Project Objectives:

• Improve rearing habitat for juvenile anadromous and resident salmonids
• Demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of placing engineered woody debris structures in tributary streams

Project Description:

Introduction
Most of Ladd Creek has been channelized over the years.  The reach for the proposed project has relatively recently been incorporated into the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area (LMWA).  In 2002 the entire reach, except for a short segment on private land, between Hwy 203 and Peach Lane was re-meandered  (Lower Ladd Rechannel and Wetland Restoration, 2002, ODFW, Ducks Unlimited).

The purpose of this project is to accelerate the improvement of the in-channel habitat diversity by adding woody debris throughout about a one mile reach.  A combination of logs and commercially produced log jam structures will be placed and anchored in the channel.   Logs structures will be used in the upper 3/4 mile project reach (Reach 2).  Reach 2 was surveyed for cultural resources for a prior channel reconstruction project. The ELWd® log jam structures will be placed in the lower 1/4 mile reach (Reach 1), this reach has not had a cultural resource survey.  ELWd® structures will be assembled by hand and anchored with cable to rock filled gabeon baskets. The natural log structures will be transported from staging sites to the installation sites with a backhoe and will be anchored either to a steel fence post or ecoblock.

This project addresses the following elements of the Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan, May 28, 2004 and the Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan Supplement (Management Plan), December 31, 2004:

Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan Supplement (Management Plan)
• p. 15 Table 3-1, mid-Catherine Crk (Ladd Creek) high restoration priority to address habitat diversity, habitat quantity
• p. 47 Table 5-5, Strategy "Restore watershed processes impacting the aquatic system",  Sub-strategies - "Add LWD where deficient and appropriate to meet identified short term deficiencies", Install in-channel structures to improve habitat complexity in the short term…".  

Existing condition
The Ladd Creek system is a major tributary of Catherine Creek.  Historically Ladd Creek was likely a significant steelhead producer and possibly had limited chinook production.  In 2002 ODFW and Ducks Unlimited (DU) cooperated in a project to reestablish the historic channel meander system by reconstructing approximately five miles of channel between Hwy 203 and Peach Lane.  A limited number of large logs were dug in to provide in-channel structure.  Planted and natural sedge, shrub and tree vegetation is gradually becoming established throughout the reach, but for the most part the newly constructed channel is devoid of woody debris.  The approximate ¼ mile reach of Ladd Creek downstream of Peach Lane is now included in the LMWA but was not re-meandered.

ODFW monitored fish presence/use April - June in 2003 and 2004 using a fish trap at an in-channel water control structure, as part of the 2002 project. Although relatively few juvenile Chinook and steelhead were caught, DU sampling below the trap indicated it is likely that only a small portion of the fish in the system were being trapped.  Additionally it is likely that significant juvenile salmonid use is occurring over the winter.  It is also likely that salmonid use in the project area is limited due to the limited habitat diversity.

The ODFW Research group has found that a substantial portion of juvenile chinook in the Catherine Creek system migrate from the headwaters in the fall and spend the winter in the Grande Ronde Valley.  They have also found a high mortality rate for these early migrants.  The causes of the high mortality are not known but lack of habitat complexity throughout the Grande Ronde Valley in Catherine Creek, the Grande Ronde River and the tributaries is highly suspect.

Benefits
• Improved in-channel habitat for anadromous and resident salmonids.
• Improved over-winter survival for juvenile salmonids.

Project Maintenance
The project is expected to require very little maintenance, possibly some re-cabling or repositioning the structures.  Maintenance activities will be included in on-going ODFW LMWA maintenance programs.