Larson’s Reach Phase 2 Instream Restoration

The reported actual metrics are substantially lower than the proposed because the proposed metrics represented the project in its entirety, i.e. inclusive of all funding sources. The actual metrics now reflect the contributions from NWIFC PCSRF relative to the entire project cost approximately $1.9M, which equates to NWIFC reporting less than 10% of the performance metrics. This prorating needed to occur since the RCO agreement also had a PCSRF component of funding. The NWIFC funding component ($177,000) is represented in the RCO agreement $352,000 sponsor match. Dialogue has occurred between the Lummi Nation project manager, RCO project managers, and NWIFC’s project coordinator to ensure that metric reporting would not result in duplication.

The prorated metrics reported with this project include 2 engineered logjams to restore habitat in the South Fork Nooksack River. Additional prorated metrics include: 1) Creating 0.3 primary pool habitat units in cool water refuge areas. 2) Increasing floodplain and side channel connectivity through excavation and placement of engineered logjams to provide up to 0.1 miles of off channel rearing habitat 3) Increasing habitat quality and diversity by creating 2 primary pool habitat units, and 4) Increasing the acreage (3.6) of off-channel habitat connected to the floodplain.

The goal of the Larson’s Reach Phase 2 project is to restore salmonid spawning, rearing and holding habitat in order to recover self-sustaining salmonid runs to harvestable levels by addressing limiting factors of temperature and habitat diversity and quantity in the reach. Endangered early spring Chinook salmon and bull trout will benefit from 2.1 primary pools; more pools may develop indirectly as increased roughness causes dynamic equilibrium. Scour pools provide thermal refugia (holding pools) from elevated South Fork water temperatures during summer spawning months in addition to pools for juvenile overwintering (rearing pools). In addition, juveniles will benefit from 0.1 miles of off channel rearing habitat by increasing connectivity with the floodplain and side channels. All features are focused on enhancement of endangered Spring Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) habitat by maximizing natural habitat-forming processes inherent in this reach of river.