South Fork Nooksack Cavanaugh Island Reach

Got to spend the day up in the upper South Fork Nooksack with the Lummi Nation and contractors preparing to bid on a restoration project to be constructed this summer. The intent of the project is to restore habitat conditions for spring chinook salmon in the project reach through the construction of 6 large engineered logjams and 9 habitat log placements within an existing side channel (pictured). This will be accomplished by

(1) Increasing flow within the existing left floodplain side channel
(2) Increasing the frequency of pools within the project reach
(3) Providing cover and thermal refugia for salmonid species, and
(4) Increasing the stability of the existing island

For an added twist, the tribe is planning on using a heavy haul helicopter to stage large wood pieces within the project reach. Just as an FYI - you'll probably be seeing a lot of pictures from this project in the coming months...