Chehalis Basin restoration projects underway this summer

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The Oregon spotted frog is a federally endangered species living in the Chehalis Basin. Photo by Alan Bauer.

Projects are underway this summer throughout Western Washington’s Chehalis Basin to restore habitat for fish and other aquatic species and help protect communities and landscapes from flood damage.

The Chehalis Basin is comprised of nearly 3,400 miles of streams and rivers that provide critical habitat to fish and amphibians, including salmon and the federally endangered Oregon spotted frog.

To help address declining salmon and steelhead runs, representatives from Quinault Indian Nation, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), along with other technical experts, drafted the Aquatic Species Restoration Plan (ASRP). The team worked with community members, the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of Chehalis Basin, state agencies, and local governments to shape the plan and develop an implementation strategy.

The Aquatic Species Restoration Plan is designed to help protect a variety of species, including chum salmon. Photo by WDFW.

Five key projects are starting or continuing this summer under the ASRP, a main component of the Chehalis Basin Strategy. The Office of Chehalis Basin, WDFW, local conservation districts, and Wild Fish Conservancy are hosting a webinar from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, to discuss these projects and answer questions.

Learn more below about the ASRP projects that are funded through the Chehalis Basin Strategy and register for the webinar through Zoom.

Beaver dam analogs

Where: Multiple locations in Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Mason counties

Project sponsor: Wild Fish Conservancy

Cost: $286,000

What’s happening: 45 beaver dam analogs — human-created structures designed to mimic natural beaver dams — installed on eight streams across the lower Chehalis Basin; 2.5 miles of stream restoration; 1 acre of riparian planting.

Benefits: Increasing aquatic habitat diversity, reconnecting streams and floodplains, storing sediment and water, and providing cool water refuges for native fish and wildlife. Beaver dams help create ponds and wetlands, which provide important rearing habitat for salmonids and other aquatic species.

Timeline: Construction began in summer 2022 and is wrapping up summer 2024. Project effectiveness — including stream temperature, fish use, and fish passage — will be monitored through 2026.

Riverbend Ranch

Where: Thurston County

Project sponsor: Thurston Conservation District

Cost: $7.67 million

What’s happening: 2.5 miles of river restoration; 1 mile of stream made accessible by correcting a fish passage barrier; 135 acres of riparian planting and invasive species control; 76 large wood structures installed; 50 pools created for fish habitat.

Benefits: Reconnecting the floodplain, restoring natural river processes, lowering stream temperatures, and diversifying habitat. The work done for this project will slow the river, reducing erosion and providing safe spaces for fish and other aquatic species during floods. This project will particularly benefit spring Chinook salmon.

Timeline: Construction summer 2024; riparian planting winter 2024–25. Fish passage improvements were completed in summer 2023.

Large wood structures offer many benefits when used in restoration projects. Graphic by Inter-Fluve.

Satsop River

Where: Grays Harbor County

Project sponsor: Grays Harbor Conservation District

Cost: $7.85 million

What’s happening: 4.5 miles of river restoration; 614 acres of riparian enhancement, including invasive species control; 248 acres of riparian plantings; 33 acres of riparian buffer creation; 80 engineered log jams installed.

Benefits: Reconnecting and restoring the floodplain; reducing channel migration to allow riparian forests to mature; increasing channel stability along rapidly eroding banks; diversifying habitat; reducing water temperature; capturing sediment.

Timeline: The project is occurring in two phases. Construction began in summer 2023 and will wrap up in summer 2025. Riparian revegetation, enhancement, and monitoring began in winter 2022 and will continue through winter 2028.

An aerial view of the Satsop River. Photo by WDFW.

Sediment wedge restoration

Where: Grays Harbor County

Project sponsor: WDFW

Cost: $1.49 million (state Recreation and Conservation Office grant)

What’s happening: Sediment wedge restoration on Delezene Creek, a tributary of the lower Chehalis River, and Schafer Creek, a tributary of the Wynoochee River.

Benefits: Creating or enhancing cool water refuges for native fish and wildlife.

Timeline: Construction at Schafer site summer 2024 and Delezene site early fall 2025.

Delezene Creek, a tributary of the lower Chehalis River, is one of two sites identified for sediment wedge restoration. Photo by WDFW.

South Fork Newaukum River

Where: Lewis County

Project sponsor: Lewis Conservation District

Cost: $305,000 (Erosion Management Program), $160,829 (ASRP)

What’s happening: 5 acres of riparian habitat enhancement, including removal of invasive plants and supplemental planting; 3 acres of new riparian planting; two engineered log jams installed.

Benefits: Restoring the floodplain and reducing erosion.

Timeline: Construction summer 2024; planting fall 2024-spring 2025; riparian maintenance through fall 2028.

The Chehalis Basin Strategy is administered by the Office of Chehalis Basin. The independent Chehalis Basin Board is a group of community leaders with diverse interests and perspectives who work together to lead the Chehalis Basin Strategy. More information is available at chehalisbasinstrategy.com.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.

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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating the state’s fish and wildlife resources.