Peshastin RM 4.3 Side Channel Restoration

This project seeks to address identified habitat limiting factors for high- and medium-priority spring Chinook and steelhead life stages (i.e., summer and winter rearing, spawning and incubation, and fry colonization) in Reach 4 of Peshastin Creek including Off-channel Side Channel, Floodplain Connectivity, and Structural Complexity (cover wood). The project will prepare permit applications and construction-ready designs and implement actions to enhance and better connect an ~9 acre floodplain surface by constructing ~2500 lf of side channel habitats, adding ~135 pieces of LWD and ~130 large boulders, and planting ~3,000 native shrubs/trees upon implementation. 

The goal of the proposed project is to complete all work needed to prepare and submit permit applications, develop a construction-ready design set, and implement construction actions to address Limiting Factors identified for Reach 4 of Peshastin Creek including off-channel side channel and floodplain habitats, cover wood, pool quantity/quality, and water temperature. The desired future condition is for the ~9-acre floodplain surface to be better connected to the mainstem channel. It will have ~2,500 lf of side channel habitat connected to the mainstem at four locations, with pool/riffle morphology and numerous large wood structures. The floodplain will support a more diverse riparian community with greater percent cover, and the mainstem channel will have more pools, in-stream cover, and hydraulic diversity than under current conditions.
This is phase two of a two-part effort. The first phase completed studies and design work that give us a clear understanding of existing conditions and a Preliminary Design set for restoration actions. The Preliminary Designs identify actions intended to result in improved habitat characteristics important for a variety of spring Chinook, steelhead and bull trout life stages.
Benefits from actions likely to occur should be realized very quickly, persist for decades and be year-round in nature, but will be particularly beneficial during fall, winter and spring when side channels are largely wetted and available for fish use.