Watershed council to place large wood at Johnson Creek mouth to retain cold-water habitat

The Johnson Creek Watershed Council told the Milwaukee City Council on July 17 that it will install large wood structures at the mouth of Johnson Creek this fall to slow flows, retain cold water in Milwaukee Bay and improve salmon habitat.

Council members heard from Jennifer Hamilton, executive director of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, and Holly Veil, restoration project manager, who described the project and the schedule. Hamilton said the work is funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and that the council revised construction plans this year to reduce cost and public disruption.

The council was shown aerial maps of the confluence and a shaded pocket of colder water that the presenters said originates from Johnson Creek and nearby outfalls. "This cold water is seeping into the warm water very quickly," Veil said, arguing that keeping that colder pocket intact in Milwaukee Bay improves salmon survival. The council heard that the installed logs and rootwads will reduce water velocity, decrease erosion at the delta and provide resting and hiding structure for juvenile and adult native fishes.

Holly Veil summarized logistics: material staging is already occurring; heavy earth-moving and log placement is planned for September, with October devoted to cleanup and site restoration. The council was told the project will use a staging area on adjacent private property (Moda) rather than floating logs from the boat ramp, a change the presenters said reduces cost, liability and the need to close the boat ramp. The council was also told the project has a permit from the park and will use orange snow fencing and signage to restrict public access along the top of the riverbank during low-water in‑water work to protect public safety.

On mitigation and fish protection, Veil said staff will work at the lowest seasonal flows to minimize disturbance and will install a turbidity curtain and run a fish‑salvage program inside the curtain so any fish displaced during work will be returned to the river. In response to a council question, she said the work is staged where crews will largely operate on the stony riverbank and avoid deeper water where juvenile salmon are present; the turbidity curtain will limit sediment movement.

Council members discussed communications and community engagement. Jennifer Hamilton said the council would like to coordinate interpretive signage and a celebratory community event when the project is complete, and asked to work with city communications staff to highlight partners and outreach. Council staff noted the city has previously discussed depaving and riparian restoration opportunities along Johnson Creek in other locations and will continue to seek coordinated projects.

The Watershed Council asked council members with questions about timing or site details to contact staff; presenters offered to provide a more detailed construction schedule on request.