Methow Basin Instream Habitat Restoration Study

Overview

The Bureau of Reclamation is working to restore habitat for threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead in the Methow River watershed. A three-year effort to identify and prioritize instream habitat restoration projects began in 2005.

The primary purpose of the study is to identify which sections of the rivers and streams could provide the most benefit to endangered or threatened fish if they were restored.

Researchers involved in the study will carry identification and will attempt to contact the owner before crossing privately owned land, roads, or trails. Support from landowners is critical to this data collection effort.

Visit http://www.salmonrecovery.gov/ for more information on short-term protection actions and long-term recovery strategies. For more information about ESA-related activities in the Pacific Northwest visit http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/esa/.

Location of Study

Most of the research will be concentrated on the Twisp, Chewuch, and Middle and Upper Methow rivers—from about one mile below Carlton, upstream to the national forest boundaries on each of the three rivers.

Contact Michael Notaro at (509) 429-2939 for details on the location of the survey crews.

Schedule

Year One: 2005
Map the river bottom and the basin’s geological features.
Identify the sizes and types of rocks and sediments.
Compile and analyze the field data.

Year Two: 2006
Conduct multidiscipline analysis to determine how well the river is currently functioning with existing natural and artificial influences, including forest fires, bridges, and levees.
Identify potential sites for enhancement, protection, or restoration activities.

Year Three: 2007
Write final report, based on data review and technical analysis, to prioritize potential project sites and their benefits to fish.

Contact

Michael Notaro, Methow Basin Outreach Coordinator
m_77b@mymethow.com
(509) 429-2939

Last Update: March 3, 2008 10:39 AM