CTWS Side Channel Reconnection
Limiting Factor
Isolated Side Channels and Off-Channel Habitats
Lead Implementer
Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs
Funders
Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs, NOAA Fisheries, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
Other Organizations
Clackamas River Basin Council
Project Primary Contact
Isaac Sanders (isaac@clackamasriver.org)
Project Stage
Implementation
Duration
2024 - 2027
Degraded Channel and Riparian Areas
Isolated Side Channels and Off-Channel Habitats
The project demolished an unpermitted dam and soaking pools restoring fish passage in a side channel, built 6 apex and one deflector log structures along 1 mile of the upper Clackamas River to drive process based restoration and force water into 3 newly excavated side channels and 2 existing side channels. In total over 500 logs were imported to the site from areas burned during the 2020 fires with an additional 25 on site trees tipped. The new side channels created 1/2 mile of habitat providing excellent rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids, primarily coho and chinook. 7 acres was planted with over 20,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses by an indigenous lead contractor.
Key Accomplishments
- Large Wood Placement: 7,630.00 lf
- Riparian / Floodplain Invasive Species Removal Area: 14.00 acres
- Riparian / Floodplain Native Planting Area: 9.00 acres
- Roads Decommissioned or BMPs Applied to Reduce Sedimentation and Improve Hydrology: 0.30 miles
- Side Channel Habitat Increase: 2,350.00 lf
Focal Species
- Bull Trout
- Coho
- Fall Chinook
- Pacific Lamprey
- Spring Chinook
- Steelhead
Project Types
- Restoration
FIP Bienniums
- FIP Biennium 2 work plan
Lower side Channel, looking downstream towards confluence with Clackamas
Location
Expenditures
Expenditures by Fund to Date: $1,424,457.24
OWEB Focused Investment Partn... (OWEB): $283,242
NOAA Transformational Habitat... (NOAA): $512,263
Confederated Tr... (Warm Springs Tribe): $628,952
Photos
Art hot springs (Timing: Before)
Riparian area impacted by unauthorized users (Timing: Before)
Off channel habitat (Timing: Before)
Floodplain with overflow channels at western end of property (Timing: Before)
Floodplain with scattered large wood western potion of property. (Timing: Before)
Riparian forest at western side of campground (Timing: Before)
Mid channel apex jam during construction (Timing: During)
Looking downstream at former campground area with large wood and tipped tree. River to left (Timing: After)
Looking down new side channel through former parking area river to left USFS 46 road to right (Timing: After)
Lower Side Channel at CTWS Side Channel Project with Clackamas River flooding (Timing: After)
Project last updated 9/4/2026