Abernethy Creek Aerial Large Wood Enhancement
Project Overview
Basics
Abernethy Creek Aerial Large Wood Enhancement
Planning/Design
The amount of large wood in the upper Abernethy Creek stream channel is very low due to a history of stream cleaning and timber harvest that reduced conifer levels in the riparian area. The proposed project will increase the amount of large wood contributing to channel structure and complexity in upper Abernethy Creek upstream of Beaver Lake. Logs will be placed via heavy-lift helicopter in strategic locations over 6 miles of stream channel. Logs will create cover over the stream channel and maintain existing pool habitat, sort gravels to improve spawning conditions, and enhance floodplain connectivity.
2024
2025
2026
4/11/2025
Location
Organizations
| Funders | |
| Implementer | |
| Lead Implementer | |
| Other Partners | NOAA Fisheries |
Contacts
Tom Gaskill - Greater Oregon City Watershed Council (GOCWC) (tom.gaskill@gocwc.org)
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
| Large Wood Placement | Placement Density: 15 - 25 yrd^3/1000 ft Placement Location: In Channel | 20,750.4 lf |
| Off-Channel Wetland Area Increase | Inundation frequency : Equal or more frequent than annual event | 1,500,206.4 sq ft |
Reported Performance Measures
Reported Performance Measures are not relevant for Projects in the Planning/Design stage.
Financials
Budget
| Comment: | This project budget includes a portion of the total submittal for 3 projects (Upper Abernethy Aerial LW, Martin Creek LW, and Upper Abernethy Tributary LW) to NOAA Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience grants. Port Blakely contribution is in-kind, letter of support secured. OWF funds are through a new Port Blakely source as a part of the approved HCP. |
|---|
Reported Expenditures
| 2024 | 2025 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAA – IIJA/B3 FIP (NOAA) | $48,986.34 | $34,770.54 | $83,756.88 |
| ODFW - MATCH (ODFW) | $0.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 |
| OWEB Focused Investment Partnership (FIP) (OWEB) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Port Blakely (Port Blakely ) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Grand Total | $48,986.34 | $34,970.54 | $83,956.88 |
| Note: | Expenditures will not begin until Fiscal Year 25. |
|---|
Focal Species
Focal Species
The addition of large wood will improve spawning habitat for coho by aiding in retention of spawning sized gravel that currently moves through the system during larger storm events. Large wood will also improve overhead cover that benefits both adults and juveniles. Strategic placement of logs will also increase connection between the stream and its floodplain where potential for substantial coho rearing habitat improvements exist.
Pacific lamprey are found in spawning and juvenile fish surveys throughout the Abernethy Creek watershed, including the reach where wood will be placed via this project. Adult lamprey are expected to benefit from instream restoration actions in a similar manner as other native migratory fish in the system (improved spawning and rearing conditions). Lamprey ammocetes will benefit from improved connectivity between the stream and floodplain where rearing ammocetes will lie in substrate.
The addition of large wood will improve spawning habitat for winter steelhead by aiding in retention of spawning sized gravel that currently moves through the system during larger flow events. Large wood will also improve overhead cover that benefits both adults and juveniles. Strategic placement of logs will also increase complex habitat (pools, undercut banks) within the stream channel where the primary rearing habitat for juvenile winter steelhead exists.
Project Types
Project Types
Project reach includes several areas monitored by ODFW in annual and random surveys. GOCWC also conducted habitat assessment that detailed pool, riffle, and riparian habitat along 6 miles of stream channel that includes the project reach. Funding for future monitoring is not identified but the opportunity exists for collection of valuable information that can be used to inform future restoration actions.
Further develop relationship between GOCWC , a federal land management agency (BLM), a private timber company (Port Blakely US Timber), and multiple landowners downstream of the project area. Outreach can help improve opportunities for future restoration actions in the watershed.
The project proposes to install up to 200 pieces of large wood into the stream channel and associated floodplain of upper Abernethy Creek. The goals of the project are to: 1) increase connectivity between the stream and its floodplain; 2) improve sediment sorting and substrate used for spawning by coho, steelhead, and lamprey; 3) support pool formation and maintenance over time.
FIP Bienniums
FIP Bienniums
This project is not receiving any FIP funding and instead is funded through IIJA.
Project Details
Attachments
Upper Abernethy Aerial LW - Final design
- Uploaded On
- 4/11/2025
- File Type
- Description
- Draft Final plans for the Upper Abernethy Creek Aerial Large Wood Project.
Upper Abernethy Aerial Large Wood
- Uploaded On
- 10/1/2020
- File Type
- Description
- Preliminary budget description
Upper Abernethy Aerial Large Wood_Aerial view
- Uploaded On
- 10/1/2020
- File Type
- JPEG
- Description
- Aerial view of large wood placement reaches of upper Abernethy Creek. Includes lower reach of Root Creek and unnamed tributary.
Upper Abernethy Aerial Large Wood...GoogleEarth
- Uploaded On
- 10/1/2020
- File Type
- KMZ
- Description
- Google .kmz file of Upper Abernethy Creek Aerial Large Wood
Concept design - Upper Abernethy Aerial Large Wood
- Uploaded On
- 10/3/2022
- File Type
- Description
- The project design and budget cost projections are based on recent placement of aerial large wood in Newell Creek canyon. Exact placement will be based on a project layout survey and available topographic data.
No attachments
Notes
No Notes entered.