Accessible document
Klamath River Watershed
Master Watershed Stewards Ruth Mirth and Chuck Mayer, Class of 2003
(graphics are omitted from this version. A printable .pdf, including graphics, is also available)
Larry and Carolyn Peacore own about 1/2 mile stretch along the Klamath River. The Klamath River drains Upper Klamath Lake. At this location, the River is 303(d) listed for dissolved oxygen, ammonia, temperature, pH, and chlorophyll a. Furthermore, the Peacores report a loss of 14 feet of bank at some spots over the previous six years, contributing to significant sedimentation. This ½ mile stretch of river is controlled (the Klamath River is diked and channeled between Lake Ewauna and the Keno Dam), with little flow or rise and fall. The erosion is a result primarily of wave action from heavy boat travel and wind, and ice damage in the winter.
Given the Peacore's economic interests (their farmland was eroding away), as well their value on water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, they worked with Master Watershed Stewards Chuck Mayer and Ruth Mirth, the Klamath Watershed Council, and other groups to carry out the following two objectives for their stretch of river:
The Peacores collaborated with Master Watershed Stewards, Oregon Dept of Environmental Quality, Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife, the Klamath Watershed Council, the Klamath River Working Group, and other landowners. After delineating their goals, they wrote a grant and obtained funding, which came from the Department of Environmental Quality's 319 program funds. Now the work could begin. Working closely with Ruth Mirth, Master Watershed Steward and Coordinator of the Klamath Watershed Council (also the project coordinator), and John Zauner of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who provided the technical lead on the project, the Peacores decided upon a 2-forked strategy to meet both objectives:
Large pieces of wood (logs) in this river can provide several missing stream functions and processes: food sources for fish and macroinvertebrates; wildlife habitat (the threatened pond turtle that is expected to live in or near the river could benefit from such physical structures); fish habitat (in-stream logs can create cool and deep pools for spawning and rearing; shade, and shelter); and, hydrologically, in-stream logs can slow high flows (and in this case, waves from boats and other recreation) by providing friction and buffers. Ultimately, the hope is that the logs will allow for soil to accumulate behind them, therefore promoting bank aggradation to occur (as opposed to degradation), producing new surfaces on which vegetation can grow. This could set the bank on its way to its own sustainability in the long run.
Planting vegetation such as trees, shrubs, sedges, and rushes can give the system a jumpstart and eventually "reconnect" the channel with the floodplain, allowing important nutrient exchanges to once again occur. Vegetation can also provide shade for fish and wildlife, and the roots can help stabilize the bank, decreasing the sedimentation rate.
Given the above two strategies, the collaborators used the following methods:
Within days of installation, duck families were seen using the protected areas behind the logs. Several months later, the group observed the logs providing a physical barrier to wave action to protect the bank, and allowing the riparian plantings to establish. The cattails were getting an aggressive start. It is expected that the logs and root wads in the water will provide improved fish habitat over time. Over a period of years, it is expected that sedimentation will be trapped and fill behind the logs, increasing vegetation, and allowing the bank to restore itself through a natural process. Although recreation will not likely stop in this stretch of the river, when the logs eventually deteriorate (estimated 30 years or so) the bank will hopefully be reestablished.
The Klamath River was diked and channelized in the project area many years ago. As a result, about 500 acres of farmland adjacent to the river at the project location is below water level. One of the most active erosion spots in this project had only about two feet further to eat back before the old dike would have been breached and that farm ground flooded. This would have had serious economic impacts on this and neighboring landowners.
Socially, this is a major project that sets an example for restoration efforts for other landowners. Neighbors visited the project site while work was in progress, there was a TV spot (through Oregon State University Extension) after completion, and a tour planned to check progress for the coming year. This project also had a great social impact in the way that all of the collaborators strategized, made decisions, and worked together.
Environmentally, there are new habitat features for fish and wildlife; missing riparian/stream functions and processes, such as shade and channel roughness, can once again contribute to water quality and diverse habitats; and, with the decreased sedimentation rate, more oxygen is available to invertebrates, and more soil available to farmers.
The group will continue to monitor their project, including monitoring for competing vegetation around the new plants and annual photo monitoring, for at least 5 years.
Ruth's energy and enthusiasm is apparent. She says that she would like to use this project to launch others, and that this is just a beginning.
For more information about this project or the Klamath Watershed Council, you can contact Ruth Mirth at 541-883-6932 x 116.
-Tara Nierenberg
A publication of the Watershed Stewardship Education Program
Note: This is an accessible version of a document originally produced for the Web in .pdf format. While it contains all significant content of the original print document, it may omit layout and graphic elements which contribute to the look and feel of the original, and make the .pdf version more suitable for printing.