Big Springs Restoration

The habitat restoration project on Big Springs Creek addressed 5800 feet (1.10 miles) of the creek and 5 acres of riparian area. The entire worksite was approximately 35 acres. Monitoring for the project was conducted prior to the project, during the project for instream turbidity, and post project due to the HIP III monitoring protocol for high risk projects. Miles of stream treated for creation/connection to off-channel habitat amounted to 0.80 miles. Instream pools created were 20, with 0.7 acres of floodplain reconnected. Miles of stream treated with individual logs were 0.8 miles, with 20 scour pools created, and approximately 95 structures created. Riparian habitat totaled 2.2 miles, with 12 riparian acres treated and a minimum buffer 35 feet maintained for the riparian area. Total riparian acres planted were 8 acres, and 1.27 miles of streambank were planted. There was 0.68 miles of jack fence installed, protecting 24 acres of riparian area. The project met expectations and will continue being monitored.

The goals of this project are to establish riparian vegetation to provide cover to reduce stream temperatures and to reduce erosion and sediment delivery to the stream and spawning gravels. It will also develop channel complexity in a stream that has been documented to support salmon and steelhead spawning. The project work proposed is expected to result in immediate and tangible benefits to salmon, which makes this stream a First Priority stream under the NMFS proposed recovery plan, which further directs restoration work be conducted first in streams that support salmonid spawning and rearing.