Greater Oregon City Watershed Council Completes Upper Abernethy Tributary  Restoration Project

NEWS RELEASE 

Greater Oregon City Watershed Council Completes Upper Abernethy Tributary  Restoration Project

The Greater Oregon City Watershed Council (GOCWC), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), The Oregon Wildlife Foundation – Port Blakely and a private landowner, has completed the Upper Abernethy Tributary Riparian Enhancement Project, restoring more than 2,000 feet of stream habitat in the Upper Abernethy Creek watershed.

The project is the second phase of the Council’s Upper Abernethy Creek Enhancement Initiative, a long-term effort to improve water quality, restore stream function, and enhance habitat for native fish and wildlife. Located near the confluence of Abernethy Creek and an unnamed tributary on Jamestown Ranch, the project builds upon previous restoration work that included the aerial placement of large wood structures throughout the upper watershed.

Healthy streams depend on complex habitat. Large wood placed in streams creates pools for fish, traps spawning gravels, reconnects streams to their floodplains, and provides shelter for salmon and other aquatic species during periods of high flow and warm summer temperatures.

This latest restoration effort improved approximately 2,002 feet of stream channel and 2.5 acres of riparian habitat through the installation of large woody material, removal of invasive Himalayan blackberry, and planting of native trees and shrubs. Restoring native riparian vegetation will provide long-term shade, stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, and help maintain cooler water temperatures that are critical for native fish.

The project is expected to benefit several native species, including cutthroat trout, winter steelhead, and Pacific lamprey. In addition to improving aquatic habitat, the restoration will increase watershed resilience by reducing invasive vegetation and supporting healthy floodplain function.

The Upper Abernethy Tributary Riparian Enhancement Project follows the successful completion of the Upper Abernethy Aerial Large Wood Project, during which strategically placed logs were installed by heavy-lift helicopter along more than six miles of Upper Abernethy Creek upstream of Beaver Lake. Together, these complementary projects increase habitat complexity throughout the watershed while restoring natural stream processes.

Implementing restoration projects in riparian and wetland environments requires extensive planning, engineering, environmental review, permitting, and coordination among landowners, regulatory agencies, and funding partners. Many projects take several years to design and construct to ensure they meet ecological objectives while protecting surrounding communities and natural resources.

Jamestown Ranch, a 200-acre property containing nearly one-half mile of the tributary, has a vision of creating a healthy forested landscape that supports wildlife, watershed health, environmental education, horseback riding, and future public access opportunities. The property is home to active beaver populations, kingfishers, great blue herons, hawks, and other wildlife that will benefit from continued habitat improvements.

While this phase of restoration is complete, additional funding is being sought to expand invasive species management and native revegetation efforts throughout the property. Continued stewardship will help ensure that restoration investments provide lasting benefits for the Abernethy Creek watershed and the communities and wildlife that depend upon it.

Project at a Glance

• Location: Upper Abernethy Creek watershed, Jamestown Ranch
• Stream restored: 2,002 feet
• Riparian habitat enhanced: 2.5 acres
• Restoration actions: Large wood installation, invasive blackberry removal, native tree and shrub planting
• Species benefiting: Coho salmon, winter steelhead, Pacific lamprey
• Project partners: Greater Oregon City Watershed Council, NOAA, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Wildlife Foundation – Port Blakely and Jamestown Ranch

 Contacts