McKenzie River's Wild Makeover: Willow Trees Restore Habitat

Volunteers recently gathered to plant willow trees along the McKenzie River as part of an ongoing restoration initiative. This effort, a collaboration between the Eugene Water & Electric Board, the McKenzie Watershed Council, and the McKenzie River Trust, aims to enhance water quality, bolster wildfire resilience, and improve habitat for local wildlife.

The McKenzie River has faced ecological challenges for a century due to dam construction and channelization. These interventions, while managing floods, have disconnected the river from its natural systems, resulting in reduced water levels and a decline in salmon size and population. Historically, salmon in the river were significantly larger than they are today.

Recent restoration phases, including a major project at Quartz Creek completed in September, involve strategically adding logs and gravel and replanting native vegetation. These actions aim to mimic natural ecological processes, creating complex habitats that benefit fish populations, such as Chinook salmon and bull trout, by providing shade, nutrients, and protection. Early signs from similar projects show promising increases in salmon nesting.