Early Winters Creek Side Channel Habitat Improvements

We are pursuing local opportunities to protect critical habitat from insensitive subdivision and development by providing landowners with alternatives and incentives for conservation through creative use of market dynamics.

Description: This project is located in the Early Winters Creek drainage, a tributary stream to the Methow River, and targets spring chinook salmon (endangered), summer steelhead (endangered) and bull trout (threatened). Key to the success of the project was the collaboration between MSRF, property owners, US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries.

Objectives included re-grading to form stable banks utilizing materials from the dike removal as needed. The side channel was reconnected by creating step pool morphology for improved fish refugia habitat. Restoring channel complexity and alluvial fan function will increase and improve the condition of existing spawning and rearing habitat.

The project hydraulically re-connected the channel, wetlands, and floodplain back to the mainstem, allowing fish reliable access to valuable habitat for rearing and other sensitive life stages.

 

Projects such as these are viewed as crucial to overall salmon recovery and this project specifically is considered permanent given that the site is protected due to public ownership of adjacent properties and development restrictions on nearby lands.

The project lies adjacent to the Methow Community Trail and includes interpretive signage to inform the public of the efforts of this and other recovery projects in the Methow Basin.

Funding Status: Funding approved through Salmon Recovery Funding Board.