Fivemile-Bell Restoration Project, Phase 5

This application is in support of Phase 5 of the ten-year, multi-phase, collaborative Fivemile-Bell Restoration Project (Project). The Project area is located about 10 miles southeast of Florence, Oregon, and includes the sub-watershed of Fivemile Creek of the Tahkenitch Lake basin 6th-field watershed in Douglas County (Maps 1 and 2). Phase 5 project actions are focused in Middle Bell Creek, with additional actions planned in Upper Bell Creek and in Middle and Lower Fivemile Creek (Maps 4-7). Phase 5 is the last anticipated phase of the Fivemile Bell Project.

Tahkenitch Lake is home to the healthiest run of wild Coho salmon in Oregon, however it is a fraction of historic runs. Declines in the Tahkenitch Lake salmon runs since the late 1800s correspond to land and resource use actions that reduced the available high quality habitat, including the introduction of warm-water fish species to the lake, the draining and diking of wetlands, the clearing of valley bottoms and channelization of streams to increase available agricultural land, and timber harvest practices. As a result, existing conditions in the Fivemile Creek sub-watershed, the largest tributary to Tahkenitch Lake, were found to have adversely affected Coho salmon production and a landscape-scale restoration project was developed (USFS 5M LMP, 2012).

Proposed work in Phase 5 includes reestablishing floodplain connection by re-grading the valley floor and filling portions of the existing incised channel. Large woody debris will be placed in-stream and on the floodplain. Valley floor and upland cat roads will be obliterated. A total of approximately 15 acres will be planted with upland, upland riparian, and emergent wetland species. Non-native plant growth, with a focus on reed canary grass and Armenian blackberry, will be controlled on approximately 5.5 acres.

Project partners include the Siuslaw National Forest, the Siuslaw Institute, and the Siuslaw Watershed Council.

Because the projects scheduled end date is after the PCSRF FFY 2019 award closes, no funds allocated for this project are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

The purpose of this project is to restore habitat that will support historic levels of productivity in Fivemile and Bell Creeks. Previous aquatic habitat surveys have demonstrated a lack of large woody debris and habitat complexity (side channels, alcoves, floodplain connectivity, etc.) in the upper channels and lack of floodplain interaction and reduced channel length and complexity. By re-grading the floodplain, reconstructing historic channels and placing large wood, hydrologic connectivity will be restored, channel complexity improved and deeper pools created for refugia habitat. Additionally, this project will promote native species diversity by planting native conifers and deciduous trees, shrubs, and graminoids. Invasive species will be removed/controlled, and the project area will be replanted with a diverse mixture of native species in a manner that mimics the natural succession of species observed in similar native ecosystems. Many of these plant species are already present in the area, and are representative of the plant communities found nearby. Diverse native vegetation can shade streams, filter excess nutrients, provide future large wood recruitment, and supply food for macroinvertebrates, improving habitat, water quality, and nutritional supplies for salmon and steelhead.