Upper Cameron Creek

Wetland Restoration with Beaver Dam Analogues

Location

Cameron Creek, Tributary to the East Fork of the Bitterroot

Goals

Lower water temperatures and reduce soil erosion to improve water quality and wildlife habitat along Cameron Creek.

Reasoning

Cameron Creek, a major tributary of the East Fork Bitterroot, suffers from excessive streambank erosion and insufficient streamside vegetation, creating an “entrenched” stream that is sunk deep into the ground and disconnected from the surrounding lands. This combination clouds Cameron Creek with fine silt, leaves little shade to keep the stream cool, and dries out both nearby wetlands and pastures. This fine silt clogs important fish breeding habitat and makes it difficult for native fish to find food. Warming waters also stress native fish, which rely on cold, clean water to thrive. These warm, clouded waters flow to the East Fork, affecting habitat far downstream. A lack of vegetation also limits habitat for various wildlife that depend on streamside vegetation for browse, cover, and nesting. Finally, a stream disconnected from surrounding pastures and wetland habitat results in less passive water storage in the soil, creating a less drought-resistant landscape.

Project Description

The Water Partnership is addressing these issues with a combination of “beaver mimicry” and planting of native plants. Staff and volunteers will install up to 200 human-made ‘beaver dam analogues’ (BDAs) along 2 miles of stream. These BDAs capture fine silt, slowly reconnecting the stream to the surrounding pastures and wetlands. This will also improve water retention in the soil, improving drought resistance for the lands around the creek. BWP will also plant up to 15,000 willows over the next three years to jumpstart plant regrowth. These plants will hold fast to the soil to limit further erosion and provide vital shade and habitat along Cameron Creek. Finally, “beaver deceiver” structures will be installed on 3 culverts along the stream to limit conflicts with beavers, allowing them to safely move in and maintain the stream for years to come.

This project expands on approximately 3/4 mile of streamside restoration BWP completed with landowners in a lower section of Cameron Creek. In that section, volunteers transplanted ~10,000 willow transplants. Then, 3/4 mile of protective fencing was installed to enhance native plant growth rate by managing cattle traffic in the restored, sensitive streamside area.

Timeline

2026 – 2029

Partners

Private Landowners, Montana DEQ

Cost

$100,000