2010-005-00

Abernathy Tidal Restoration

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) -- in partnership with BPA -- will conduct ecosystem restoration within the tidal reaches (RM 0.0 – 0.56) of Abernathy Creek. The purpose of this Estuary Habitat restoration is to provide enhanced adult holding and spawning habitat and juvenile salmonid rearing habitat -- to help recover ESA-listed anadromous fish species within a naturally functioning estuary ecosystem. Under Phase 3 of this Project, WDFW will implement the "Construction" of the Abernathy Tidal Restoration preferred alternatives -- as a Washington Estuary Habitat MOA Project. (Phase 1 was Feasibility Study and Phase 2 was Design).

Anadromous salmonid species in the Abernathy Creek watershed include fall chinook salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, winter steelhead, and sea-run coastal cutthroat trout. Salmon and steelhead numbers have declined to only a fraction of historical levels. In addition to anadromous salmonids, depleted stocks of Pacific lamprey, Eulachon (proposed for listing), and green sturgeon (threatened) also exist in Abernathy Creek.

Table A. Status of anadromous fishes occurring in Abernathy Creeks of the lower Columbia River (LCFRB 2004; NOAA Fisheries website 2009).

Species ESU ESA Status Historical Population Size Recent Numbers
Fall Chinook LCR Chinook Threatened 5,000-7,500 300-400
Chum LCR Chum Threatened 6,500-40,000 50-100
Coho LCR Coho Threatened 10,000-30,000 unknown
Winter Steelhead Coastal Steelhead Not listed 2,000 50-500
Sea-Run Cutthroat -- Not listed unknown <15
Pacific Lamprey -- Not listed unknown unknown
Green Sturgeon Southern DPS Threatened unknown unknown
Eulachon LCR Proposed Threatened unknown unknown
.
Phase 3 Construction Tasks:

A. Conduct the Construction Tasks from July 15, 2012 through October 31, 2012.
a. Mobilization; delivery of equiqment, and storage of logs and construction materials on-site.
b. Survey and flag key design elements, including wetland protection.
c. Renovate access road and remove trees to be used for large wood structures.
d. Put any sediment reduction structures and coffer dams in place, as needed to protect stream environment and ESA fish.
e. Excavate blind channels.
f. Build hummocks with soils excavated from channels.
g. Haul excavation spoils offsite, including road bed rock and old boat ramp materials.
h. Build large wood structures and engineered log jams.
i. Conduct plantings and other revegetation actions.
j. Demobilization.
B. Develop a monitoring plan for revegetation, and a long-term Operations and Maintenance Agreement with BPA.

Christine Read

2010

2012

Jason Karnezis

Closed - Project Status Report

Province	Subbasin	%
Columbia River Estuary	Elochoman	100.00%

Habitat

Restoration/Protection

Chinook - All Populations
Chinook - Lower Columbia River ESU
Chum - Columbia River ESU
Coho - Lower Columbia River ESU
Cutthroat Trout, Coastal - All Anadromous Populations
Cutthroat Trout, Coastal - Southwest Washington/Columbia River ESU
Lamprey, Pacific
Lamprey, River
Other Anadromous
Sockeye - All Populations
Steelhead - All Populations
Steelhead - Lower Columbia River DPS
Sturgeon, Green
Sturgeon, White - Lower Columbia River
Wildlife

Anadromous: 100.0%   Resident: 0.0%   Wildlife: 0.0%

Washington Estuary MOA (Public Tags)
WA - by WE Location Expenditure (Public Tags)

None

Estuary Habitat Implementation 2010 to 2018