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RattleSnake Gulch Fish
Passage and Restoration
Rattlesnake Fish Passage and Restoration
This project was completed in 2023 and improves fish habitat in a small tributary to Swale Creek, which is an important tributary to the Klickitat River. The project is located on Rattlesnake Gulch Creek, just upstream from the stream's confluence with Swale Creek. Mid-Columbia Fisheries sponsored a grant to help support implementation of the project, which was lead by Yakama Nation.
Goal
The goal of the project was to provide fish passage and improve habitat for native species, including Mid-Columbia Steelhead, which is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act
Project Components
The project actions included the following:
Improved access to habitat by replacing a culvert on East Fork Rattlesnake Gulch with a single span steel bridge, restoring access to 3.19 miles of habitat
Improved access by replacing a culvert on West Fork Rattlesnake Gulch with a single span steel bridge, restoring access to 0.3 miles of habitat
Improve access to habitat by removing a small concrete dam located on the mainstem Rattlesnake Gulch Creek, downstream of the new bridges
Removed 125 ft. of berm and embedded railroad ties on the right bank of the steam near concrete dam
Improved habitat by adding large wood and replanting the riparian area with native trees and shrubs.
The project was led by Yakama Nation, with funding from Bonneville Power Administration. Mid-Columbia Fisheries supported the project through the sponsorship of a grant from the Salmon Recovery Board.
The project was prioritized during a 2019 assessment of tributaries to Swale Creek. Rattlesnake Gulch Creek is one of the larger tributaries to Swale Creek, draining an area of 3,389 acres. Among the tributaries of Swale Creek, Rattlesnake Gulch provides the largest contributions of sediment and water to Swale Creek. Rattlesnake Gulch enters Swale Creek just half a mile from the Klickitat River. Downstream of the project area, there are no other barriers.
Construction completed September 2023
The current culverts were extremely under-sized for the stream and at significant risk of failure in a flood. These culverts were installed after a flood destroyed the bridges. The new bridges have a much larger span to accommodate future floods. These bridges will ensure access across the forks of the Rattlesnake Gulch Creek for decades to come.
