Elk Creek Cooperative Salmon Habitat Recovery Project Phase 2

Project Objectives:
Actual outcomes:
-Acquired LIDAR along 9.1 miles of Elk Creek for hydraulic modeling, and 39.2 miles of the Elk creek watershed including tributary streams
-Total acreage of LIDAR collected was 1,852 acres
-Acquired a stream survey of 6 miles of mainstem Elk Creek to identify restoration opportunities
-Surveys for bridge-reconstruction project including mapping and stream surveys
- Project manager tavel to Elk Creek from Roseburg, and travel to National American Fisheries Society Meeting for project manager
- Funded University of Oregon RARE Intern to participate in beaver habitat surveys and plan State of the Beaver Conference in 2013
-Explanation of change in project scope: Initial estimates of LIDAR miles were for the mainstem of Elk Creek only. When the LIDAR was flown it included tributary streams as well, hence the increase in miles. Instead of designing two miles of instream work, a survey of 6 miles of Elk Creek was performed to identify potential restoration opportunities. We added site survey and base mapping for bridge removal and replacement for a side channel habitat restoration project. The bridge/side channel project will also be funded with PCSRF funds from 2012, 2013 and 2014. The University of Oregon RARE intern time was paid for work related to beaver habitat mapping and restoration in Elk Creek. RARE intern time was also spent planning the state of the beaver conference which brings beaver restoration practitioners together to discuss how to use beavers as a restoration tool for coho salmon recovery.

LIDAR and stream surveys will serve as a baseline and strategic planning tool for future restoration projects in Elk Creek.