Project Location:
T. 1S, R. 38E. Portions of Sec. 22, 23, 26
End Creek subwatershed, tributary of Willow Creek, tributary of the Grande Ronde River

Project Objectives:

Purpose
The primary purpose of the project is to restore riparian, floodplain, and wetland habitat, promote natural, stable stream channels and accompanying instream habitat diversity, and improve water quality for anadromous and resident salmonids.  The project includes establishing a perpetual conservation easement through the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), restoration of channelized stream reaches and reconnecting floodplain wetlands, and tree, shrub, and grass planting to restore native/native-like plant communities.  Habitat parameters being addressed include high summer water temperatures, low summer flows, unstable streambanks and erosion/sedimentation, poor riparian/wetland conditions, and poor instream habitat diversity.  

The project objectives include:
§ Increase suitable spawning and rearing habitat for anadromous and resident salmonids
§ Improve water quality (sediment, nutrient, water temperatures)
§ Improve wetland habitats for riparian/wetland dependent species
§ Increase groundwater recharge
§ Achieve private landowner land management and conservation objectives

Management Plans/Assessment pertinent to the area:
§ Willow Creek Watershed Assessment  (GRMWP 2001)
§ Willow Creek Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP) (Union SWCD 2002)
§ Upper Grande Ronde Subbasin Water Quality Management Plan (ODA 1990)
§ Upper Grande Ronde TMDL  (ODEQ 2000)
§ Grande Ronde Model Watershed Action Plan (GRMWP 1994)

These assessments have identified numerous factors limiting the health of the Willow Creek watershed, and on a larger scale, the Grande Ronde River system.  These include high summer water temperatures, elevated sediment and nutrient inputs, loss of wetlands, stream channelization and stream flow depletion.  The Willow Creek Watershed Assessment specifically identifies lack of shade, large wood deficiencies, channelization, wetland drainage, high stream temperatures, and high nutrient levels.  The Assessment identifies the opportunity to restore channelized streams to natural, stable channels.  

The Willow Creek CRMP identified seven (7) goals including:  1) Make the stream more hospitable to fish (restore streamside vegetation, reestablish desirable cover, increase shade, reduce streambank erosion); and 2) Improve fish habitat.  Landowners identified the number one concern as lack of streamside vegetation.  

Project Description

Introduction
The project will implement a variety of restoration activities including restoration channel construction, re-establishment of hydrology capable of supporting hydrophytic riparian and wetland vegetation, artificial and natural establishment of native/native-like tree, shrub, and grassland communities, terrace construction to direct floodplain water flow, floodplain pond construction, weed control, and riparian grazing management to restore fish and wildlife habitat on over 540 acres.  Funding for in-kind cost share will be solicited from several sources including the Wetland Reserve Program, Bonneville Power Administration, CTUIR, ODFW, NRCS and the landowner.

Existing condition
The project area historically contained meandering stream channels, wetlands and numerous springs.  In an effort to enhance drainage for agricultural production, End Creek and several unnamed streams were channelized, resulting in a series of linear ditches currently lacking riparian vegetation with eroding stream banks.  The water table likely dropped several feet allowing farming on much of the land parcel.  Currently, approximately 450 acres are annually tilled and planted to various crops.  The channelized End Creek stream segment currently flows directly through a center pivot irrigation system.  The ditches intercept and divert surface and ground water from numerous, natural springs, thereby reducing groundwater storage and potential for hydrophytic plant communities to develop.  The current landowner proposes to restore natural, stable stream channels, reconnect the floodplain, and restore habitat for fish and wildlife on the property.

The Willow Creek system, including End Creek and McDonald Creek, are known to provide habitat for Federally listed Snake River summer steelhead.  Willow Creek likely provides rearing habitat for Snake River Spring Chinook Salmon and may have historically provided spawning habitat.  

Benefits
§ Improved riparian and in-channel habitat for anadromous and resident salmonids 3.28 miles of fish-bearing, meandering channel will provide improved habitat by increasing channel complexity (pools, woody debris, structure), stream shade and aquatic species diversity.   Substrate materials will provide increased spawning habitat.  6.3 miles of secondary channels will provide interconnectivity of fish-bearing to cold water spring sources.

§ Improved water quality - Improved streambank stability, channel shade and functioning wetlands will reduce sediment inputs, reduce stream heating and reduce nutrient input and transport.  The retirement of 450 acres of intensively farmed cropland adjacent to End Creek and South Willow will eliminate the discharge of fertilizers and herbicides into the system.

§ Improved wetland habitat for riparian dependent species - Approximately 200 acres of wetlands will be created.  This will provide habitat for riparian and wetland dependent species, where none previously existed.

§Increased ground water storage/recharge - Channel reconstruction and filling in of drainage ditches will create wetlands which will retain and slow surface water runoff allowing increased water infiltration into the soil profile.  The stored water will be available for release late season and may improve late season stream flow in the Willow Creek system.

§ Meets landowner land management objectives - The project, in total, will create the conditions and habitat the landowner desires.

Project Maintenance/Enhancement
Fence maintenance, weed monitoring and control, wildlife monitoring and control if necessary, e.g. big game hazing and vegetation monitoring will be the cooperative responsibility of the landowner, NRCS (WRP), CTUIR and ODFW.  These are cost-share activities and will not require additional funds.  Funds for extraordinary work such as additional streambank stabilization or replanting will be pursued at the time additional work is identified and a plan is developed.  

Permits
The project will require COE/DSL permit, ESA consultation with NOAA and USFWS, and completion of a NEPA checklist through BPA.  CTUIR will facilitate permitting.  CTUIR/ODFW will complete ESA Consultation.

Monitoring Plan
The NRCS will do an annual status review to determine if practices have been installed and maintained according to NRCS guidelines.  In addition the following monitoring will be conducted for a minimum of five years:
§ Channel and bank stability  (ODFW/CTUIR/NRCS)
§ Vegetation survival/success (ODFW/CTUIR/NRCS)
§ Steelhead and resident fish use/production (CTUIR)
§ Big game & waterfowl use/depredation (ODFW)
§ Water quality monitoring (Union SWCD )
§ Ground water levels (ODFW/CTUIR/NRCS)
§ Monitoring and control of noxious weeds

Work Dates
Major construction activities will occur in the 2006 field season with revegetation activities occurring in the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007.  Final construction activities associated with channel reclamation along South Willow will be completed early summer 2007.