Yasana Sprague River Restoration Project - Instream Structures and Spawning Gravel

The Yasana Sprague River Restoration Project is intended to restore approximately 430 feet of the Sprague River channel and floodplain habitat through addition of large wood for fish rearing and holding habitat, establishment of a bank full bench and woody vegetation for moderating erosive flood flows, and addition of gravel providing spawning habitat. The Yasana Sprague River Restoration Project is located approximately 1.25 miles upstream from the Godawa Springs Road Bridge along the Sprague River (River Mile 71), northeast of the town of Beatty along the Sprague River highway. The project is located approximately 2.75 river-miles downstream from the Beatty Gap area, which is well known for its Redband trout population and a key area for anadromous salmonid re-introduction. The Beatty Gap area is highly productive salmonid spawning, rearing and refugia habitat due to its numerous spring complexes. This project is also intended to minimize erosion on the floodplain during high flow events and allow riparian vegetation to become established.


This project will provide important spawning, juvenile rearing, and adult holding/resting habitat for anadromous salmonids including Chinook and Steelhead upon their re-introduction. The project will also improve habitat for ESA-listed species C’waam (Lost River sucker) and Koptu (Shortnose sucker), and other native species including Redband trout, lamprey, and sculpins.

Anadromous salmonids and adfluvial non-anadromous salmonids adult upstream migration is expected to be enhanced by providing large woody debris (LWD) cover along with expected pool deepening via change in structure associated velocity vectors. Spawning and egg incubation are expected to be enhanced through addition of gravel at locations associated with LWD structure placement. Fry colonization and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat will also be improved through woody structure additions.



Current fish habitat conditions are poor because of the lack of habitat complexity and shallow water depths associated with a lack of woody vegetation or structure and high width-to-depth ratio associated with much of the mainstem Sprague River.

Project Objective: Provide spawning, juvenile rearing, and adult holding/resting habitat for Chinook salmon, Steelhead, Redband trout and native fish.

Install 5 partial cross vanes and toe wood structures along 430 feet of streambank and add spawning gravel.

Construct 2 bankfull benches to minimize erosion on the floodplain during high flow event and allow riparian vegetation to become established. Project Benefits: This project is considered a crucial step towards achieving the tribal restoration goal of reintroduction and restoration of the Klamath Tribes historic anadromous fisheries that have been extirpated. Specifically, the project will enhance spawning, rearing and holding habitat in the Sprague River to benefit Chinook salmon, Steelhead and other native fishes. The project will address factors limiting the productivity of Chinook salmon and Steelhead necessary for the exercise of native subsistence fishing. Priority 1