CENTRE CREEK RESTORATION A SUCCESS
MVIHES has completed 10 years of stream habitat restoration projects on Centre Creek, a tributary of the Englishman River Watershed. The goal was to restore habitat for coho salmon and other salmonids lost to stream bank erosion and sedimentation of the creek bottom. At the request of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, we re-visited all of the restoration sites.
The strategy included collecting large tree stumps and fallen logs, then securing them in place on the stream bank with cables. These structures, called Large Woody Debris (LWD), are a natural way to protect the bank from erosion, plus narrow the stream channel to create deep shaded pools. Pools are places where fish like to hide, or hang out to stay cool on hot summer days.
Rock was also added to the stream banks and creek bottom to protect against erosion and create riffles/spawning habitat.
On January 20, 2016 Dave Clough, the biologists who developed the restoration project, along with several MVIHES volunteers, conducted an assessment of the past decade of work. We were very pleased to learn that the rock and LWD structures are still in good condition. PLUS, the objectives of preventing steam bank erosion, and creating riffles and deep pools for fish habitat have been achieved. A very good outcome indeed!
