Goose Lake Fishes Conservation Strategy

The project seeks to improve instream water availability and fish habitat conditions along a 1.5 miles reach of Cottonwood Creek. The project will address eight sites and implement stream habitat treatments to support native aquatic species population, productivity, and abundance in the Goose Lake Basin.

We will follow a process-based restoration approach to support post fire water quality, aquatic habitat, channel floodplain connectivity, and wet meadow conditions. 

 Wood debris will be used to build beaver dam analogs (BDA) and post-assisted log structures (PALS) along a 3.25 mile-long meadow system of Cottonwood Creek. Beavers are active in the project reach which will sustain the project long term.

The project goal is to restore native fish resiliency, maintain migratory waterfowl habitat, and support agriculture in the Goose Lake Watershed. A connected stream corridor relieved of entrapment will provide native fish range and distribution to spawn, rear, and seek refuge - influencing population and abundance. Wet meadows will provide critical habitat for the millions of migratory waterfowl that travel through the SONEC each year - influencing the Northern Pintail population and abundance while maintaining agriculture production.

Status: Implementation Planned 2023

 The goal of the study is to produce an Irrigation System Modernization Assessment Plan (Plan). The Plan will identify and evaluate opportunities to update and modernize the extensive distribution network to improve irrigation efficiency and water management. The Plan will also evaluate opportunities for fish passage and screening, waterfowl habitat enhancement, and potential social and cultural benefits for local family farms. The Plan will include GIS mapping, existing operations and infrastructure descriptions, a seepage study, a project prioritization matrix, and alternative design concepts that will be used by the to inform the decision-making process for implementing system modernization. 

Phase I was implemented in 2021 with the construction of two fish bypass channels, reactivation of the stream corridor, construction of hardened creek crossings, the addition of large wood, and willow plantings.

 A 5600 ft riparian fence was constructed in 2022.

Phase II will provide a 75ft rock ramp/roughened channel fishway to connect the lower segment of Muddy Creek to the Reservoir and an additional 6 miles of stream habitat. 

The project will to address stream channel degradation that has led to poor riparian and dry meadow conditions on a 600 acre property in the Goose Lake Watershed. Camp Creek and Cox Creek intertwine to join Thomas Creek (Goose Lake's largest tributary) at this site. A process-based restoration strategy using Beaver Dam Analogs will be constructed to slow stream velocities, capture sediment, aggrade the stream channel, and attract beavers to maintain investments made. 

Technical Assistance has produced an alternatives analysis and a 60% design plan to address fish passage and sustainability of irrigation at the diversion, streambank and riparian restoration solutions, and treatment along the incise creeks adjacent to the aspen grove.  

Small Grant Project that includes Riparian Fence, Streambank Stabilization, and Off-Site Water Development.