Excavators and dump trucks started work at Rimrock Ranch in late June and are working on restoring the northernmost 1.5 miles of Whychus Creek and its surrounding floodplain. (Learn more about why we are restoring Whychus Creek.) With the first few weeks of restoration officially complete, here are some of the changes that have already occurred:

1. Bypass channel construction. One of the biggest challenges with creek restoration projects is what to do with the water while you do the construction work. This time, project leaders decided that building a temporary Whychus Creek bypass channel would be the most efficient way to manage the water. Consequently, crews spent some of their early days constructing a temporary bypass channel to continue moving water through the meadow during construction. This allows crews to move freely as they work to shape the floodplain along the valley floor, and helps fish travel upstream and downstream while work is occurring. This temporary channel will be removed as water is released onto the new floodplain.

2. Fish rescue! To facilitate the restoration process, project partners and local biologists removed all fish from the portion of Whychus Creek where the work will be occurring. In order to isolate this portion of the creek, they installed block nets above and below the restoration area and then worked as a team to search for fish to move. They used a process called electroshocking where fish are briefly stunned with a non-lethal current of electricity making them easier to net and transport away from the project area.

3. Floodplain shaping. The bulk of the restoration effort is focused on shaping the valley floor so Whychus Creek can connect to its historic floodplain. To do this, construction crews bring the elevation of the surrounding valley floor down, while bringing up some portions of Whychus Creek. They are also constructing deep pools for fish and wildlife and reconnecting old Whychus Creek channels.

4. Wood placement. Whether it is in the stream or on the floodplain, woody materials are a big part of stream restoration projects. Stream and floodplain wood creates habitat for fish and wildlife, helps protect soils as the restoration project evolves, and provides places for new plants to grow. Once crews finish the initial floodplain shaping, they have been adding this critical wood element to the project area. Learn more about the importance of wood.

Construction on the Rimrock Ranch restoration project will continue through August. We look forward to sharing more news in our next update. Stay tuned!

Learn more:

• About the Whychus Creek restoration including project partners.
• Learn why meadows are so important to the health of Whychus Creek.