Firm | Services | Blog | Press | Contact

Klickitat Meadows Enhancement

Log structures helped maintain the meandering nature of Diamond Fork Creek.
Construction at Diamond Fork Creek.
Deposited gravel at an installed log structure.
Log structures helped maintain the meandering nature of Diamond Fork Creek.

Statistics

Client: Yakama Nation
Location: Yakima County
Dates: 2003
Services: Stream restoration design

Description

In the headwater region of the Klickitat Basin, Klickitat Meadows had been negatively impacted by past range grazing practices. The channel of Diamond Fork Creek had become unstable due mainly to overgrazing, and had begun avulsing, or cutting off, some of the wide bends along its meandering pathway, becoming shorter and straighter in the process. The Yakama Nation called in The Watershed Company to help protect and maintain the historically sinuous nature of the creek, improve fish spawning and rearing habitat, and protect the fragile meadow.

Working with tribal biologists and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Watershed Company biologists and geologists assessed the delicate ecosystem and designed restoration plans reflecting the distinct characteristics of different stretches of the creek. Wood and boulders from nearby slopes were requisitioned to provide naturally-functioning and -appearing bank stabilization/habitat features to attenuate avulsions, limit channel incision, provide cover, and form pools. Plans retained channel sections in the meadows that naturally lack boulders, wood, or both.