2019-2025
After 6 years, KCT’s work on the Upper Kachess River Restoration Project is officially COMPLETE!
Starting in 2019, KCT began working with the US Forest Service (the landowners for this project) to develop required agreements and permits for the project. In 2022, KCT brought on experts from Inter-Fluve and worked with their staff to come up designs to restore a 1 mile stretch of river, including it’s adjacent riparian corridor and floodplains. A second phase of the project aimed to remove and relocate the Mineral Creek Trailhead up out of the Kachess River floodplain.
Construction of Phase I was completed in 2023, and included all in-stream, floodplain, and riparian restoration work. Restoration in one mile of Kachess river included installation of 61 engineered log jams (ELJs), each one with an associated pool that provides habitat complexity and refugia for Kachess River bull trout.
Many of the pools were dug deep into the ground until they were connected to groundwater. This method was used to help ensure there would be persistent cold pools to help fish survive through summer droughts.
Nearly 1,000 feet of side channel habitat was also created. Designed as a high flow channel, this additional habitat will help reduce velocities during high flow events and provide places for fish to escape gushing flows in the main channel. This is especially critical for juvenile fish not yet strong enough to fight the strong currents. Without places to take refuge, these small fish get swept out into the reservoir, where they soon become prey for the large fish that live in Lake Kachess.
The second and final phase of this project was just completed last month (Nov 2025). The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust did a wonderful job rebuilding and rerouting the end of the Mineral Creek Trail to connect to the new trailhead location. The new trailhead, parking area, and the road leading to it is now located out of the floodplain, where it will no longer degrade water quality in Kachess River.
This project occurred entirely on US Forest Service land and would never have happened without the help and support from all our dedicated partners. KCT would like to thank everyone that helped with this project along the way. From initial monitoring, surveys, and fish rescues that showed the need for action, to our funders and partners that helped make this project happen. Thank you!
Please visit our Upper Kachess River Restoration Project Page to learn more.
Protect the Lands You Love
We love this amazing area and we know you do too! From the alpine environment at Snoqualmie Pass to the shrub steppe habitat of the Yakima River Canyon, Kittitas County is home to an amazing diversity of habitat types. These special places are under increasing pressure from development. The population is projected to grow by 40% in our rural areas in the next 20 years. This growth makes it more important than ever to protect our lands before it is too late, and you can help.
Your support will ensure critical habitat in Kittitas County remains accessible and healthy for wildlife, fish, and people. Just $25 or more for the year will preserve important habitat and restore streams and rivers that have been degraded by human impacts.
