The Ohop Valley Restoration project aims to restore Ohop Creek, the 2nd most important salmon-producing tributary of the Nisqually River in Washington. A century ago, the creek was drained and diverted into a ditch to make way for dairy farming. The restoration project involves re-meandering the stream back to its original path, removing old buildings and invasive plants, and replanting native vegetation along the floodplain to reestablish a healthy riparian zone and provide habitat for salmon and other wildlife. Replanting trees is an important part of the project, as trees help prevent erosion, provide shade to keep water temperatures low, supply food and habitat, and mimic the functions of natural log
2. The First People
•The Nisqually Tribe
•“Squally-absch”, or “People of the
river, People of the grass country”.
•Traditionally lived off the land and
rivers
•Salmon are important to their diet
and culture.
9. The Ohop Valley Story
Ohop Creek is the 2nd most important salmon-producing
tributary of the Nisqually River.
A century ago, the creek was drained into a ditch. This was
done to dry-out the valley for dairy farming.
10. Restoration Activities
• Re-meander stream
• Removing old buildings
• Removing invasive plants
• Replanting the large
floodplain
11. Why Re-meander a stream?
Meander= to follow a winding, bending course.
15. Our Purpose
Replant native vegetation to re-establish a healthy
riparian zone.
16. 5 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon
A. Roots hold dirt, preventing erosion which can smother
the redds within the stream.
17. 5 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon
B. Large woody debris (LWD) provides pools,
resting spots, feeding areas, and hiding spaces
from predators.
18. 5 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon
C. Trees provide shade, keeping stream temperatures low, a
necessity for the survival of salmon.
19. 5 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon
D. Trees provide oxygen, which is good for not only
the salmon, but us too.
20. 5 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon
Lastly…
Provide habitat for bugs, which are food for the
juvenile salmon!
Trees drop leaves, which feed the base of the food chain
in the stream!
29. Remember,
Safety First!
Walk, don’t run.
Stay in sight of the group at all times.
Shovels:
Sharpened regularly, which makes them dangerous.
Never carry shovels over your shoulder.
Tip should always be pointed towards the ground, like
walking sticks.
Editor's Notes
European settlers couldn’t pronounce “Squally-Absch”
Built dikes
Cleared local vegetation
Farmed crops and animals
Ditched creeks
Pollution and run-off continue
Landscape continues to change….
Wildlife and many other natural resources are at risk.
NREP partners with many schools, teachers and students…
A river is always changing shape due to natural erosion processes.
Improves connection with other streams within the floodplain
Provides temperature control
Creates different speeds of water, giving fish rest areas instead of one fast stream
Stabilizes river banks
Helps protect flooding of man-built parts of the Nisqually watershed including: Highway 7, Peterson Road, bridges, and adjacent neighborhoods.
Phase 1:
Replanting 100 acres along the river
Installing 40 log jams 400 trees
Phase 2:
Realigning
ditched channel
Provide food and homes to animals in the ecosystem, which are necessary for their survival.
Benefits wildlife, especially salmon
5 Nisqually salmon: Chinook, Coho, Chum, and Pink salmon and Steelhead
Does anyone know what a redd is?
Provide habitat for bugs, food for the juvenile salmon, and leaves, which feed the base of the food chain in the stream
Red Alder Facts: Red alders can grow to be more than 120 feet tall and have the ability to fix nitrogen, contributing to the abundance of this limited nutrient.
Oregon Ash Facts: The Oregon ash is a deciduous tree that can grow over 80 feet tall and live up to 250 years.
Balsam Poplar Facts: Balsam poplar is a fast growing deciduous tree that can grow up to 98 feet tall. Bees collect resin and use it to seal off intruders, such as mice, which might damage and infect the hive.
Sitka Spruce Facts: The Sitka Spruce is an evergreen tree that can grow over 340 feet tall and is the largest species of spruce. Natives used softened pitch to patch and waterproof boats, harpoons and fishing gear.
Pacific Crab Apple Facts: Natives would cook and mash the apples. The wood is hard and somewhat flexible and was used to make tool handles, bows, wedges, and digging sticks.
Red Osier Dogwood Facts: Natives sometimes used the branches for basket rims.
Twin Honeysuckle Facts: The berries are incredibly bitter and attract birds, bears, and small mammals.
Pacific Ninebark Fact: Natives would use parts of this plant for medicinal purposes.
Cascara Fact: Cascara is deciduous and can grow as a shrub up to 15 feet or a small tree 50 feet. Natives used cascara as a medicine to wash wounds and swelling.
Swamp Rose Fact: Bright, pink flowers grow in groups of 2-10 and bear fruit or “rose hips.” These attract and provide food for birds and mammals.
Rose Spirea Fact: Reproduce from rhizomes (an underground stem) that allows it to grow in thickets
Sitka Willow Fact: Natives pounded the bark and applied it topically to wounds as a healing agent, ground it to a powder and mixed with cereal to make bread, and used it for making rope.