Upper Quinault River - Engineered Large Wood Place

Today, I visited a site further upstream from the previous days erosion area to in the Alder Creek side channel reach of the upper Quinault. A few years ago the Quinault Indian Nation constructed a series of Engineered Lojgams (ELJs) that were designed by Tim Abbe, PhD, PG.

The ELJs were constructed to protect a high value side channel from being captured by the main channel and improve habitat conditions for endangered salmonids through the creation of pools and additional side channel areas. Following their construction the ELJs have survived a few very high flows and are working as intended and are even racking additional large natural wood.

After observing conditions the previous day, it was great to see a project completed correctly and the intended purpose engineered placement of large wood being achieved.