Pole Creek Habitat Complexity

Project Narrative

The Pole Creek Habitat Complexity project will capitalize on progress made on Pole Creek since 2014 by improving habitat complexity in the channel and improving vegetation along lower Pole Creek. Current habitat conditions include a straightened channelized stream segment with little to no in-stream woody material, no side channels or other lateral habitat, a disengaged floodplain, and limited riparian vegetation. Phase I of the project improved the lower reach of approximately 0.6 miles of the channel. This project will improve an additional 1.2 miles of Pole Creek on private property. Project actions include 1) construct new alignments of old meanders on Pole Creek, 2) placement of natural materials instream to improve channel morphology, 3) placement of large woody debris (LWD), 4) construct riffle features, 5) install bio-logs and willow clumps to increase and improve streambank vegetation, and 6) plant riparian native seed and vegetation. The goal of these actions is to restore Pole Creek to historic conditions including restored meanders providing additional habitat features for spawning. This project is designed to provide a natural floodplain while restoring natural stream processes and functions to increase habitat capacity for juvenile life stages of salmon and steelhead. Improving the current condition by increasing river sinuosity, developing habitat complexity in the form of woody debris structures, constructing side channels and meanders, and riparian zone restoration will result in improved survival for all freshwater juvenile life stages. The project will raise water tables, restore natural stream processes, and establish riparian vegetation where it is currently absent, as well as make the riparian area and stream channel more resilient to high flows. In doing so, this will provide increased spawning and rearing habitat for ESA species within lower Pole Creek as well as a safe transitory corridor for these species to their headwater habitat. The Pole Creek project plan is intended to increase the hydraulic connectivity, structural diversity, and complexity of Pole Creek. It is important to build upon the successful results of the past Pole Creek project, since the resulting increase in flows will encourage adult spawners to move up the creek. The new strategy from IDFG includes releasing smolts and adults at County Line Bridge, and possibly adults at the Pole Creek Bridge. The project will improve the stream to support recolonization and fish numbers in Pole Creek. Numerous other projects on Pole Creek have been implemented to address passage barriers and flow.