Nooksack/NSEA/KC1-2 Kendall Creek Riparian and Wetland Restoration - Patterson Property JITW01-NS-NSEA-KC1-2/WWO01-055 Kendall Creek flows into the North Fork of the Nooksack River. The confluence is the site of the WDFW Kendall Creek salmon hatchery. This 20 acre property approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the hatchery was historically used for pasture. The existing salmon habitat is a complex of stream channel and beaver ponds. The ponds are spring fed and provide clean, cool water year round and excellent rearing habitat. There are also stretches of channel suitable for spawning at this site and on adjoining properties. The vegetation adjacent to the channel and ponds is largely reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry. The owner has been working with moderate success to establish native vegetation. NSEA has been working on a 60 x 40 riparian restoration project under the JITW 2000 program. A 15 year landowner agreement was signed for this project in 2000. The landowners have agreed to expand the project site to 100 x 500. In addition, at several locations adjacent to one of the larger ponds, patches of Himalayan blackberry will be removed and replanted with native vegetation. The landowners are participating in the restoration process and NSEA is coordinating three classes from the neighboring Kendall Elementary School in the project also. NSEA has an ongoing riparian restoration project with a adjacent downstream landowner involving approximately 1,000ft. of stream channel and is submitting an additional JITW 2001 project for an adjoining property (KC-3). Between the three projects the creek flows through a well-vegetated corridor of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs. Project activities will include the following: Removal of reed canary grass and blackberry from selected planting areas using manual and mechanized methods. Revegetate the riparian corridor with mixed indigenous conifers, and deciduous tree and shrub species. Trees will be planted on approximately 8 ft. centers. Shrubs will be clumped (approximately 3 plants per clump) with approximately 5 feet between clumps. Willow cuttings will be planted along the lower bank in clusters of 3-4 cuttings approximately every 4 feet. Wrap trees for protection against vole and mice predation. Tree species prone to beaver predation will be caged using field fencing. Ground cloth and mulch will be used to reduce competition from exotic invasive species. Larger trees may be staked and strapped for initial support. The site will be maintained and monitored for a minimum of three years. The site will be monitored by NSEA using vegetation monitoring procedures developed in consultation with the Nooksack Recovery Team and the UW Center for Streamside Studies. Effectiveness of the plant protection devices will be noted and tracked, as well as the survival of plants by species, site location area, planting time, and plant health. Watershed benefits include improvement of existing stream and wetland habitat by re-establishing riparian cover and creating a source of LWD recruitment. Coho and chum salmon cutthroat trout, birds, amphibians, and various mammals, bald eagles, great blue herons, wood ducks, flying squirrles, and beavers have been sighted. All riparian dependent flora and fauna will benefit from these activities. Accomplishment calculations are the following: Riparian area = 500 feet long by 100 feet wide 500 x 100 = 50000/43560 = 1.15 acres United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Grant Number 134100009
