Strait of Juan de Fuca IMW Restoration Project

This project involved restoration actions within the Strait of Juan de Fuca region Intensively Monitored Watershed Project (IMW). IMW is a statewide effort to evaluate the effects of watershed restoration on habitat and salmon abundance. Within the Strait complex, East Twin River and Deep Creek are treatment sites, while the West Twin River is a control watershed. Watershed restoration was initiated in Deep Creek in 1998 and in the East Twin River in 2000. This project completed watershed restoration treatments by placing large wood in complex assemblages using a heavy lift helicopter during the summers of 2019 and 2020. Wood placement was designed to improve habitat conditions and restore floodplain connectivity in the lower portions of both watersheds. Wood was be placed in complex logs at 12 sites in both lower Deep Creek, and East Twin River. Treatments were designed to improve over-winter habitat for coho salmon, improve summer habitat for steelhead and coho, and to improve spawning habitat for multiple species including coho, steelhead, chum, and cutthroat.

Install large woody debris to improve over-winter habitat for coho salmon, improve summer habitat for steelhead and coho, and to improve spawning habitat for multiple species including coho, steelhead, chum, and cutthroat.