Restoration strategies: Strategy 2 - Replant degraded riparian zones by reestablishing native vegetation and natural wood recruitment processes. Strategy 4 - Install and maintain fencing ...to prevent livestock access to riparian zones and streams.

The Methow Subbasin Plan, adopted in November of 2004, establishes biological objectives and strategies for each river and tributary within the basin by sub reach assessment units (AU).

The following excerpts from the Subbasin plan outline and describe the objectives relevant to this grant application: The working hypothesis statement: for the Middle Methow, Chewuch and Twisp watersheds states that: - Increasing habitat diversity (riparian function, LWD, man-made confinement) will increase survival of summer Chinook in the following life stages: a) spawning, b) prespawn holding, and; c) fry colonization. Summer steelhead survival will increase in the following life stages: a) spawning; b) fry colonization, and; c) age 0-2 juvenile rearing. Spring Chinook survival will increase for: a) fry colonization; b) age-0 rearing; c) prespawn holding, and; d) spawning. Bull trout survival will increase for holding, migration and overwintering. Objective 1 for this element is to achieve properly functioning riparian conditions (at least 75% of normative for riparian vegetation and connectivity to the floodplain/off-channel habitat). The plan also sets forth restoration goals for each stream segment.

The statements relevant for the project sites proposed for treatment include: Strategy 2 - Replant degraded riparian zones by reestablishing native vegetation and natural wood recruitment processes. Strategy 4 - Install and maintain fencing or fish-friendly stream crossing structures to prevent livestock access to riparian zones and streams. Additionally, resource managers working within the area have identified the need for placement and maintenance of measures to reduce/prevent deer browse on proposed riparian enhancement projects as necessary during the first several years following implementation. These measures may include man-made enclosures around individual plantings or groups of plantings, intercropping, and/or application of deer repellent.

The goal of the Methow Riparian program is to achieve properly functioning riparian conditions. Land use practices and past flood events and treatments have resulted in 1) degraded riparian conditions, 2) elevated stream temperatures, and 3) elevated fine sediment in the Methow mainstem and its tributaries.  Riparian enhancement projects are being proposed to recover watershed processes and functions associated with healthy native plant communities.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Bureau of (Reclamation) need to fulfill FCRPS BiOp metric goals, including 12 miles for riparian enhancement.   To help BPA and Reclamation meet these goals, MSRF has identified actions to be undertaken during this period. The projects will be implemented by the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF) or a qualified contractor.  For purposes of calculating metric distance, each side of the stream contributes to the metric, such that one mile of riparian enhancement on both sides of the stream provides two miles of metric for riparian enhancement.  Acreage enhanced by the project should also be determined.  

This year's work will occur at 4 sites on the Methow, Twisp, and Chewuch Rivers.  Riparian enhancement projects include streambank stabilization and riparian treatments such as installing fencing or reconstructing existing fencing.  Riparian enhancement projects will generally involve installing exclusion fencing and/or new planting to establish a riparian buffer.  Except in areas of active grazing, exclusion fencing areas shall be established based on observed need and will not prevent access to the stream by native wildlife.  All vegetation projects will use native species; include vegetation management strategies that are consistent with the local topography and climate; specify seed and plant sources; and use only certified noxious weed-free mulch.  Fence projects will be implemented in conjunction with a prescribed grazing plan (for properties with continued grazing and conservation easements) to minimize impacts to the riparian area and streambanks.  Riparian buffers will generally range from 35 to 100 feet wide.