Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve
Project Goals and Objectives
This project initiated in 2019, and now the work is in full swing. The Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve is an active restoration demonstration site prioritizing rare species monitoring, habitat restoration, native plants, Tribal partnership, public engagement opportunities. The Preserve is home to the Vesper Meadow Education Program 501c3 which works to inspire a culture of land stewardship and nature connection (see VesperMeadow.org for more information or to get involved). We took our time getting to know the place and its inhabitants, securing funding and designing plans, and going through a lengthy permitting process…and now, we can finally act like beavers in the creek! The phase one of restoration was completed October 2022, in which 20 Post-assisted log structures were constructed in Latgawa Creek at Vesper Meadow, along with in-stream willow planting and riparian shrub plantings. Phase two of the restoration work is underway (2023-2025) up- and downstream of this site, including work at Vesper Meadow and on the adjacent Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (BLM managed) land. We couldn’t do it without volunteers, partners, donors, and support from the Drinking Water Providers Partnership, Medford BLM, Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District.. By 2025, at least 70 structures, which will function together to capture sediment, aggrade the channel, slow flow and reconnect the floodplain will include mid-channel and bank-attached post-assisted log structures. Project monitoring includes riparian vegetation transects, hydrologic (flow, temperature, water depth) measurements, high resolution aerial drone imagery, photopoints, and bird community monitoring. Further, this project includes public participation in ongoing instream willow-staking, restoration of the native floodplain grasses and forbs, artist engagement, and partnership with Tribal partners for First Food restoration.
Structure Construction Elements
Post assisted log structures are made from conifer branches collected from onsite and neighboring properties, living willow stakes from onsite, planting of riparian shrubs, untreated 3” diameter wood posts pounded into the streambed when necessary, spaced 1’-2’ feet apart. There is a combination of channel spanning, side bank, and mid-channel PALS. All structures are built in accordance with the best management practices and standards put forward by the Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes manual, and the Beaver Restoration Guidebook.
Project Photos
Cover Photo
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2023-10-30
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2023-10-30
Our most downstream photopoint, illustrating initial willow staking efforts (2018-2021) and implementation of a PAL (2023)
2023-04-30
Volunteer day