Meacham Creek - Bonifer Reach Floodplain Connectivity I - Large Wood Placement

The PCSRF funds were used for the removal and hauling of 125 large wood and large wood structures on .95 miles of the Bonifer Reach, RM 3.8 to 4.75 of Meacham Creek, Project Area Three. Sixty-nine of the structures were placed in the channel and 47.6 acres of the streamed was treated for the channel structures placement. Four instream pools were created as a result of these placements. The original end date of December 2020 was chosen to allow for flexibility in the completion of work, but the project was able to be completed ahead of this schedule.

Using other non-PCSRF funding sources, the actions that occurred on the Bonifer Reach of Meacham Creek under this project in 2015 included:

1) Hauling and placement of large rocks at project site;
2) Creation of new side channel;
5) 33 acres of removal of non-desirable species in the riparian zone;
6) 7 acres of planting of native species in the riparian zone;

Habitat enhancement in the upper Umatilla focus area, and specifically in Meacham Creek (refer to Focus Area in the map in attached proposal), is expected to reduce summer stream temperatures, improve overall channel and floodplain stability, and ultimately improve aquatic habitat conditions. The CTUIR natural resource staff expects measurable response in key characteristics of hydrology, geomorphology, and connectivity resulting in improved riparian vegetation conditions and improved conditions for important aquatic species. Specifically, proposed actions are expected to improve connectivity between surface flow and shallow groundwater in the channel and floodplain, and the riparian forest. This will result in cooler in-stream water due to the influence of increased hyporheic interaction (e.g. buffering and lagging Arrigoni et al, 2008). We expect to observe increases in the incidence of cold water refuge areas for salmonids (e.g. pools and reaches downstream of meander bends or islands). Adverse impacts associated with the implementation actions are expected to be temporary and insignificant when compared to the expected long-term benefits to the upper Umatilla focus area ecosystem.