The Lower South Fork McKenzie River Valley Reconnection Project Phase 3 is a multi-phased effort to restore the natural processes that once maintained a diverse ecosystem within the lower 4.2 acres and 800 acres of the South Fork McKenzie River (SFMR) downstream of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-operated Cougar Dam. Phase 1 was completed in […]
On October 9th, the local news aired a story about the work being done on the South Fork McKenzie River. It’s so gratifying to do the hard work of planning, funding and implementing projects like this when we get *big* and immediate results. We are so grateful for our partners at the USFS Willamette National
News Coverage of South Fork Floodplain Enhancement Read More »
Phase II of the Lower South Fork McKenzie River Floodplain Enhancement Project was completed in late August of 2019. The Project enhanced habitat conditions within a 0.6-mile section of the South Fork McKenzie River directly upstream of the Phase I project sight, restoring connection to over 20 acres of floodplain. Phase II built upon the
In 2016, the US Forest Service and the watershed council partnered to implement a restoration project on the lower portion of Deer Creek. The intent was to resort natural processes that create and maintain diverse habitat for fish and wildlife. Constraining berms were removed and material redistributed within the incised mainstem channel. Large wood was
The Lower Deer Creek Enhancement Project is located on Deer Creek in the McKenzie River Sub-basin at river mile 49 near the unincorporated community of Nimrod. The Lower Deer Creek Enhancement Project seeks to enhance impaired aquatic habitat conditions that have affected native fish including ESA-Threatened spring chinook salmon, Oregon Sensitive coastal cutthroat trout, and
This project is located within the Cougar Creek-South Fork McKenzie River Sub-watershed. The project area encompasses the lower 4.2 miles of the South Fork McKenzie River from the base of Cougar Dam to the confluence with the McKenzie River and is approximately 780 acres in size. It includes two large alluvial valleys, separated by a
