Worm Creek LTPBR

Anabranch Solutions Design and Implementation

Idaho


Worm Creek


Middle Bear


Link ↗


Jun. 01, 2023


2800


114


Project Goals and Objectives

The main goal of restoration is to improve water retention and augment late season flows. The current riverscape suffers from a lack of beaver activity and wood accumulations, making the intermittent system run dry in the late summer-early fall months. Restoration structures (i.e. BDAs and PALS) will improve riverscape health by containing more spring runoff and preventing water from rapidly flowing downstream. The gradual release of water will improve riverscape resiliency by creating more habitat for native species (e.g. Bonneville cutthroat trout), improve riparian vegetation health, and allow natural processes to maintain the river system.

Structure Construction Elements

Most restoration structures were BDAs since restoration aimed to improve water rentention. These were placed on sites with locally steep and narrow banks to improve structural stability and resilience to high flows of spring runoff. PALS were used less often but were incorporated in areas between BDAs to improve habitat complexity (diversify flow and sediment patterns), erode vulnerable banks (supply sediment and woody material), and support BDA structures (reduce probability of structural failure through redundancy). Material was sourced from nearby hillslopes and consisted mostly of maple and juniper. The majority of structural material ranged in size between 3 to 8' in length and 2 to 6" in diameter, however some larger material was used where available. Structures were reinforced with 6' (2-4" diameter) untreated wooden posts pounded into the streambed with a hydarulic post-pounder. Structures with limited site access were not reinforced with wooden posts but were secured by placing larger material on top of the structure.

Project Photos
Photo of Worm Creek LTPBR

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Project Location