Oxbow Creek

Project Overview

Our habitat assessment showed 2 sets of culverts blocking access to over 4.3 miles of spawning and rearing habitat. Salmon, particularly chum salmon, do not like to swim through culverts.

We also determined that about 1 mile of this important habitat was badly damaged.

Implementation and Construction

We replaced the 2 sets of blocking culverts with 2 bridges, and restored about 1 mile of the stream with large woody debris (LWD).

Post-Construction

• Salmon Enhancement – In 2002 our volunteers started remote site incubators planted with chum and coho salmon eggs upstream of the blockage so that when the fish returned 4 years later, habitat would be available for spawning. Fall monitoring reports from our volunteers and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, showed adult salmon (chum and coho) now spawning throughout the 4.3 miles of stream above the new bridges.
• Nutrient Enhancement – In 2002, our volunteers started planting salmon carcasses upstream of the blocking culverts to increase the nutrient levels in the stream. These nutrients support salmon fry and smolt (baby salmon), which rear in the stream for about 18 months.
• Monitoring – Annual reports during 3 years of monitoring showed that all project objectives were accomplished.

Upstream culverts on Oxbow Creek
Upstream replacement bridge

Downstream culverts at DNR crossing
Downstream replacement bridge

Project Expenditures