Salmon River Bank Restoration at Deer Gulch

Project Narrative

The Salmon River Bank Restoration at Deer Gulch restored an eroding streambank at a popular fishing access site on the Salmon River, while enhancing instream fish habitat and riparian condition for summer rearing and overwintering habitat for Snake River Sp/Su Chinook and Sockeye Salmon and steelhead. The project protected approximately 0.4 miles of streambank and a bridge abutment from further erosion using a bio-engineering approach with logs, rock, rock barbs, log barbs and vegetation. The bridge abutment reach was restored using a combination of trees with rootwads, extensive riparian planting and rock. The adjacent upstream and downstream streambanks were degraded from recreational foot, truck, and camper traffic. This project rehabilitated those areas using a combination of fencing, barrier placement, and riparian planting on 2.3 acres. The restored reach provides a good example to the public of restoring a streambank while improving fish habitat. The project reduces sedimentation, increases habitat complexity and riparian vegetation, provides cover and created overwintering and summer rearing habitat for Sp/Su Chinook Salmon and steelhead. The project reach is within a mile downstream of the Pahsimeroi River and may provide important habitat for outmigrating pre-smolt and smolts from that drainage or other mainstem and tributary habitats in the Upper Salmon basin. The project also proactively protects the access road and bridge and reduces the need for future emergency repairs using rip rap.