This project will restore 84 acres (2.5 miles of shoreline) of riparian habitat along Abernathy Creek with the assistance of Cowlitz County Corrections work crews. The project begins at the highly disturbed mouth of the creek (on WDFW property) and continues through conservation easements purchased by Cowlitz County, situated below Abernathy Tech Center (a USFWS fish research facility). Abernathy Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, provides critical spawning and rearing habitat for ESA-listed Chinook and chum (Threatened), and for coho (Candidate), steelhead and sea-run cutthroat. The creek has an excess of fine sediments, it lacks large woody debris (few conifers are present in the riparian zone, even in forested areas) and water temperatures exceed state standards. These conditions will be greatly improved by restoring riparian vegetation, fencing out livestock and restricting vehicle access to the mouth of the creek. The three-year project involves weed removal, fencing, planting native trees and shrubs (including conifers) in the first year. Maintenance and monitoring will be the focus of the second two years. Labor will be donated by Cowlitz County Corrections. Cowlitz Conservation District will supply technical expertise. Project partners include Cowlitz County (lead), Cowlitz Conservation District, Academy Surveying, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington Jail Industries Board.
