George Cr Wildlife Area Habitat Restoration

The purpose of this project was to restore ecological function to a 0.8 mile reach of George Creek located in the Asotin Creek drainage, a tributary of the lower Snake River. The site was historically a fruit orchard and winter feedlot prior to being acquired by WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The site is now managed as wildlife habitat. Restoration in this stream supports Snake River steelhead, spring Chinook, and Bull Trout and is consistent with the Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan. The focus of this proposal was to restore a LWD component in the reach by placing oversized key piece logs in the upper 2/3rd of the reach and placing engineered log jams in the lower 1/3rd. The purpose of LWD placements was to increase channel complexity, channel sinuosity, and to collect woody debris passing through the reach from the forested upper watershed. Channel sinuosity was also improved by creating two new channel meanders. Conceptual designs were developed through coordination with Asotin County Conservation District and WDFW staff with the intention of building habitat complexity and jump starting riparian recovery. Existing riparian cottonwoods were preserved during construction and 5,100 new native plants augmented the established trees. This project improves both summer and winter rearing habitat while improving riparian function.
This project was funded using grant funds from four NOAA grants - 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The project started in 2009 with NOAA PCSRF 2009 grant funds. It was constructed in 2013 and planted in 2016.

Goals were to improve the amount and quality of instream habitat by increasing stream length, side channel connectivity, pools and cover; and to improve floodplain function, riparian recruitment, and recruitment of woody debris.