The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sponsored four river restoration projects as part of the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan. These projects are taking place on the Skookumchuck, Wynoochee, and Satsop rivers, and on Stillman Creek, a tributary to the South Fork Chehalis River. Funding was provided by the Washington State Legislature through the Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin.
Habitat restoration features
The key to a healthy, thriving region starts with our lands and waters. The Satsop and Wynoochee River Restoration Projects are part of the new science-based Aquatic Species Restoration Plan. The plan was designed to rebuild and protect a productive ecosystem that is resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Streamside plantings: Native trees and shrubs provide shade, insects, nutrients, and wood for the river system. Invasive species will also be removed such as blackberry and knotweed.
- Engineered log jams: Large woody debris (PDF) helps stabilize stream banks and keeps our rivers healthy, improving the survival of salmon and other native fish and wildlife.
- Reconnecting floodplain and off-channel habitats: Allowing the flows of the river to connect with side channels and wetlands helps to keep cool water in the rivers when fish need it most, enhance salmon spawning grounds up and down the river, and support overall ecosystem resiliency.
Contact
For questions, please contact ChehalisHabitatRestoration@dfw.wa.gov.