Habitat Conservation Plan

Nason Creek
Off-Channel Habitat Restoration

Project Sponsor:
Chelan County Natural Resources Department

Funding:
Rock Island Tributary Fund

Project Location:
The project site is located in lower-Nason Creek, at approximately River Mile 3.4, within an abandoned oxbow to the east of Highway 207.

Project Description/Purpose:
Within the Nason Creek watershed over 400 acres of side channels and oxbows have been cut off from the main channel by highways and the railroad. This disconnection of off-channel juvenile salmonid refuge and forage habitat is the primary habitat limiting factor within Nason Creek. er Nason Creek. Off-channel habitat reconnection is the most feasible tool for directly addressing the availability of rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook, steelhead and sockeye.

The project will involve two phases. The scope for this project is for implementing Phase 1, complete project hydraulics and hydrology analysis, engineering, and design, for the ultimate goal of reconnecting approximately 4,600 linear feet of off-channel refuge and foraging habitat for spring Chinook, and summer steelhead. The results of Phase 1 will be used to support construction of the habitat restoration for the lower end of Nason Creek.

The reconnection of this oxbow is designed to provide juvenile Chinook, steelhead, and sockeye high flow refuge and year-round foraging habitat, as well as deep water overwintering habitat.

Final Report:
Nason Creek Off-Channel Habitat Restoration, Project 2006-03 RI

    Before: Proposed upstream                After: Upstream 12' connection       to              Nason Creek Oxbow
    connection point (no culvert)

For more information, please contact Chuck Peven or Becky Gallaher at (509) 663-8121, or Tom Kahler at (509) 884-8171.

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