South Fork Coppei Creek Riparian Buffer

Tri-State Steelheaders used this funding for the Hansen Project, located on the South Fork of Coppei Creek in Southeastern Walla Walla county, which combined in-stream habitat construction, riparian habitat restoration, and a 280-acre conservation easement to protect & enhance spawning/rearing habitat for endangered steelhead trout. Livestock were permanently excluded from more than two miles of stream bank. Riparian areas damaged by decades of grazing were restored. Spawning & rearing of endangered steelhead were enhanced through construction of in-stream structures. Mature stands of Douglas Fir and Yellow Pine, located on steep hillsides adjacent to the stream are now permanently protected from commercial logging. Three spring-fed tributary creeks to Coppei Creek were protected, so cold year-round flows can continue to enhance the streams water quality. Housing development, including construction of seven approved home building sites on the project, will never occur.

The goal of the project is to protect and restore native riparian vegetation along salmon bearing streams. The objective of the project is to protect and restore natural streamside vegetation, improve stream temperature, reduce erosion, filtration, and recruit large woody debris.