Brush Creek

LONG-TERM MONITORING: TRACKING THE HEALTH OF BRUSH CREEK

Through a dedicated 20-year monitoring partnership, the Calapooia Watershed Council (CWC) is tracking the long-term success of our restoration efforts. By deploying strategic temperature loggers and conducting regular vegetation surveys, we can measure exactly how our projects impact aquatic health.

THE SCIENCE OF A COOL STREAM

Stream temperature is a delicate balance influenced by airflow, water volume, and—most importantly—riparian cover. To bolster this natural defense, CWC and R. Franco Restoration have installed 10,000 native plants along the banks of the Calapooia River and Brush Creek. As this “living buffer” matures, it protects the water in three key ways:

DIRECT SHADE

Shading the water’s surface to block solar heating.

STREAM CHANNELING

Helping the creek become narrower and deeper, which naturally maintains lower temperatures.

SUB-SURFACE STORAGE

Increasing soil moisture to ensure cooler, consistent water flow even during the late summer months.

The goal of the monitoring partnership is to gather long-term stream temperature data on agricultural lands in small watersheds. Then, compare stream temperature changes to changes in streamside vegetation that result from riparian enhancements.

The Council and its partners – Linn County Road Department, BLM, private landowners, and private industry including Cascade Timber Consulting Inc., Rosboro Lumber and Melcher Lumber- have focused restoration and conservation activities in the high priority sub-basin, Brush Creek, over the last fifteen years.
outcomes
  • All high priority fish passage barriers have been restored – as identified bby the Council’s Fish Passage Assessment (OWEB, 2004)
  • 6 miles of in-stream aquatic habitat enhanced with over 75 wood jam structures (400+ logs) on BLM, private resident and private timber industry land
  • Riparian buffer restoration & CREP enrollment at 7 large private landowner properties along with pasture management improvements and exclusion fencing through the Regional Restoration Program

ODFW Fish Habitat Surveys (2006)

Brush Creek Report Childers Creek Report