The local landowners, agencies, and stakeholders are planning and implementing conservation measures in the Willow Creek watershed to address such problems as the reoccurring flood problems in the town of Madras, channel and bank erosion in the upper stretches of the creek, and land management practices, which can be a major contributor to some of these problems.
Middle and parts of lower Willow Creek host populations of red-band trout, but reaches of the creek through Madras are deeply incised, disconnected from natural floodplains, and dominated by sediment laden channels, rather than gravel and cobble, which would serve as spawning habitat. A future project on lower Willow Creek will apply bank-shaping to re-connect the creek with its floodplain, thus creating a "sponge," where water is stored during high flows, rather than running unchecked downstream to Madras.
County Road 780 crossing at Lower Willow Creek: This crossing was destroyed during the flood of winter 2005/06. The Willow Creek Watershed Council partnered with Jefferson County to replant the area following culvert and road replacement. The sequence of photos illustrate upward trend from March through August, 2006. |
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PFC, Upper Willow Creek Watershed: In 2005, A Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessment of the perennial stream reaches in the upper one-third of the Willow Creek Watershed above Madras was conducted by Wayne Elmore, Full Stream Consulting. Knowledge gained by this assessment will guide The Willow Creek Watershed Council in setting restoration priorities. |
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Lower Trout Creek Restoration: This is a planned project by the Trout Creek Watershed Council to supplement riparian vegetation along on mile of Trout Creek and ¼ mile of Ten-Mile Creek. A greater diversity of shrub and grass types will serve to increase shade, trap sediment, and subsequently improve anadromous fish habitat.
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