By Michael Howell
A massive riverbank restoration project is underway this summer along a half-mile stretch of the East Fork of the Bitterroot River as it flows across the Lazy J Cross Ranch in the south valley. The project was born out of discussions between Heather Barber, Executive Director of the Bitter Root Water Forum, and Jill (Wetzsteon) Applebury, one of the owners of the ranch. Barber said she and Applebury came up with the idea when walking along the riverbank one spring day in 2016.
“Looking upstream to old growth cottonwood forests and downstream to large groves of willows, we talked about what could be done to enhance and restore a half-mile of streamside property in between,” said Barber.
The Lazy J Cross Ranch has been in the Wetzsteon family for five generations. According to Barber, their long history and love for the ranch and the Sula Basin is what led them to partner with the Bitter Root Land Trust in 2015 and conserve their land. She said the conservation easement placed on the land ensures the ranch will remain open for wildlife, available for agricultural use, and public hunting through the Block Management Program. She said this was the first step in conserving the legacy of the place for future generations and this riparian restoration project is the Wetzsteon family’s next step to enhance their land.
The Water Forum has been working on improving riparian areas through active restoration since 2010. Riparian areas function as a buffer against sediment and nutrient inputs by slowing surface water, capturing fine sediment, and increasing water retention in the soil. Plants provide shade for the stream, reduce water temperature, and stabilize the bank with diverse root systems. A multitude of animals, especially birds, use riparian areas as habitat. Leaf litter and fallen trees provide a food source and habitat for fish and insects in the water.
According to Barber, the East Fork of the Bitterroot River, like many water bodies, has significantly changed over time. In this case, the fires of 2000 increased sediment delivery, also increasing the rate of erosion along the banks. Channelization created incision which disconnected the stream from its floodplain. With banks eroding and water unable to move naturally through the floodplain, streamside vegetation was lost.
“This is not an uncommon occurrence on the East Fork or throughout the Bitterroot watershed,” said Barber. She said unfortunately the East Fork of the Bitterroot is now one of many streams in the Bitterroot listed as impaired by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, specifically for sediment and temperature.
“A healthy riparian area, the vegetated strip between the upland and the river, can combat these impairments,” said Barber.
Applebury was actively involved in finalizing the plans and putting it all together.
“Growing up I spent summers in Montana and the ranch has always been a special place to me. Being a part of this project, and actually driving the tractor full of willow transplants to help replant the riparian area, has been a rewarding experience,” said Applebury.
Barber said that these projects can often take years to come together, and take dedicated effort from landowners and the Water Forum.
Restoration on the Lazy J Cross began with a bank revegetation treatment, consisting of excavated benches filled with mature willow transplants and willow cuttings to rapidly add 410 feet of vegetated area. Set back from the stream, these plants will re-create a riparian area while still allowing for natural channel migration. After revegetation, fencing was installed around a half mile of stream, creating a riparian pasture. Fencing will immediately reduce grazing pressure.
Just last week, Water Forum volunteers were out placing browse protectors around budding plants and shrubs that were installed along the riverbank this spring and in October they plan to return and plant over 400 more native shrubs to bolster recovery efforts.
Barber noted that projects of this scale rely heavily on partnerships and funding. Funding for this project comes from the Future Fisheries program of FWP, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee, the Western Native Trout Initiative, and private donors. Bitterroot Trout Unlimited has provided some staunch and reliable volunteers. GM Environmental was hired to design the project. Barber said the ranch manager has been extremely helpful in implementation of the project.
“We’re grateful to the entire Wetzsteon family for all they’ve done, and continue to do, for the health and vitality of the Sula Basin, the East Fork of the Bitterroot River and beyond. Projects like this make a lasting impact and they wouldn’t be possible without willing and interested landowners who want to make a difference for their property and their community,” said Barber.
For more information on the Bitter Root Water Forum and this project you can visit the website brwaterforum.org.