Snyder Creek, a majority tributary of the Klickitat River, is located 15 miles north of Lyle, along Highway 142, within the city limits of Klickitat, Wa. Yakima Indian Nation fish biologists call Snyder Creek a top priority for restoration due to four miles of high quality habitat existing above the abandoned Champion Pacific International mill. Canopy closure is an average of 93%, the best of any lower Klickitat River basin tributary. The WRIA 30 Limiting Habitat Factors Analysis deemed restoration of lower Snyder Creek a key limiting habitat factor regarding access. The project will remove 1/4 mile of the Snyder Creek concrete sluiceway and create a natural channel and riparian zone. Habitat structures, plantings, streambed gravel, and a rock toe will be incorporated in this reach. Plantings in the 50 riparian zone (both sides) will consist of brush bundles, cottonwoods, and ponderosa pines; all stock will be collected from local donor sites. The creek will then be accessible and useable by threatened Mid-Columbia steelhead and coho, a depressed stock. Project cooperators include WDFW (completed project-design and engineering), NRCS and Americorps (conducted stream surveys), YIN/BPA (coordinating/funding restoration efforts above the checkdam). If funded, Phase II will begin in summer, 2000, and will carry through to summer 2001 to allow ample time for vegetation planting and establishment.
