Alpowa Creek PALS

Washington


Alpowa Creek


Snake River


Jul. 15, 2013


12000


1106


Project Goals and Objectives

The goals are to increase in stream complexity, promote wood accumulation, and wood recruitment, which may lead to floodplain connection, increased riparian condition and extent, and ultimately increased juvenile steelhead production.

Structure Construction Elements

This project is ongoing working with local landowners, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Washington Department of Ecology and the Snake River Salmon Recovery Board to improve steelhead habitat over several miles of Alpowa Creek. The project is led by Brad Johnson of the Palouse Conservation District and co-sponsored by Duane Bartels of the Pomeroy Conservation District and is likely the largest implementation of low-tech restoration anywhere in North America. As of 2021, 1,006 low-tech structures have been constructed. In 2023, 100 LTPBR structures were built as another phase of restoration. Most structures are bank-attached post-assisted log structures (PALS) used to promote hydraulic and geomorphic diversity. The project also uses posts and wood to stabilize some eroding banks to protect landowners fields. All the structures were constructed using donated wood from the USFS consisting of small trees (3-8" diameter, 6-15' long) harvested from seed tree plots.

Project Photos
Photo of Alpowa Creek PALS

Cover Photo

Project Location