Poorman Creek Barrier Removal

The Poorman Creek Barrier Removal project removed the last human caused barriers on Poorman Creek, a tributary of the Twisp River in Okanogan County.

The objective of this project was to restore access to habitat for threatened Upper Columbia steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and endangered Upper Columbia spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) by replacing an existing barrier road culvert on Poorman Creek with a 14 6 wide bottomless steel plate arch and engineered streambed designed to ensure passage at the full range of flows modeled for Poorman Creek. Threatened Upper Columbia bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) have not been observed in Poorman Creek, but they are present in the Twisp River immediately downstream of the project area. An irrigation diversion immediately below the culvert was also a partial barrier and was replaced with a rock weir structure that allows passage at all flows. The project also improves downstream habitat in the creek by restoring bedload and wood transport through the culvert.
This project removed the last fish passage barrier on Poorman Creek. The project complements two prior fish passage barrier culvert replacements on National Forest lands upstream of this project site, thereby restoring fish passage into Poorman Creek and creating access to 3 miles of habitat above the culvert and irrigation diversion.

The project features included the following design elements:
· Installation of a bottomless steel plate arch under Poorman Creek Cutoff Road.
· Installation of pre-cast concrete footings.
· Construction of an engineered streambed through the project area, approximately 150 feet in length.
· Reconstruction of the irrigation intake downstream of the culvert using rock weirs to allow low flow passage.
· Reconstruction of the disturbed portion of Poorman Creek Cutoff Road, including installation of guard rails at the culvert crossing.
· Revegetation of areas disturbed by construction; vegetation continued to be monitored and maintained through separate funding.

This project was sponsored by Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The goal of the project is to connect isolated habitat to increase the range and distribution of salmon.

The objective of the project is to increase access to areas blocked by human-caused impediments.

The goal of the project is to improve instream morphology and habitat in salmon bearing streams. The objective of the project is to increase instream cover, spawning, and resting areas.