Pacific Lamprey were once abundant and widespread in streams and rivers throughout the West Coast, but their populations have declined significantly throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Losses since European colonization have been driven largely by human impacts to water quality, passage barriers, and ocean conditions due to climate change. Degradation of streams and floodplains is recognized by the Conservation Agreement of the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative (PLCI) as a top threat to Pacific Lamprey. Restoration of critical spawning and rearing habitats for the species aligns with PLCI objectives and also benefits many native salmonid species.
Pacific Lamprey were once abundant and widespread in streams and rivers throughout the West Coast, but their populations have declined significantly throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Losses since European colonization have been driven largely by human impacts to water quality, passage barriers, and ocean conditions due to climate change. Degradation of streams and floodplains is recognized by the Conservation Agreement of the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative (PLCI) as a top threat to Pacific Lamprey. Restoration of critical spawning and rearing habitats for the species aligns with PLCI objectives and also benefits many native salmonid species.
The Finn Rock Reach Floodplain Restoration Project will provide floodplain reconnection and habitat restoration to 85 acres on a side channel of the McKenzie River, near the community of Blue River, Lane County once completed. Large gravel pits and access roads have channelized a side channel and cut off access to rearing habitat for lamprey, Upper Willamette River spring Chinook Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and other species. The project will restore natural ecological processes that maintain low flow, depositional conditions required by Pacific Lamprey and other native species by redistributing 224, 000 cubic yards of floodplain sediment, aggrading incised side channels, placing 2,300 pieces of large woody debris over 85 acres and 0.8 miles of side channel length, and conducting restoration plantings.
Human Interest/Community Benefit:
Pacific Lamprey are ecological and cultural keystones for the West Coast and its Indigenous people. The Finn River Rock Restoration Project is the result of a multi-partner collaboration of tribal, local, state, federal, non-profit, and academic stakeholders working to conserve and reinforce Pacific Lamprey populations in the Columbia River Basin. Dams and other human made barriers to upstream passage have contributed to severe declines in upstream populations throughout the Columbia River Basin. Maintaining, enhancing, and restoring rearing habitats below large barriers is critical in conserving and bolstering Pacific Lamprey populations in areas with greatest habitat connectivity.
Project Timeline: January 2019 to March 2023
Partners:
The McKenzie Watershed Council (MWC) and United States Forest Service (USFS) are major collaborators on this project. USFS has provided in-kind support for the design, providing bathymetry and geomorphic grade line analysis, design drawings, cut and fill estimations, and field verification of data. The project has also been supported by a Technical Advisory Group composed of: USFS, MWC, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Oregon Geography Department.
Other support includes:
The McKenzie River Trust (MRT) has entered an MOU with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which allows for the use of BLM trees for LWD and plantings.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is receiving a donation of LWD from the USFS, which they, in turn, are donating to the project.
The Eugene Water and Electric Board provided $500,000 to the restoration project through MRT’s Homewaters Campaign, which raised an additional $250,000 in restoration funding.