South Sisters Structure Placement Phase V

The project restored simplified instream habitat conditions in South Sisters, North Sisters and Russell Creeks. They are tributaries to the Smith River, located within the Umpqua River watershed. Large wood and boulders were placed in severely scoured and bedrock dominated sections of these creeks. 67 log and boulder sites were placed throughout 4.5 miles of stream.

The project is expected to benefit all aquatic species present in the South Sisters sub-watershed. Summer and winter habitat conditions will improve because there will be a substantial increase in cover habitat, and through time more pools will become available as the logs and boulders induce scour and depostion. Residual pool depth will increase, and water temperatures are likely to decrease as a result of increased storage in floodplains.



Coarse substrate will accumulate in bedrock dominated stream reaches and begin to create quality spawning riffles. The structures will also form pools and provide cover for juvenile salmonids and other native fish species. Juvenile salmonid overwinter survival and the amount of adult salmonid spawning habitat should also increase over time.