This summer, partners reached another milestone in restoring the McKenzie River system, reconnecting more than 335 acres of historic floodplain and approximately 1.8 miles of the South Fork McKenzie River.
Led by the USDA Forest Service and McKenzie Watershed Council and supported by the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and McKenzie River Trust, the Lower South Fork McKenzie River Valley Reconnection Project – Phase 3 was completed ahead of schedule, just in time for salmon spawning season to begin in September.
Partners came together this summer to restore 335 acres of floodplain habitat
Historic land use, flood-control activities, and Cougar Dam had confined the South Fork McKenzie to a fast-moving single channel, separating it from much of its floodplain. Restoration crews moved soil, placed large wood, and reactivated side channels, giving water more room to spread out, slow down, and create habitat for spring Chinook salmon, bull trout, Pacific lamprey, and other plants and animals.
“This work is about restoring the river’s ability to take care of itself,” explained Lara Colley, Floodplain Restoration Projects Manager with the McKenzie Watershed Council. “We’re working with natural processes to rebuild habitat and improve conditions for fish and wildlife over the long term.”
Restoration included placing large diameter wood in stream to support the slowing and spreading out of water.
Those benefits extend downstream, supporting cleaner water, groundwater recharge, and greater resilience to floods, wildfire, and a changing climate.
This work connects directly to downstream restoration efforts at Finn Rock Reach and Quartz Creek. Together, these projects are reconnecting the river’s natural processes across the Middle McKenzie, creating a healthier, more resilient river system for the fish, wildlife, and people of western Oregon. Explore the project →
To learn more about our friends at McKenzie River Trust or get involved in future projects, click here.
