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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a...log? Yes, flying logs could be seen in the skies over Kitsap County last summer, all part of a project to improve habitat for salmon in local streams.
Flying logs could be seen in the skies over three remote streams in Kitsap County last summer: Little Anderson, Gamble, and Carpenter Creeks. As part of a large stream restoration project, staff from the Kitsap Conservation District — and the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, Stillwaters Environmental Learning Center, and Smayda Environmental — located and cabled logs together for helicopter transfer and placement into the nearby creeks to provide necessary "habitat structure" for salmon. Why is a stream full of fallen logs beneficial to salmon?
Imagine living in a house with no rooms, no roof, and no furniture. There wouldn't be any place to rest, take refuge, or raise your family. You'd be battered by the constant weather and exposed to any danger that came along. It's not that different for salmon trying to survive in a stream devoid of "habitat structures" like large logs, boulders, and overhanging roots. All those structures create pools for resting, gravel beds for spawning, cover from predators, and riffles that churn oxygen into the water. Now that makes a comfy home for salmon!
Placing logs in creeks is only one of many practices used by Kitsap Conservation District and the other 46 districts around the state to restore salmon habitat. All across the state, conservation districts have partnered with private landowners to replace fish passage barriers, replant streamside banks, screen irrigation ditches, conserve irrigation water, and fence livestock from streams. Even if a site is difficult to reach, conservation districts, like Kitsap CD, will figure out a way to get the job done!
This project was funded by a National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
and Salmon Recovery Funding Board
Partnership Hood Canal Community Salmon Fund Grant.
For more about Kitsap Conservation District programs and projects, read their annual report:  Annual Report 2007 - Kitsap Conservation District 182.28 Kb
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