Methow Watershed Riparian Stewardship Program

Project type: restoration, riparian stewardship

Project stewarded already existing riparian restoration projects within the Methow, Twisp, Chewuch, and Beaver Creek drainages.

The overall goal of the RCO Grant was to ensure the success of riparian projects implemented under other short-term funding agreements.

Primary habitats; freshwater riparian and wetland riparian.

The priority species supported: Upper Columbia River (UCR) spring Chinook salmon, UCR steelhead, Columbia River bull trout, and Pacific lamprey

The Methow River Watershed is a destination recreational area for fishing, floating, and other water-based activities. Restoration of the riparian community does not conflict with any defined recreational uses and improves the aesthetic conditions throughout the watershed.

This project helps ensure that prior public investment in riparian restoration projects secures the stated objectives of increasing water quality, reducing water temperature, and providing improved habitat conditions. Riparian restoration projects within semi-arid eastern Washington landscapes typically fail to establish to the point of self-sufficiency within the initial short funding periods. Every dollar invested in extending stewardship of previously established riparian plantings safeguards $4-6 dollars previously invested in plant acquisition, planting and weed control.

No mods, amendments or extensions were made to the original agreement. Two landowners were unwilling to accept the maintenance responsibilities required in Landowner agreements were removed from the planned work. Funds planned for those sites were allocated to the remaining sites based on need and opportunities to expand objectives.

To continue riparian maintenance on previously funded SRFB restoration sites, thus benefitting ESA-listed Chinook and steelhead.