Improving Bull Trout Habitat within Lewis River Watershed at Rush Creek
Rush Creek, located within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, is an important tributary within the Lewis River watershed and provides key habitat for bull trout and is one of the few places bull trout occupy on the Forest.
The Rush Creek Restoration Project in the Lewis River watershed is a multi-year effort to restore a critical ecosystem that has been impacted by human activities. The project goals are to enhance water quality, improve habitat conditions, and support fish populations in Rush Creek.
In the 1970s, road construction and logging activities disrupted several side channels within the Rush Creek alluvial fan, significantly reducing the complexity and connectivity of crucial fish habitat in the broader Lewis River watershed. Fast forward to 2022, where fisheries biologists from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest embarked on the Rush Creek Side Channel Reactivation Project. This project aimed to restore the natural hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology of the area, with the ultimate goal of revitalizing essential cold-water fish habitat by reconnecting two dormant side channels within a core spawning and rearing section of Rush Creek.
In the first phase of the project in 2022, we successfully restored 3,145 feet of channel habitat. This effort was instrumental in expanding juvenile bull trout rearing spaces and enhancing adult spawning habitat within Rush Creek. To achieve this, a contractor skillfully utilized an excavator to remove an outdated log landing, a culvert, and a substantial berm, effectively restoring the connectivity of the northern side channel of the creek.
Phase two, the culmination of the project, was completed during the summer of 2023. This phase focused on reactivating the southern and western portions of the alluvial fan by strategically placing boulders and rocky materials to redirect the flow into these previously obstructed channels. To further enhance habitat complexity, full-length trees were carefully positioned in both channels by an excavator. This monumental undertaking opened up an impressive 1.5 miles of fresh spawning and rearing habitat.
Overall, the Rush Creek restoration project is expected to provide both short-term and long-term benefits to fish by improving their water quality, habitat, food availability, and overall health, ultimately leading to a more sustainable fish population. These benefits not only improve life for fish but also have a positive impact on the surrounding ecosystem and the people and animals that depend on it.
- Increased access to spawning habitat: The restoration efforts aim to improve fish passage by removing barriers, that prevent fish from accessing their spawning habitat. This increased access to spawning habitat can lead to a higher number of fish spawning and ultimately result in more fish.
- Improved water quality: The project includes measures to reduce sedimentation and nutrient runoff into the creek by stabilizing stream banks, planting riparian vegetation, and creating stream access to its floodplain. These improvements can lead to a reduction in erosion and sedimentation which can then lead to healthier aquatic habitats and better water quality, which can directly benefit fish.
- Improved water quantity by increasing base flow: Stream restoration projects can increase the amount of water in streams during dry periods, which is known as base flow. This can be accomplished by restoring groundwater recharge areas and reducing surface water withdrawals. This helps to maintain adequate stream flow for fish and other aquatic species and improves water quality.
- Increased availability of food: The restoration project aims to improve the habitat conditions by restoring riparian vegetation and in-stream habitats. This can lead to an increase in the availability of food sources for fish, which can help support their growth and survival.
- Reduced stress: The restoration efforts can also reduce the stressors on fish, such as changes in water temperature and flow rate, which can negatively impact their health and survival. By creating more stable conditions, fish may experience less stress and have a better chance of survival.
- Increased fish populations: Over time, the improved habitat conditions and increased access to spawning habitat can lead to higher numbers of fish in Rush Creek.
- More resilient fish populations: The restoration project may create more resilient fish populations that are better able to adapt to changes in their environment, such as climate change or changes in land use.
- Improved ecosystem function: The restoration project may improve the overall health and function of the ecosystem, which can benefit not only fish but also other species and the surrounding environment. For example, a healthier riparian zone can provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and improved water quality can benefit aquatic insects and other organisms.
These dedicated conservation efforts are not only helping to mend past disruptions but are ushering in a brighter future for Rush Creek and the diverse aquatic life it sustains.
Visual of the re-activated sidechannel below. Blue is currently where water can flow and red is where water can go post Rush Creek restoration project:
