Couse Cr Instream Habitat PA 79

The Couse Creek Project Area 79 (PA-79) Instream Habitat Project installed large woody debris structures including post assisted log structures (PALS), beaver dam analog structures (BDAs), and engineered wood structures. The project is located south of the City of Asotin, WA along Couse Creek Road. The project begins at river mile (RM) 1.4 and ends at RM 3.5. Couse Creek is listed as a minor spawning area (mSA) and priority protection reach that flows directly into the Snake River. LWD was added throughout the reach increasing geomorphic complexity, promote overbank flows, increase sediment, and increase water retention. Most of this reach of Couse Creek currently does not support perennial stream flows. The LWD structures were placed strategically to maximize the goals of the project, especially water retention.

This project improved stream function and increased habitat complexity for Snake River steelhead in Couse Creek. This project will help meet this goal by installing large wood structures and beaver dam analogues within the project area.