ODFW Grande Ronde Basin Fish Habitat Improvement Project, FY 2013 Summary:

This project continues the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife' s efforts to restore riparian and instream habitats in the Blue Mountain Province as mitigation for fisheries losses resulting from development of the federal Columbia River Power System.  The project focuses on the restoration of the habitats utilized by the ESA listed Snake River Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon and Snake River Summer Steelhead, but benefits many other species of fish and wildlife.

Since the initiation of this project in 1984, a total of 68 projects have been completed along 97.2 miles of stream, restoring 3663 acres of riparian and instream habitat.  Restoration efforts have focused on the Joseph Creek, Wallowa River and Upper Grande Ronde River systems based on recommendations of agencies, tribes and the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program (GRMWP) and subbasin plans.  This project frequently works in partnership with other agencies including USBR, CTUIR, ODOT, ODF, NOAA, NRCS, USFWS, USFS, USWCD, GRMWP and others. The results of these restoration efforts have shown improving conditions in project areas for salmon, steelhead and other native fishes.  An in depth summary of the project history, goals and objectives, summaries of individual project accomplishments, and overall results was completed by project staff.  The summary report for 1984-2007 can be found at:

https://pisces.bpa.gov/release/documents/documentviewer.aspx?doc=P107898

New project activities planned for this contract period include project planning, design, permitting, and construction.  Work in 2013 will include assisting the designs for the Catherine Creek/CC-44 Phase I project with construction scheduled in the fall.  We will also work with ODOT on the construction of a new bridge that will be required to connect the Ladd Creek Channel Reconstruction and Wetland Restoration project underneath Highway 203.  We will continue work closely with the USWCD, CTUIR, USBR and BPA on new BiOp projects, including the Catherine Creek/CC-44 Phase 2 project, Catherine Creek/Sheehy and Catherine Creek/Ricker projects.  Additional work will include working cooperatively with CTUIR on the Rock Creek/Bean and Mud Creek/Cannidy-Morrison projects.  We will continue to work independently on the Wallowa River/Baker project.

Ongoing project activities include maintenance and monitoring of existing projects.  ODFW staff will inspect 68 habitat projects built earlier, and conduct maintenance (i.e. repair fences and water gaps, stream banks, etc.) as necessary to ensure habitat treated by these projects continues to improve.  

Monitoring to track progress toward meeting project objectives will continue throughout this fiscal year.  Administration, reporting and outreach activities will be conducted as well.