This fall, Mid-Columbia Fisheries in partnership with the Teanaway Community Forest (TCF) launched a project to repurpose the byproducts of forest thinning for the restoration of local streams. Each year, forest thinning and the establishment of shaded fuel breaks are carried out to mitigate wildfire risks by removing small trees and creating space between larger ones. Traditionally, these thinned trees are either chipped or burned, but in collaboration with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we recognized an opportunity to use this resource more effectively for ecological restoration.

Mike Bosko, Project Manager at Mid-Columbia Fisheries (MCF), has long understood the ecological benefits of using thinned trees, particularly for restoring streams affected by historical land-use practices like logging railroads.

These practices constrained streams to narrow channels, leading to increased erosion and reduced water retention in the watershed. This initiated a cycle of erosion that persists today, causing water flows to rush out of the basin, bypassing the floodplain, and leaving the watershed drier during summer.

The ongoing incision of the streams creates a feedback loop that exacerbates erosion, further deepening the channels, diminishing water retention, and negatively impacting both forest and stream health, all while weakening the ecosystem's overall ability to recover and adapt.

With DNR’s support, MCF utilized thinned wood to improve degraded channels in Jack Creek and sections of the North Fork Teanaway River. By placing small trees and branches in these channels, we created structures that capture gravel, slow water flow, and help connect high flows with the floodplain, which in turn creates cool-water pools for fish during the hot summer months.

This project was made possible through the collaboration of several partners, including the DNR, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Mount Stuart Restoration Services, the Mountains to Sound Greenway, and Trout Unlimited. We also extend our gratitude to our dedicated restoration crew and the local community members who volunteered their time. Together, we are transforming forest thinning byproducts into a valuable tool for stream restoration, benefiting both aquatic ecosystems and forest health.