Deschutes Tributary Restoration Design

Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) developed preliminary designs to protect and restore a unique Deschutes River (Thurston County, WA) spring fed wetland and stream complex. The 4,100-foot-long spring-fed stream, wetland, and beaver pond complex joins the mainstem Deschutes river on the Meyer farm property. Off-channel cold water refugia is identified as a limiting factor for coho in the Deschutes watershed. Working closely with the Meyer family and Thurston Conservation District, WFC developed plans to protect and restore this important small tributary to improve salmon  access to complex and cool off-channel habitats. When constructed, this project will increase the quality and quantity of salmon spawning and rearing habitat in a Deschutes River reach where such habitat is limited. Spring-fed off-channel habitat is essential to wild fish recovery because it provides stable habitat during the summer low flow period and during winter storm events.

WFC performed a fish species composition and distribution survey of within the project reach on the Meyer farm, documenting juvenile coho salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, sculpin, and dace. WFC also collected hourly water temperature data at five locations within the project reach to identify cold water sources and areas with elevated water temperatures. To document the channel-adjacent topography and extent of flooding, WFC collected and digitized aerial photographs during a winter storm event. Using these data along with high resolution elevation data (LiDAR), WFC staff and partners assessed a comprehensive range of protection and restoration alternatives, worked with the landowner to identify preferred actions that maximize benefit to salmon habitat, and developed preliminary designs and a design report for the selected suite of actions.

The team worked collaboratively with the Meyer family to refine a suite of restoration and protection actions that achieve the project’s ecological objectives without compromising, and in some cases improving, the Meyer family’s farming operations. Prioritized restoration actions include removing three failing derelict culverts, livestock exclusion fencing to protect the stream and associated wetlands, instream large woody debris placement, and riparian restoration. Final designs and permitting tasks are underway, with construction occurring as soon as summer 2023.