Tucannon LW Restoration Project Area 11

WA Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) increased channel complexity from river mile RM 41.85 to RM 40.5 of the Tucannon River, also known as Project Area 11 (PA-11). Specific project activities included placement of more than 70 large wood complexes using ground equipment in the 1.35 mile main channel and a 0.1 mile side channel. Racking and mobile wood were added to provide additional wood recruitment to the log complexes. 1000 cottonwoods and 700 Ponderosa pine trees were planted in priority areas along the side channel and in staging areas disturbed during construction. WDFW intends to plant additional trees in this river reach in the near future, outside of the grant.

PA-11 i was identified as a tier 1 project area in the Tucannon Conceptual Restoration Plan (Anchor 2011), siting isolated habitats and low wood abundance compared to the goals in the Salmon Recovery Plan for SE WA (2011). Designs for instream construction were prepared in house by WDFW with support from the Tucannon Habitat Programmatic. The objectives were to maintain floodplain capacity and increase channel complexity over the 1.35 mile project reach. The project has increased floodplain connection at a faster rate than we anticipated, but because the project is located on a State Wildlife Area, that has not been a problem. Multiple side channels and high flow channels were re-established as a result of the project. The project is expected to improve winter/summer rearing habitat for ESA listed Snake River spring Chinook, steelhead, and winter rearing for Columbia Bull Trout.

To maintain floodplain capacity and increase channel complexity over the 1.35 mile project reach. The project is expected to improve winter /summer rearing habitat for ESA listed Snake River spring Chinook, steelhead and winter rearing for Columbia bull trout.