Collaborating to Return Salmon to Their Ancestral Waters: Reconnecting an Historic Oxbow and Restoring the East Fork Millicoma River

1)PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to help support the evaluation and reconnection of an historic oxbow on the East Fork Millicoma River. A high velocity bypass chute was created years ago for logging that cut off this historic oxbow and dried the oxbow. Reconnection of the oxbow provides salmonid habitat for spawning, rearing and passage. Through this project the Tribes hope to enhance salmon populations and thereby Tribal community that salmon support.
2) SPECIFIC WORK: Evaluation salmonid use (spawning and rearing) and impairments (road sediment inputs) at the and above the EF Millicoma River oxbow. Support project coordination and development for permitting, construction, design and funding for oxbow reconnection and EF Millicoma River restoration. Advance efforts to support funding the oxbow reconnection and restoration of the East Fork Millicoma River to support healthy salmonid populations
• Instream and Habitat surveys- pre and post project juvenile and spawning surveys and total station assessment of site post project completion
• Road-sediment surveys were completed to evaluate sediment inputs in the East Fork Millicoma River and prioritize road improvement sites
• Coordination and development of implementation schedule and funding for re-connection
3)OUTCOME: Improved passage, access, rearing habitat, and reducing sediment inputs for the benefit of Coho and salmonids as well as other anadromous fish. Pre and post project data collection of fish use of the project area and sediment improvements for the site and in the surrounding area.

note: Contracted work was completed by 02/08/18 (deliverable date), final internal management of the project was complete 12/31/18 (actual end date).

Purpose: Evaluate salmonid use (spawning and rearing) and impairments (road sediment inputs) at the and above the EF Millicoma River oxbow. Support project coordination and development for permitting, construction, design and funding for oxbow reconnection and EF Millicoma River restoration. Through this project the Tribes hope to enhance salmon populations and thereby Tribal community that salmon support.

• Evaluate the use of the East Fork Millicoma by salmon (spawning and rearing) pre-reconnection and restoration
• Evaluate sediment inputs in the East Fork Millicoma River and prioritize road improvement sites
• Advance efforts to support funding the oxbow reconnection and restoration of the East Fork Millicoma River to support healthy salmonid populations

Expected Benefits: Through survey work (spawning, snorkel and road) and project development this project will contribute to understanding how the completed oxbow reconnection and upriver restoration (improving passage, access, rearing habitat, and reducing sediment inputs) will benefit populations of coho and other anadromous fish.