The purpose of this project was to provide a supervised crew of offenders to prepare, implement, maintain, and monitor riparian restoration projects in the lower Stillaguamish River subbasins. There are 31 restoration sites within these drainages that are underway or planned (see attached map). This project helps restore 33,960 linear feet of riparian and 17 acres of wetland habitat within these sites, which all have landowner consent.
The riparian condition of the entire watershed has been inventoried using a combination of aerial photography and field verification (Pollock, 1999). Habitat biologists within the Stilly have prioritized the sites and will oversee all the projects.
Riparian areas throughout the Stillaguamish watershed provide critical habitat for all species of anadromous salmon, steelhead, and bulltrout. The Stillaguamish basin has several reaches that are listed on the State 303(d) list of temperature and dissolved oxygen.
The crew was trained in growing native plant materials and restoration techniques. Control of invasive weeds, prior to planting and during the critical two years after planting, was also important to survival of native plants. The crew in cooperation with biologists monitored the planting sites for survival and growth for three years after planting. Along with riparian planting and maintenance the crew was available for fencing livestock out of streams and working on minor road enhancement work.
