This project will install LWD, establish a 200 wide riparian buffer on both sides of Taneum Creek, and create off-channel habitat. The lower portion of this creek, a spawning and rearing area for threatened Steelhead, Spring Chinook, Coho, and presumably Bull Trout, has been intensively grazed since the 1880s. The reach suffers from a lack of riparian vegetation and disrupted natural floodplain processes creating eroding vertical banks, virtually no LWD, and little to no habitat complexity. Because of recent fish passage/screening and some instream flow acquisition in the reach, the time is right to implement a short term LWD strategy until full riparian function has been restored, limit streambank erosion in some areas, and restore natural riparian function and floodplain processes. It is also important at this time to create a positive example of landowner-initiated, voluntary habitat improvement in the Kittitas Valley. This project brings together a private landowner, Kittitas County Field and Stream Club, and the technical agencies to create a win-win solution. The project leverages outside funding from CREP to pay for much of the riparian installation and maintenance. The project further reduces cost by utilizing CWU students to complete yearly project effectiveness monitoring. The project provides both short and long term habitat benefits, builds cooperation in the watershed with private landowners, leverages outside funding, and has a sound project effectiveness monitoring program.
