The Stillaguamish Tribe partnered with the US Forest Service to strategically place large woody debris (LWD) in and along a 1.5 mile reach of Higgins Creek, a tributary to Deer Creek in the North Fork Stillaguamish. The project utilized 343 pieces of wood in 28 sites to reinforce and resemble natural accumulations of debris. Both the stream channel and riparian area adjacent to this reach lack large diameter trees for LWD recruitment due to past timber harvest and channel clean-out. Logs were placed by helicopter in or along the channel to enhance wood recruitment and point bar formation.
This project focused on high summer water temperatures and loss of pools for holding and rearing of bull trout/Dolly Varden and on high summer water temperatures and degradation of spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead. Through assessments of the Higgins Creek sub-basin, 4.6 miles of anadromous habitat have been identified as refugia, where habitat recovery can be accomplished within a fairly short time period (Stilly Watershed Reach Assessment-SIRC, Collins et al 1995).
The net effect of this project will be reduced stream temperature and improved fish habitat. Bull trout, steelhead and coho utilize Higgins Creek, while Chinook, pink, chum, and sea-run cutthroat trout utilize lower Deer Creek.
