Prior to European settlement, streams in the PNW were choked with large old growth trees that had naturally fallen or were otherwise naturally recruited to the stream system.  These key large wood pieces drove the morphology of the river planform and set the stage for the habitat complexity that enabled the huge runs of salmonids that called these rivers home.  During the 1800’s, the majority of the streams in the PNW became victim to industry and progress.  Their large wood was removed to increase navigability, they were straightened and simplified, and most of their old growth riparian forests were logged and transported to the mills via splash damming – further impairing stream function.  

Today we are left with relics of a by-gone era.  Stream systems are still struggling to recover from the land management practices of the past – they are void of appropriate large wood, lack sufficient habitat complexity, and are without the healthy mature riparian forests needed to naturally replenish the large wood component of the stream ecosystem.  As a consequence, these streams do not function as they naturally should, and salmonid habitat is deleteriously affected.

The HRPP and the USFS have been partnering on instream salmonid habitat improvement projects in the Hood River Basin since 2006 – primarily by the addition of large wood.  The USFS has provided the majority of the large wood for these projects and HRPP has provided funding to transport the wood and implement the projects.  In FY18, the HRPP and USFS will again be partnering to increase stream complexity and large wood abundance with a Tree Tipping and Riparian Thinning Pilot project in the West Fork Hood River and by procuring fish logs for use on future restoration projects in the Hood River Watershed.

The tree tipping and riparian thinning pilot project strives to supplement the natural recruitment of whole trees into the waters of the Hood River Basin – an attempt to restore the function that the old growth large wood provided. The project consists of the hand tipping of approximately 40-60 second growth trees (18-24 inch diameter) into a 0.7 mile reach along the West Fork Hood River – upstream of the Marco Creek confluence.  This reach was treated in 2012 with approximately 565 cut logs placed by a heavy-lift helicopter.  The cut logs were placed into 25 large structures along the main channel, floodplain, and side channels of the restoration reach.  

This pilot project could be considered the 2nd phase of the original 2012 Large wood placement project.  Due to limitations with the length of logs available during the original project, no channel-spanning wood was placed in the main channel.  The 2018 project would re-enter the reach (USFS Forestlands) and tip whole trees from the riparian area into the stream channel, creating “key pieces” for log jams that would complement and accentuate the existing structures. The large wood structures would work to restore stream function by aggrading the incised stream bed and reconnecting the main channel with its side channels and floodplain.  

Trees would be directionally tipped by hand into the main channel of this reach in several “loose” structures. To further increase the effectiveness of these structures, approximately 180 alders ~10 -12” dbh will be felled from the riparian area just upstream of the tipped conifers structures (up to 30 alders per structure).  The goal of the alder thinning will be two-fold: to both reduce competition and release conifers in the riparian area (so the conifers will reach maturity more quickly), and also to provide slash and smaller diameter wood for the tipped conifer structures.  High flows are anticipated to mobilize and incorporate the alder slash into the tipped conifer structures – increasing both their volume and effectiveness in terms of slowing water velocity and partitioning flows.  The tree-tipping and alder thinning will, in time, increase stream sinuosity, disperse flood energies, allow gravel to accumulate, and increase habitat complexity.

Access to this reach is from a forest road well upslope from the stream channel on river left.  Due to the steepness of the slope and the distance of the road from the stream, it is not possible for large equipment to access the project site.  Log placement will be accomplished by falling with hand tools.  The approximately 40-60 tipped trees will be pulled over with a hand operated winch system.  The alders will be felled with a chainsaw.  In general, trees that are tipped will be strategically selected in locations downstream of side channel entrances to raise streambed elevations and further accentuate the stream / floodplain interaction.  Alders to be felled will be selected in areas where they are growing most densely and where their removal will not impact stream shading.  The project reach is located on USFS property and the USFS will be donating all trees for this project.  If the pilot project proves successful, it may be replicated elsewhere in the basin as a cost effective alternative to standard restoration practices that include the extensive use of heavy machinery or in places that can’t be accessed by heavy equipment.

In addition to the Tree Tipping and Riparian Thinning Pilot Project, the USFS will use funds to locate, extract, and transport fish logs as they become available on federal forestlands. Recently, the demand for timber resources on USFS lands has limited the agency’s ability to supply wood for future restoration projects.  Their ability is often dependent on fleeting or unpredictable opportunities to reserve hazard trees or other limited quantities of timber for fish logs - ahead of other competing interests.  As such, HRPP funds will be directed to the USFS to enable the flexibility to secure and transport timber resources when they become available for use in restoration projects.  In 2018, there are a number of log or whole tree sources that may become available, including: blow-down in the Tilly Jane Campground, hazard trees from the Lost Lake Campground, salvage trees from the Eagle Creek Fire, and trees cleared during parking lot expansion at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area.  Having a contract in place will allow the USFS to acquire logs in a nimble manner, if and when, they become available.  The FY18 contract will fund the transportation of up to 20 loads of logs from various potential sites.