Lower Howard

The Howard Preserve in Bellevue is the site of the first phase in a mile-long restoration project.  The main focus of this first phase was to connect the river to its floodplain by breaching the old levee and opening up an historic side channel - over 4,000 cubic yards of artificial fill was removed to breach the levee and open up the side channel.

 

In addition to increasing access to riparian habitats, this project also saw the installation of woody debris structures at the apex of the side channel opening.  Large woody debris structures are naturally occurring features in rivers and provide habitat complexity and cover for juvenile and adult trout.