Williamson River Stream Enhancement

The purpose of the project was to enhance habitat in the Williamson River drainage for the benefit of native fish including salmon once they become reintroduced in the near future. Several habitat restoration projects were completed with this grant including placement of large woody debris in the Williamson River to provide fish cover and habitat in a reach generally devoid of instream fish cover; construction of livestock exclusion fencing in the riparian area over approximately 1 mile of the Williamson River; planting and caging over 500 native trees and shrubs at two properties, one on the Sprague River and one on the Williamson River; and replacement of a fish screen on an irrigation diversion on Spring Creek (tributary to the Williamson River). The specific outcomes of these projects were to provide additional instream habitat for fish; preventing entrainment of fish in an irrigation diversion; protection of riparian habitat along the Williamson River; and planting trees and shrubs in riparian habitat to help stabilize stream banks and increase riparian vegetation complexity.

This project is considered a crucial step towards achieving the Tribal restoration goal of reintroduction and restoration of the Klamath Tribes historic salmonid fisheries, including Chinook, Coho, lamprey, and steelhead species that have been extirpated. The proposed project will place stream enhancement structures within the Williamson river, plan/cage native riparian vegetation, fence riparian habitat, and place spawning gravel.