Albany Oxbows - Complete Restoration Preparation!

The Albany Oxbow Lakes (AOL) are located in the Corvallis - Albany reach of the Willamette River (RM 92-93), northeast of the city of Albany. This 438-acre site consists of a complex of four oxbow lakes, four tributary confluences, and the surrounding floodplain and riparian habitat with a diverse assemblage of land ownership. The AOL are positioned in an area of the Willamette River that offers significant potential for increasing salmonid rearing potential during the cool season. The goal of this technical assistance grant is to streamline the later implementation phase of the project by completing all preparations needed to carry out the chosen restoration alternative. The deliverables that will be provided by this grant include a complete engineering design, project permits, bid documents, signed restoration agreements, and a cultural resource assessment. Furthermore, a critical aspect for preparing for restoration at this site includes fully understanding the neighboring Teledyne Wah-Chang superfund, and how it may be affected by the proposed restoration. No concern has arisen during early discussion, however, the project team will continue consulting with ODEQ and EPA staff to determine if any risk exists and, ideally, to gain project approval. The ultimate outcome of this final TA will be a high-quality, shovel-ready habitat restoration project ready to pitch to future funders.

Partners include Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, River Design Group, International Paper Inc, ATI - Millersburg, City of Albany, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Calapooia Watershed Council.

PCSRF FFY 2021 funds, OWEB state funds and Other sources of funds and in-kind contributions will be used to complete the project. No funds are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

Key limiting factor for DPS/ESU salmonids in the Willamette River is off channel habitat. Despite the numerous challenges facing Willamette River fish communities, there remain opportunities for preserving and enhancing river and off-channel habitats at several sites in the basin. Large wood, intact floodplain vegetation and connected off-channel areas provide the beneficial conditions conducive to recovering imperiled fish populations, and provide benefits to a myriad of other riparian-dependent species. Removal of barriers to the floodplain and increasing the hydraulic connectivity with the mainstem of the Willamette will provide enhanced off channel habitat for salmonids, addressing one of their primary limiting factors. Winter steelhead and spring Chinook salmon move through this reach during spawning migrations. Large wood and low velocity off-channel and channel margin habitats provide cover and resting areas for migratory fish. Out-migrating juvenile steelhead and salmon also benefit from these habitat features on the downstream migration to the Willamette River and ultimately the Pacific Ocean (Colvin et al. 2005).



Addressing the three underperforming stream crossings that are currently fish barriers will allow for approximately 3.8 miles of additional stream/floodplain habitat during high flows for Upper Willamette River salmonid species. The removal and grading of relict floodplain berms will significantly increase the connectivity between the Willamette and 92.5 acres of floodplain and riparian habitat.