Moose Creek Restoration

The Moose Creek Steelhead Habitat Improvement Project is a joint effort between the South Santiam Watershed Council and the U.S. Forest Service, Sweet Home Ranger District to enhance steelhead spawning and rearing habitat in this upper South Santiam watershed stream.  Very little quality spawning and rearing habitat is available for winter steelhead in the South Santiam watershed, and Moose Creek is one of the last strongholds in the watershed.

While steelhead utilize Moose Creek, it is lacking adequate spawning gravels and in-stream habitat structures. In 2008-9, the project partners placed over 60 full length trees into 2.5 miles of Moose Creek.  A variety of methods were used to place the wood including cable-assisted tipping of trees that retains the large root wads, which provides for good “anchor” logs unlikely to dramatically move during high water events, helicopter placement, and direct falling into the stream reach.  Placing full length trees will allow for the collection of gravels which will increase spawning habitat. Additionally, the presence of large woody debris in the channel and immediately adjacent riparian zone will increase habitat complexity and quality.  Funding for the project and additional partners include the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Federal Payments to Counties grant program, the Albany Chapter of the Northwest Steelheaders and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Click here to view the 2010 Moose Creek Monitoring Report