Abernethy Creek Aerial Large Wood Enhancement
Limiting Factor
Degraded Channel Structure and Complexity
Lead Implementer
Greater Oregon City Watershed Council
Funders
NOAA Fisheries, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Port Blakely
Project Primary Contact
Tom Gaskill (tom.gaskill@gocwc.org)
Project Stage
Implementation
Duration
2025 - 2026
Degraded Channel and Riparian Areas
Degraded Channel Structure and Complexity
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 4 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.
Key Accomplishments
- Biennium Status (Implemented Biennium 3): 1
- Large Wood Placement: 20,750.40 lf
- Off-Channel Wetland Area Increase: 620,000.00 sq ft
Focal Species
- Coho
- Pacific Lamprey
- Steelhead
Project Types
- Monitoring
- Outreach / Landowner Engagement
- Restoration
FIP Bienniums
- FIP Biennium 3 work plan
Post implementation placement in Abernethy Creek
Location
Expenditures
Expenditures by Fund to Date: $627,758.86
ODFW - MATCH (ODFW): $2,000
NOAA – IIJA/B3 FIP (NOAA): $617,695
Oregon Wildlife Foundation (OWF): $8,064
Photos
Upper Abernethy Creek_Reach 2_Riffle16 (Timing: Before)
Upper Abernethy Creek_Reach 2_Pool#11 (Timing: Before)
Upper Abernethy Creek_Reach 3_Riffle 33 (Floodplain) (Timing: Before)
Upper Abernethy Creek_Reach 5_p73 (Timing: Before)
Project last updated 10/21/2025