Cazadero North Stream Restoration Project

The Clackamas River Basin Council (CRBC) in close partnership with Metro (landowner), Clackamas County Department of Transportation & Development (County road interest) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife together implemented the Cazadero North Stream Restoration Project (Project) on North Fork Deep Creek in Boring Oregon. Both instream, riparian and upland habitats have been degraded due to past land uses, road building and hydrologic changes within the watershed. CRBC and Metro restored instream and riparian habitats over a combined 3 acres of riparian area and 600 linear feet of stream by placing large wood, stabilizing a stormwater outfall, debris removal, riparian planting and invasive removal, placing stream bed cobbles/boulders and adding a concrete sill to the Richey Road culvert to improve fish passage with funding from OWEB, US Forest Service and Metro.

Clackamas River basin spring Chinook, coho and winter steelhead are negatively impacted by loss of habitat, impaired water quality and lack of access to historic spawning areas. This project will restore habitat elements believed to be most limiting to salmon and steelhead as identified in local and regional assessments referenced above and below in this application.

Lack of Large Wood: Only four pieces of large wood were noted within the active channel area of the project reach. Several more upland pieces were identified. A lack of mature conifers within the riparian and upland areas also limits future recruitment of large wood and its likely there is little to no recruitment area for large wood from upstream reaches given the configuration and dimensions of the Ritchey Road crossing. Large wood, especially key pieces are an important component of creating and maintaining physical habitat. Upland downed wood is also important for amphibians and other terrestrial species that require escape cover and areas for hibernation. Significantly increasing the density of large wood on the site would greatly enhance biological conditions for fish and wildlife.

Impaired Upstream Fish Passage: A preliminary evaluation of the SE Ritchey Road culvert crossing suggests that the culvert presents a depth barrier under low flow conditions and velocity barrier under high flow conditions. Although it would be difficult to improve high flow passage conditions without replacing the culvert with a more fish friendly approach, opportunities exist to improve fish passage at low flows with only slight modifications to the culvert.

Eroding storm water outfall: Outfall pipes, tributary head cuts and bank erosion associated with the energy dissipation from a storm water outfall have created areas of instability that contribute chronic sources of fine sediment to North Fork Deep Creek. Stabilization measures would be implemented at the outfall location to minimize erosion and protect water quality.

Lack of riparian vegetation: Removal of invasive plants and reestablishment of native trees and shrubs increases stream shade resulting in improved water quality. Additionally establishment of mature riparian vegetation creates long term sources of large wood.