SF Toutle Lower Brownell Reach Restoration

This project initiates restoration activities in the Brownell Reach of the SF Toutle River (RM 6.5 to 8.5) which was designed through SRFB #18-1409. The project will address natural processes to benefit ESA-listed Chinook, coho, and steelhead as well as resident and anadromous lamprey, trout, and a dozen other coldwater fish species inventoried in the reach. This project will finalize the design to install instream and floodplain woody materials as well as jumpstart riparian and upland plant succession. The project will install shorter term instream and off-channel habitat structures as well as island-forming structures aimed at jumpstarting the establishment of mature floodplain forests in the immediate project reach. Plants for the project will be grown by Toutle Lake HS students and LCFEG staff using local plant stock. The Toutle River was denuded in May 1980 by a lahar and it is still struggling to recover. LCFEG is working on a watershed approach to jumpstart natural recovery of the river by addressing the chronic wood supply shortage. Were currently wrapping up two active restoration projects in the headwaters (SRFB 17-1118 & 17-1119) as we ricochet our attention from the headwaters valley (SRFB 19-1212) to the lower response reach for a multifaceted approach to address key limiting factors for all freshwater life stages of these ESA-listed species.  

1) Increase spawning and rearing (summer and winter) habitat quality and quantity for ESA-listed Fall Chinook, early and late returning coho, and winter steelhead in the SF Toutle River.
2) Accelerate successional development of mature riparian forests in the SF Toutle floodplain to increase long term wood supply and restore ecological function to the floodplain habitats.