The Nason Creek Oxbow Reconnection Project is proposed by the Chelan County Natural Resource Department and is part of a regional commitment by Chelan County to initiate long-term habitat protection and restoration efforts within the Wenatchee River subbasin for ESA-listed species. The project is proposed on Nason Creek at river mile 3.4, in Chelan County, Washington.  The objective of the project is to install two 12-foot diameter fish-friendly culverts under SR 207 to reconnect 43.2 acres of historic Nason Creek aquatic habitat to the Nason Creek main channel.  

The Nason Creek Oxbow Reconnection Project site was one of 26 project sites identified for potential restoration, enhancement, or preservation actions in the Wenatchee River Channel Migration Study.  This project ranked number one among these sites based on the high design feasibility, very low risk to infrastructure, moderate cost, and biological benefit.  The purpose of the Nason Oxbow Project is to provide juvenile salmonid (Chinook, steelhead, and sockeye) high-flow refuge and year-round foraging habitat, as well as deep-water overwintering habitat. The project will reconnect the off-channel oxbow habitat by hydrologically connecting an existing oxbow to the main channel of Nason Creek.  This project will directly address the habitat limiting factors affecting salmonid production in Nason Creek, and has been identified and prioritized through the Wenatchee River CMZ Study; a SRFB-funded project.

Phase I of the Nason Creek Oxbow Project (funded by a 2005 SRFB grant) evaluated oxbow reconnection alternatives. Through this analysis, the project proposes to install two 12’ diameter culverts under SR 207 to reconnect partial flows and year-round fish access to the oxbow.  This alternative was found to be the most cost effective and lowest risk alternative that achieves the goal of reconnecting fish access to the oxbow habitat.  Using existing 2005 SRFB funds, the CCNRD will completed 100% design plans for the preferred alternative in the spring of 2007.  As the project will require construction in SR 207, the CCNRD has worked closely with WSDOT to ensure that the project will meet WSDOT’s design, maintenance, and safety standards.  BPA ISRP funding for Phase II will be used to complete the installation of the two culverts per WSDOT-approved plans in 2007, and monitoring in 2007 and 2008.

Project Activities Include: