The Floodplain Reforestation on the North Santiam River project reestablished 30 acres of floodplain forest within the 462-acre Chahalpam Wildlife Area by planting agricultural fields with native riparian hardwood trees and shrubs in high densities to achieve canopy cover in five to seven years utilizing the Rapid Riparian Revegetation (R3) method.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde successfully re-acquired the 462-acre Chahalpam property through ODFW’s Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program (WWMP). Although WWMP funds habitat acquisitions and provides some funding for operations and maintenance from Bonneville Power Administration, it does not provide restoration funding to achieve desired future conditions. Natural & Working Lands funds are covering project management, plant materials, and contractual costs for planting and three years of plant establishment.

This project will increase net carbon sequestration and restore floodplain function through reestablishing floodplain forest on 30 acres. The restoration of ecological function of historic habitat will increase the complexity necessary for fish and wildlife and improve habitat conditions for 18 terrestrial and aquatic species, including ESA-listed spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead, State sensitive and culturally important Pacific lamprey, and several Oregon Conservation Strategy species including Northwestern pond turtle, Northern red legged frog and willow flycatcher.