Oxbow Conservation Area Tailings Restoration, Phase II

This funding helped complete the phase 2 project including over 900 feet of new channel construction, de-watering of a 3,400 feet dredge ditch which bifurcated the river, grading 30,000 cubic yards of tailings, transporting about 12,000 cubic yards of soil to cover about 20 acres of tailings, installation of 400 whole trees for use as large wood structures along channel (14 structures) and along floodplains, planting of 3,100 containerized plants, installation of an irrigation system, and installation of 2,600 feet of eight-foot high ungulate-proof fencing.

OWEB funding (project #212-6020-9146) was also used for this project and since the OWEB funding was all from STATE funds, CRITFC reported all of the metrics under this project.

The project seeks to restore hydraulic and ecosystem processes for riparian and instream habitats critical for Mid-Columbia summer steelhead, spring Chinook salmon, and bull trout. This multi-phased project is located in the heart of spring Chinook salmon spawning, adult holding, and juvenile rearing. The property averages 13% of spring Chinook salmon spawning in this critical habitat zone of the MFJD watershed, but spawning is below site potential due to past dredging. The property exceptional juvenile rearing potential, stemming from its location in the watershed and the six perennial tributaries entering the river within the property, but degraded habitat conditions limit current production. The Project site will benefit connectivity to the river on three tributaries: Butte Creek, Granite Boulder Creek and Ruby Creek. All three creeks are use by steelhead for rearing and spawning. All three creeks are used by spring Chinook salmon for rearing. Pacific lamprey are present in all of these creeks, as well as the river.

The project will restore instream habitat conditions and structure for salmonid production, and set the stage for processes needed to sustain habitat features. This project seeks to greatly enhance instream habitat for salmonids in terms of holding cover and spawning gravel availability. The project seeks to reduce overall stream temperature through removal of a dredged channel bifurcation, which will reduce the solar exposure to the stream. Water temperature will also be buffered through an extensive vegetation plan, which promotes stream shading and appropriate channel widths on the constructed channel segments.