Completion Form

2023

Meadow Creek riparian planting and exclosure component:

Utilized excavator to patch fix access road to gain access to project area (road severely damaged from monsoonal flooding)
Planted within exclosures:
  --Transplanted a large number of native trees (primarily willows) a couple of miles from areas of high willow density to our upper spring project area where there was no willow presence to promote woody riparian vegetation growth
  --Planted 80 potted native woody shrubs and trees (5-gallon pot variety) that included varieties of golden currants, river birch, and silver buffaloberry
  --Planted additional 15 potted plants that included varieties of native narrow leaf cottonwood, tag alder, and aspen
  --Planted additional 10 potted green and coyote willow plants
  --Planted 7 potted, mature apple trees for wildlife value to area, within exclosure
  --Planted 1 weeping willow for fast growing tree to provide stream shading
Fixed exclosuring fencing with new panels and straightening posts and refastening fencing as needed

Meadow Creek BDA component: 
40 in-stream structures were installed along Meadow Creek. Sageland Collaborative performed an evaluation of Willow Creek and Meadow Creek and confirmed the value of installing more structures in the area. Anabranch solutions was contracted to design and install the BDAs along Meadow Creek.

Willow Creek Bridge: 
An SAP was applied for in the fall of 2022. The SAP was approved and in accordance with the requirements supplied by the SAP, an engineering firm was contracted to provide a plan for the construction of a bridge. The engineering plans fulfilled the requirements of the county floodplain development permit.

Meadow Creek riparian planting and exclosure component:
We spent approximately three weeks implementing a plan to plant native vegetation and fix the exclosures in the project area. Exclosures had been battered and damaged by substantial flooding events that occurred during the summer of 2022 as well as some elk that wished to challenge themselves on the high jump exercise. Exclosures were fixed via hand tools, labor, and the occasional use of the excavator we brought on site for the project, where we straightened fencing, redug posts, replaced panels and installed wire to prevent trespass cattle from gaining access below main paneling. We planted tree species including: weeping willow, green willow, coyote willow, three different apple tree species, narrow leaf cottonwood, aspen, tag alder, golden currants, silver buffaloberry, and river birch into the project area's riparian habitat. Additionally, we transplanted over 60 large willow root clumps from a nearby source that had abundant willow. These trees were all planted within the existing exclosure areas to protect them from depradation from wild game and trespassing cattle. Our desire is to see a healthy riparian area for around the exclosures that can provide a resilient habitat protected from erosion issues, provide stream shading, and provide a future seeding source for further natural tree dispersal and colonization.

Meadow Creek BDA component: 
Sageland Collaborative performed an evaluation of Meadow Creek and Willow Creek in the Fall of 2022 and recommended installing more structures to improve habitat in the area. A Stream Alteration Permit was applied for and obtained in the late Fall of 2022. After talking with the State Engineer in the Division of Water Rights, we determined that installing more than 40 structures in one year in Meadow Creek was not the correct approach from a Water Rights perspective. So, we adjusted the plan and decided to install 40 structures in Meadow Creek alone. In the summer of 2023, Anabranch solutions was contracted to design and install structures in Meadow Creek that would help raise the water table, eliminate head-cutting, and improve habitat.