restoring the salmon river estuary: introduction
In the early 1960s most tidal wetlands in the Salmon River estuary were diked for agricultural use. The 1974 congressional act establishing the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area recognized the unique scenic and ecological value of the Salmon River estuary and surrounding area, and the 1976 Final Environmental Impact Statement established a long term goal of “restoring the Salmon River estuary and its associated wetlands to a natural estuarine system …”
The first estuary restoration efforts began in 1976 with the partial removal of dikes surrounding 52 acres of marsh. Additional dike removal/marsh restoration efforts occurred in 1987 and 1996. In 2006, the US Forest Service sponsored the development of a comprehensive restoration plan for the Salmon River estuary widespread community and agency support, including the SDCWC. This plan identified watershed-wide projects like eliminating invasive plant species and high priority site specific restoration plans. The 2006 Salmon River Estuary Restoration Plan included the 2007-2020 projects listed below. To date, over 608 acres of tidal wetlands have been restored, and the 2006 plan continues to provide guidance on future restoration efforts.
More information on the history of Salmon River Estuary Restoration efforts and on the research indicating the positive impact of estuary restoration on local salmon populations and life cycle:
US Forest Service Overview of the Salmon River Estuary Restoration
Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife: Oregon Conservation Strategy (Salmon River)
ODFW comprehensive data on Salmon River fisheries research
"Restoring the River Salmon" series by Dan Bottom, Sitka Center ecology resident
The first estuary restoration efforts began in 1976 with the partial removal of dikes surrounding 52 acres of marsh. Additional dike removal/marsh restoration efforts occurred in 1987 and 1996. In 2006, the US Forest Service sponsored the development of a comprehensive restoration plan for the Salmon River estuary widespread community and agency support, including the SDCWC. This plan identified watershed-wide projects like eliminating invasive plant species and high priority site specific restoration plans. The 2006 Salmon River Estuary Restoration Plan included the 2007-2020 projects listed below. To date, over 608 acres of tidal wetlands have been restored, and the 2006 plan continues to provide guidance on future restoration efforts.
More information on the history of Salmon River Estuary Restoration efforts and on the research indicating the positive impact of estuary restoration on local salmon populations and life cycle:
US Forest Service Overview of the Salmon River Estuary Restoration
Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife: Oregon Conservation Strategy (Salmon River)
ODFW comprehensive data on Salmon River fisheries research
"Restoring the River Salmon" series by Dan Bottom, Sitka Center ecology resident
pixieland
{2007-present}
Pixieland is the site of a former amusement park located in the Salmon River estuary east of the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 18. The site is now under the ownership of Siuslaw National Forest. Phase I restoration efforts removed all of the remaining infrastructure and graded the site to historic marsh elevations. Phase II restoration efforts included regrading of the marsh surface, reestablishment of stream channels, removal of invasive plants and planting of native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Fraser Creek, east of Highway 101, was reconnected with its historical channel west of the highway with the installment of a bridge. Our partners for this project include the Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Community Services Consortium and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Pixieland is the site of a former amusement park located in the Salmon River estuary east of the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 18. The site is now under the ownership of Siuslaw National Forest. Phase I restoration efforts removed all of the remaining infrastructure and graded the site to historic marsh elevations. Phase II restoration efforts included regrading of the marsh surface, reestablishment of stream channels, removal of invasive plants and planting of native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Fraser Creek, east of Highway 101, was reconnected with its historical channel west of the highway with the installment of a bridge. Our partners for this project include the Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Community Services Consortium and Oregon Department of Transportation.
tamara quays
(2007-2009)
Tamara Quays is the site of a former trailer park located in the Salmon River estuary, west of the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 18. The Siuslaw National Forest purchased the site and worked with SDCWC, from 2007 through 2009, to restore Tamara Quays to a more natural state.
Restoration efforts included removal of all trailer park infrastructure, decommissioning of a large septic tank and other utility vaults, replacement of two undersized culverts on Rowdy Creek, eradication of invasive plants, native plant establishment, dam and dike removal, and filling of artificial ditches. In the summer of 2009, the partners completed the dike removal to restore salt water and estuarine influence. Large wood has been placed where a former meander was cut off to form Kingfisher Lake, helping Rowdy Creek to return to its natural sinuous state as it transitions to the estuary. Invasive plants must continue to be managed to ensure that re-vegetation with native plants is successful.
Work at Tamara Quays has been supported by many partners, including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, US Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Tamara Quays is the site of a former trailer park located in the Salmon River estuary, west of the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 18. The Siuslaw National Forest purchased the site and worked with SDCWC, from 2007 through 2009, to restore Tamara Quays to a more natural state.
Restoration efforts included removal of all trailer park infrastructure, decommissioning of a large septic tank and other utility vaults, replacement of two undersized culverts on Rowdy Creek, eradication of invasive plants, native plant establishment, dam and dike removal, and filling of artificial ditches. In the summer of 2009, the partners completed the dike removal to restore salt water and estuarine influence. Large wood has been placed where a former meander was cut off to form Kingfisher Lake, helping Rowdy Creek to return to its natural sinuous state as it transitions to the estuary. Invasive plants must continue to be managed to ensure that re-vegetation with native plants is successful.
Work at Tamara Quays has been supported by many partners, including the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, US Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Fish Passage Barrier Assessment
{2011}
Road-stream crossings often create barriers to the passage of fish and other organisms, eliminate access to large areas of habitat, and have a major detrimental effect on aquatic organism populations - particularly salmonids. Undersized culverts are prime examples of such barriers. Water tends to flow through insufficiently sized culverts at a high velocity - often too high for safe fish passage. High velocity flow can also erode the streambed at the bottom end of a culvert, causing a drop in elevation that fish may not be able to clear when traveling upstream.
Through generous funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, SDCWC completed a Fish Barrier Assessment and produced a prioritized list of fish passage barriers to guide future restoration in the Salmon River watershed. A detailed report is available by request.
Road-stream crossings often create barriers to the passage of fish and other organisms, eliminate access to large areas of habitat, and have a major detrimental effect on aquatic organism populations - particularly salmonids. Undersized culverts are prime examples of such barriers. Water tends to flow through insufficiently sized culverts at a high velocity - often too high for safe fish passage. High velocity flow can also erode the streambed at the bottom end of a culvert, causing a drop in elevation that fish may not be able to clear when traveling upstream.
Through generous funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, SDCWC completed a Fish Barrier Assessment and produced a prioritized list of fish passage barriers to guide future restoration in the Salmon River watershed. A detailed report is available by request.
crowley creek
{2007}
SDCWC participated with the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in a project to plant over 400 native trees and shrubs in the riparian area of Crowley Creek. The plantings have been maintained by Career Tech High Natural Resources Crew, volunteers, and SDCWC's fisher crew.
{2011-2012}
In 2011, SDCWC and the US Forest Service engaged in a cooperative effort to finalize plans to restore watershed function and habitat in the lower Crowley Creek drainage and associated portion of the Salmon River estuary. In 2012, project partners completed the Crowley Creek restoration plan. The goal is to permanently protect the estuarine system from ocean to head of tide, restore ecological function and intertidal wetland habitat for shorebirds and other estuarine-dependent birds, and enhance estuarine rearing habitat for Chinook, coho and chum salmon.
Project components included the removal of dikes and fills that restrict the movement of tidal flows into Crowley Creek and associated wetlands, filling of a drainage ditch that accelerates removal of groundwater from the salt marsh, replacement of an undersized culvert, eradication of invasive plant species from wetland and riparian areas, and planting of native riparian vegetation.
SDCWC participated with the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in a project to plant over 400 native trees and shrubs in the riparian area of Crowley Creek. The plantings have been maintained by Career Tech High Natural Resources Crew, volunteers, and SDCWC's fisher crew.
{2011-2012}
In 2011, SDCWC and the US Forest Service engaged in a cooperative effort to finalize plans to restore watershed function and habitat in the lower Crowley Creek drainage and associated portion of the Salmon River estuary. In 2012, project partners completed the Crowley Creek restoration plan. The goal is to permanently protect the estuarine system from ocean to head of tide, restore ecological function and intertidal wetland habitat for shorebirds and other estuarine-dependent birds, and enhance estuarine rearing habitat for Chinook, coho and chum salmon.
Project components included the removal of dikes and fills that restrict the movement of tidal flows into Crowley Creek and associated wetlands, filling of a drainage ditch that accelerates removal of groundwater from the salt marsh, replacement of an undersized culvert, eradication of invasive plant species from wetland and riparian areas, and planting of native riparian vegetation.
