Restored South Meadow Floodplains Benefit Fish & Wildlife Water Quality

 

Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah stewards 250 floodplain acres, including enhancing over 70 acres of diverse habitats with more than 70 different species of native plants. We restored flows into side channels and created backwaters that benefit fish, turtles and other aquatic species.

Receding floodwaters on November 20, 1996 revealed multiple side channels on the South Meadow. The side channel in the center of the floodplain was the main stem in the 1850s.

Phase I (2003) also excavated and planted this channel segment  to connect two side channels on the site, increase complexity and lengthen the channel.

A winter steelhead  seeks refuge or spawning habitat in a stream on Buford Park, upstream from the South Meadow side channel complex.

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife biologists ) monitor aquatic species in the newly restored backwater habitat.