Increase Wood Densities in Asotin IMW Restoration

The Asotin Creek Intensively Monitored Watershed project (Asotin IMW) has been running since 2008 with the goal to test the effectiveness of low-tech process-based restoration structures at improving riverscape health and summer steelhead productivity. The project is coordinated by the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board and funded by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Restoration on the Charley Creek site was completed in both 2020 and 2021, resulting in .93 miles of new treatment area that included 37 new structures, 2 existing structures enhanced, and 10 trees felled into the stream.

South Fork Asotin Creek was also treated in both 2020 and 2021, resulting in 2.18 miles of new treatment area that included 66 new structures, enhancement of 132 existing structures and 14 trees felled.

There was a delay securing permits and a cultural survey to work in the North Fork, which limited restoration work to one work window. Efforts on the North Fork took place in 2021 and resulted in 1.24 miles of new treatment area. There were 17 new structures and enhancement of 22 existing structures. 14 trees were also fell.

Increase woody density in existing Asotin Intensively Monitored Watershed restoration treatments to continue improving channel complexity and force more floodplain connection to increase Snake River steelhead freshwater productivity.