Tumalum Creek LTPBR Phase 2

The goal of restoration in Tumalum Creek is to promote self-sustaining improvements in spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River steelhead through the installation of large woody debris jams and Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs), and the relocation and establishment of beaver. The re-establishment of beaver in Tumalum Creek has the potential to provide long-term, self-sustaining ecosystem benefits to steelhead, and provides an alternative to more traditional, and expensive restoration strategies.
The sponsor constructed 4 post assisted log structures (PALS), 43 log jams, 7 BDAs, and relocated 2 beaver across .75 miles of stream. These efforts were split between two worksites. Worksite 1 is where relocating beaver was focused because there is more food available for beaver. On worksite 1 the sponsor installed 4 PALS, 28 Log Jams, and 7 BDAs, and relocated 2 beaver near artificial lodges. Post beaver relocation monitoring suggests the beaver left the area or were predated. At worksite 2 the sponsor installed 15 log jams.
The structures that have been constructed are increasing channel complexity, pool habitat, trapping sediment, and increasing floodplain connection which is likely leading to increased production of juvenile steelhead and improving spawning conditions.

The goal is to establish beaver to improve channel and floodplain conditions for steelhead spawning and rearing for Snake River Steelhead in Tumalum Creek.. Building a variety of low-tech process-based structures (BDAs, PALS, log jams) improve in-stream conditions for beaver establishment and steelhead habitat.