Metolius River Large Wood Restoration Project
Large logs and woody debris are an important habitat feature for bull trout, chinook salmon, redband trout and other salmonids. Large wood can reduce streambank erosion, store gravel and create pools that are important for fish habitat. These functions enhance fish and invertebrate populations. Large wood is used as cover for all stages of trout and salmon and creates protected areas for fish to resists large floods.
The Metolius Watershed Analysis identified that the upper Metolius River was one of the few river segments that did not meet the objectives of in- stream wood and fish habitat likely from past wood removal and logging along the river. The recommendations called for restoration of large wood to restore habitat for fish (USDA Forest Service 1996 and 2004).
Phase 1: Accomplishments & Fish Response
The original project that began in 2008 restored large wood to the river that was lost from removal of dead trees along the river or by removal of boating hazards. Over the years, logs were removed and fish habitat was reduced. The 2008-2009 Metolius Wood Project added nearly 1,000 trees to the river using ground-based equipment and a helicopter.
Monitoring wood placement showed that chinook densities increased in project sites by a factor of 300% and nearly all the added logs have remained in place. This monitoring was based on comparisons of control sites which did not receive added wood.
Phase 2: Completed in Spring 2022
The second phase of the Metolius River Lage Wood Restoration Project added approximately 81 whole trees at 20 sites along the Upper Metolius River using ground-based equipment during the summer of 2021 and spring of 2022. Four of these sites are located on Deschutes Land Trust property and the other sites on Forest Service lands. These sites were skipped during the previous Metolius Wood Restoration Project as they were used as controls for the fish monitoring study. Additional sites may be added in time. The same design measures were used as in phase one of the project, including no placing of full-channel spanning logs to provide for boater safety.