Elk River Coho SAP Riparian Restoration

This project is located in the Elk River Watershed, which is located on the southern Oregon coast to the north of the town of Port Orford. Project activities will take place in the lower watershed and on tributary channels that cross the Elk River floodplain within the project reach. The project will restore self-sustaining native riparian forest which are needed to address key limiting factors that threaten the existence of Coho salmon and the viability of wild fall Chinook in the watershed. To restore riparian habitat, we will replace stands of contiguous mature gorse and other invasive species with a diverse assemblage of native riparian conifers, hardwood trees, and shrubs, and construct riparian fencing. Plant stewardship activities (reported as C.11 - Site Maintenance) will be conducted for up to 8 years after the plantings are completed. Invasive species control will also be implemented in the upland area via mechanical and chemical means.The stewardship activities will ensure the success of the project plantings by helping plants achieve free-to-grow status. This project is part of Phase II Implementation of the Elk River Coho Recovery Strategic Action Plan (SAP). Other SAP partners include the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Wild Salmon Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, and the Wild Rivers Land Trust.

PCSRF FFY 2022 funds were expended on project costs incurred during the PCSRF FFY 2022 contract award period. OWEB state funds and Other sources of funds and in-kind contributions will be used to complete the project. No funds are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

Ensuring a high functioning riparian habitat on low-gradient, unconfined stream channels will benefit salmon, steelhead, and the aquatic ecosystem. Stream shading reduces summer water temperature and therefore also reduces heat stress on fish. Flood attenuation creates rearing habitat, decreases stream velocity, increases groundwater recharge, and filters/sequesters fine sediment, nutrients, and pollutants. Woody vegetation on streambanks and channel margins also creates complex instream habitat and reduces bank erosion. Large, long-lived trees are a source of future wood recruitment, which can eventually lead to complex morphology and instream habitat. Diverse, native riparian vegetation will provide food for terrestrial and aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are a primary component of the aquatic food chain. Invasive plant removal in the upland area will suppress competition with seedlings and is necessary to prevent outcompetition with native vegetation.