Dam removal and channel restoration at Fossil Butte National Monument

This paper describes the demolition of two stockpond dams at Fossil Butte N ational Monument and restoration of associated gullies. The project was par t of a plan to remove four man-made stockponds from the Chicken Creek water shed to return the drainage to a properly functioning hydrologic condition and mimic the natural channel geometry. Other human activities have affecte d the stability of Chicken Creek and its tributaries, including constructio n of the Oregon Shortline Railroad, domestic Livestock grazing, road buildi ng, and agricultural activities. Although Chicken Creek is still responding to base level changes caused by railroad construction, most of its headcut s are small and relatively stable. Since the elimination of livestock grazi ng in 1989 some gullies have begun to heal. The restoration goal was to ini tiate a trend towards a stable, naturally functioning ecosystem. We describ e an innovative approach to gully restoration, discuss project effectivenes s, and make suggestions for improvement in project implementation.