Loup Loup Creek Restoration
Project Goals and Objectives
Loup Loup Creek was severely burned by the immense and high-intensity 2014 Carlton Complex fires - the largest in WA state history at that time. Vegetation loss from the fire lead the creek to become straight, narrow, and lacking in riparian habitat and in-stream structure. Our goal for this restoration project was to add structure back into the creek to slow and spread water, in order to reconnect the creek to its floodplain and improve habitat complexity in the stream and in the riparian buffer zone.
Structure Construction Elements
In September 2022, the MOBP crew began installing small wood jam structures in our project area at Loup Loup creek. Due to the remote and rugged nature of this project area, we chose to focus on wood loading, and did not install any posts for BDAs or PALs. Thirty six log jams were constructed by hand and with help from chain saws, using dead wood from beside the creek. Two years later, these log jams have visibly created more complex habitat. Riparian plants are beginning to grow back, fish have been spotted rearing in ponds formed by the wood jam structures, and in spring of 2023, structures and high flows worked together to activate Loup Loup creek's floodplain. Beavers were relocated to the site in fall of 2022, and again in fall of 2024, and in spring of 2023, the MOBP team planted several hundred willow stakes.
Project Photos
Cover Photo
2022-05-05
A log jam structure slows and spreads water to create a pond
2022-04-15
The MOBP team works together to construct a log jam by hand
2024-06-19
MOBP staff, contractors, and volunteers pose after a day of wood loading
2023-09-13
Willow stakes thriving the next fall after being planted
2024-06-19
The view looking down into Loup Loup creek
2024-06-19
Joe poses with a newly constructed log jam structure