Upper Oregon Creek Placer Mine Restoration Project
Big Hole Watershed Committee Implementor
Project Goals and Objectives
The Upper Oregon Creek Restoration Project was implemented to address severe erosion, sediment loading, and habitat degradation caused by historic mining, logging, and smelting activities in the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area. Decades of deforestation, soil disturbance, and toxic metal deposition had left the watershed highly degraded, with deeply incised stream channels, disconnected floodplains, and ongoing sediment transport into the Big Hole River system. Upper Oregon Creek faced severe sediment erosion and water quality impairment, as upland slopes and gullies contributed excessive sediment, leading to degraded water quality. The Montana DEQ listed the stream as impaired for sedimentation, arsenic, copper, and lead, highlighting the urgent need for restoration. Additionally, hydrologic disconnection and habitat loss had occurred due to stream incision, which reduced floodplain connectivity and disrupted native fish populations, including Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Arctic Grayling, by creating poor habitat conditions and migration barriers. The lack of natural stream function and riparian vegetation further worsened conditions, as the absence of beaver activity and degraded plant communities left the stream vulnerable to erosion and habitat decline. The project implemented low-tech, process-based restoration techniques (LT-PBR), including Beaver Dam Analaogs (BDA) and Pole Assisted Log Structures (PALS), to mimic natural processes, slow water, capture sediment, and reconnect the stream to its floodplain. These efforts aimed to restore stream health, improve fish habitat, and create a self-sustaining ecosystem in Upper Oregon Creek.
Structure Construction Elements
Wooden Posts: Installed in rows across the stream using a hydraulic post driver. Willow and Woody Debris: Interwoven between posts to create a semi-permeable dam. Cobble and Gravel: Placed at the base to increase stability and encourage sediment deposition. Fine Organic Material (Mud and Leaves): Used to plug gaps and further mimic natural beaver dams. Large Woody Debris (Logs and Branches): Placed across the stream channel to slow water and create scour pools. Natural Anchoring Materials: Additional rocks or logs used to stabilize the structure
Project Photos
Cover Photo
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