What's Happening at MSRF?
2012 M2 Construction Areas
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Construction Ahead:
Middle Methow (M2)
Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, constructed two habitat projects along the Methow River in the summer and fall of 2012.
Why these projects?
Spring Chinook salmon and steelhead native to the Methow watershed are listed under the Endangered Species Act. These ocean-going fish spend their first year in our local rivers and streams. The quality of the available habitat determines how well the fish grow, gain strength, and become more fit for their journey to the Pacific.
The M2 projects will create better habitat for these young fish to use while they grow bigger and stronger during this critical first year. The goal is that more juvenile salmon and steelhead will survive the first year and be larger and stronger for the long journey to the ocean. In other words, better juvenile habitat should increase the numbers of surviving fish that will later return as adults to spawn in the streams where they were born.
Construction:
Where and When?
Whitefish Island (off Witte Road): construction began in August 2012 and lasted through early November. Work took place in the side channel, on the island, and in the floodplain on the west side of the river.
WDFW Floodplain (off Old Twisp Highway and Evans/Lewisia Road): Phase I construction was completed in September 2012 and took place on the east bank of the river below the MVID East fish screen area and in the main channel in the area of the old diversion dam. Materials staging for both projects was located on the other side of the river in a WDFW-owned field off Old Twisp Highway.
Phase Il construction is planned at the WDFW Floodplain project area in 2013.
2012 Whitefish Island Project Area
2012 WDFW Floodplain Project Area
Project Contact:
Please contact Michael Notaro at 509-429-2939 with any questions regarding either project.