bed preparation. The stream ford, consisting of articulating concrete blocks, was installed and is functional. The floodplain road was relocated in an upland location. Bed and bank stabilization features were added, primarily in the form of native rock grade control structures, removal of channel constricting road fill, and installation of the mats, which are designed to provide stream bed grade control and stream thalweg training. In addition to energy dissipation and sediment trapping, the ford provides in-channel flood storage, which promotes groundwater recharge. Added structures were designed around existing instream and riparian woody vegetation, in order to preserve their functional capabilities. The decommissioned roadway and equipment staging areas were revegetated.

Removal of the floodplain road has reduced channel constriction, road runoff and erosion, and will allow for re-establishment of riparian species. The ford will allow for riparian habitat improvement, bed aggradations and overbank flow for increased soil-water storage without reducing the crossing features integrity or capacity, impossibility if the culvert were left in place.

Improve geomorphic function, restore riparian habitat, and improve baseflows. Improved rearing conditions for steelhead downstream of the project area.