Middle Crabtree Creek Riparian Restoration

This project removed invasive vegetation and planted native trees and shrubs on 37.4 acres of riparian habitat and installed fencing along 1.5 stream miles of Crabtree creek, an important tributary to the South Santiam River which is listed for winter steelhead and spring chinook. Additionally, one rocked livestock water gap was installed. The project leveraged federal funding from the Conservation Reserve and Enhancement Program (CREP). This project led to other projects as neighbors saw the project in implementation. As the project matures, streamside vegetation will provide much needed shade to the creek and will reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the creek. Mature riparian vegetation will become a future source of large woody material which will enhance habitat complexity. The completed project treated fewer stream miles and acres than proposed because some of the landowners decided not to sign up for CREP in addition the streambank miles and acres treated were less because only one side of the stream was treated whereas the proposal indicated both sides would be treated.

This project will restore 42.5 riparian acres in the Crabtree Creek watershed, an important basin offering spawning habitat for ESA-listed spring Chinook and winter steelhead. In the short term, native trees and shrubs will help filter pollutants, slow fine sediment contributions to the water, and offer floodplain complexity. As the plantings mature, the short term benefits will continue, as well as additional benefits will accrue from stream shading and leaf litter/wood contributions into Crabtree Creek.