Fivemile-Bell : Large Scale Restoration of Watershed Processes on the Central Oregon Coast

This multi-partner project is in the midst of restoring natural watershed processes to 5.2 miles of valley bottom pasture lands where the stream is currently straightened, ditched, diked, and downcut, and treating 500 acres of upland plantations to develop LSR conditions and decommissioning old harvest roads that dramatically changed the watershed hydrology.  Approximately 28,000 feet of stream channel will be dug, existing straightened channels will be abandoned and filled, and other existing channels will be aggraded by partial filling.  An estimated 134,000 cy of valley material will be regraded to re-establish floodplain connections. The re-establishment of native plant communities throughout the valley bottoms that are currently dominated by non-native plants is a major focus throughout the project including the re-introduction of traditional Native American utilized species.  Over 2500 trees will be added to the streams and on the floodplains to restore diverse instream and riparian habitat conditions for fish and riparian dependent species.  This work is being conducted to improve the fresh-water rearing habitat for threatened Oregon Coast Coho salmon.  The Siuslaw National Forest will have primary oversight of all contract work conducted during this 10 year restoration project. Partners include the Siuslaw Watershed Council, Siuslaw Institute, and Ecotrust.