Satus Creek Wood Replenishment

The Satus Wood Replenishment project will be implemented in Satus Creek between Logy Creek and Dry Creek within the boundary of the Yakama Nation Reservation. Satus creek is a tributary of the Yakima River and supports ESA listed Middle Columbia Steelhead and Pacific Lamprey. This watershed has suffered from increased fire frequency, heavy grazing, channel incision, a change in riparian species, the decline of large woody debris and complex habitat, and the development of Highway 97 corridor (Satus Pass) and the associated infrastructure (bridges, power poles/lines, etc.). The project site has disconnected floodplain surfaces, reduction of habitat complexity for multiple life stages of Steelhead, and due to the reduced habitat functions there has been a collapse of Cottonwoods.



Satus Creek has supporting documentation of spawning and rearing of Steelhead, collected by the Yakama Nations Yakama Reservation Watersheds Project (YRWP). YRWP has worked since 1996 to restore steelhead and other native fishes (ie Pacific Lamprey) within the Satus Creek watershed and its tributaries. YRWP understands the physical and biological characteristics of the reach, and the extensive data shows site conditions and fish use. The Satus Creek Steelhead run comprises 1/3 of the Yakima Basin Steelhead production, therefore making the restoration of this reach, and its watershed, a high priority for the Yakima Basin and region.



Goals of the project, in-line with Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, are to contribute to species recovery of the Satus Creek population of Middle Columbia Steelhead. This primary goal will aid in restoring Yakama Nation Tribal fishing rights and traditions as well as improve ecologic functioning of the reach. The objectives of restoration include improving the quantity and quality of instream habitat for ESA anadromous salmonids and restoring riparian and floodplain habitat function. YRWP staff has identified that important habitat impairments (limiting factors) are a reduction in channel lateral movement, lack of channel complexity, and moderate channel incision and disconnection from existing side channels.



Proposed work for this reach of Satus Creek will encompass engineered log structures and loose wood to reach the aforementioned goals and objectives. In addition to improving the Steelhead population, the project aims to improve and restore habitat for Pacific Lamprey. Worksite specifics follow next. YN anticipates that the current project will be phase 1 of a multi-phase project. Future phases will adopt a similar approach but will incorporate lessons learned from monitoring and observation of this first phase. Specifically, this phase of the project will install 5 to 10 engineered log jams (ELJs) as well as 300-400 unanchored root wads and logs to a selected portion of a 4 mile section of Satus Creek. ElJ’s will be placed with an excavator unanchored wood using a helicopter if feasible. We will try and leave the riparian vegetation as intact as possible.



Ongoing monitoring via redd surveys, electrofishing surveys, and drone flights will occur during design development, and implementation of each construction phase beginning in 2024 to 2027 by Yakama Nation YRWP Staff.



Post implementation monitoring will be completed via the same methods and by YRWP staff to determine success of the projects through Steelhead use during multiple life stages, the increase of pools versus rifles, wood structures, and floodplain connectivity (increased inundation).



Worksite #1 Proposed Work:

Propose to Install 5 to 10 engineered log jams (ELJs) as well as 300-400 unanchored root wads and logs to a selected (~1-mile) portion of a 4-mile section of Satus Creek. ElJ’s will be placed with an excavator unanchored wood using a helicopter if feasible. We will try and leave the riparian vegetation as intact as possible.

The addition of unanchored wood and engineered log jams at this four-mile reach of Satus Creek will benefit ESA listed Middle Columbia Steelhead by increasing the complexity of instream and floodplain habitat. This section of Satus Creek, like much of the HWY 97 corridor was impacted by decades of overgrazing, construction of powerlines, and increased fire frequency due to proximity to the Highway. Although, the riparian zone has begun to recover after a reduction in grazing 20 years ago, a shift in riparian species appears to have happened with a decrease in large cottonwoods and an increase in smaller alders. It may be decades or more before the large cottonwoods (after being recruited to the stream channel) that can resist downstream movement during floods have been restored to historic densities. We expect to see an increase in pool habitat, side channels, and lateral stream migration and with this an increase in successful steelhead spawning and rearing, due to less redd scour during flood events, complex habitat to allow juveniles to avoid predators, and refuge from unwanted downstream transport of juveniles. These changes will also benefit lamprey and other native fish species.