Lastly, before putting water in our new channel, in-channel log and rock vanes were built. These vanes provide stream bank protection by diverting the powerful energy of the stream away from the bank and into the middle of the creek. Also the vanes provide habitat complexity for rearing juvenile salmon and slow water for adult salmon to rest during their migration. Most of the vanes were log and rock combinations, though some were solely large boulder/rock vanes. See our Photo Gallery for pictures of the vanes during construction.
On June 30 we held a Moose Creek Renewal Ceremony at the project site to formally thank the project sponsors and provide an opportunity for community members and agency personnel to walk around the project and have their questions answered. About 1/3
rd of Moose Creek’s water was flowing in the new channel so visitors could see how the in-channel vanes were performing. The day was particularly special since the first chinook salmon of the year had been spotted at the project site the night before, and there were five sighted during the ceremony!
Salmon Exploring New Channel
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By July 5 several chinook salmon had been seen passing through the newly constructed channel and migrating above the previous waterfall barrier! On this day we completely diverted the creek around the waterfall in our new channel and provided fish passage for the many returning adult chinook salmon!
