Significant effort and funds have been directed at the restoration of anadromous fish in the Umatilla River Basin. This habitat enhancement project is one element in the comprehensive Umatilla Program which also includes artificial production, adult and juvenile passage improvements (ladders, screens, and trap and haul), in-stream flow enhancement, and monitoring and evaluation. Emphasis on watershed-wide habitat is needed for protection and enhancement of natural production capabilities in the basin.  

Historical and current land management practices continue to impact water quality and limit fisheries production capabilities in the Umatilla River Basin. These impacts include:

- agricultural pollution (sedimentation and chemical run-off) from poor cropland practices
- overgrazing of riparian and upland areas
- irrigation withdrawals
- logging
- channelization and constriction of stream channels
- development in floodplain areas

This project represents a continuation of existing efforts to improve natural production of existing summer steelhead and re-introduced chinook and coho salmon in the Umatilla River Basin. This project will continue to provide an integrated and comprehensive information base. Historical and current land use practices in the watershed will continue to be assessed. Recent completion of the Umatilla Subbasin/Willow Subbasin Summary and the Umatilla Subbasin Watershed Assessment will assist the project in identifying and updating habitat needs in the basin. The project will continue to complement existing fish passage and artificial production programs in the basin. On-going habitat restoration and protection efforts on private lands will be integrated with proposed enhancement projects to better justify expenditure of funds and time. Remedial measures will continue to be implemented to reduce or eliminate detrimental land management activities where possible. Continued operations and maintenance of existing enhancement projects will be included under this integrated approach. Watershed areas, containing contiguous blocks of quality anadromous salmon habitat, will be identified and recommended as priority for purchase or acquisition of management rights (including perpetual riparian easements, water rights, timber rights, grazing rights, etc.). Acquisition and improved resource management in such areas will ensure permanent protection of limited critical habitat.  

Restoration of anadromous fisheries resources in the Umatilla River Basin has been a coordinated effort between Tribal, local, state, and federal agencies and the agricultural community. Examples include the Umatilla Basin Project, the Umatilla River Subbasin Salmon and Steelhead Production Plan, the Umatilla Basin Anadromous Fish Habitat Enhancement Project and development of the Umatilla Hatchery and associated artificial production plans. This coordination has continued and expanded through development of scoping groups made up of local landowners, sportsman clubs and resource agency personnel. These groups have been instrumental in identifying issues and assisting in development of creative solutions to land use problems in the basin. Public coordination efforts will continue, and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) funds along with cost-share monies from additional sources will be pursued to implement necessary watershed improvements on private lands.

Project personnel shall request cooperation from the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Umatilla County Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) personnel to determine projects eligible under agriculture incentive programs that may be supplemented or extended with BPA funds. Project personnel will help landowners identify such projects. This approach shall include development of a reporting system to provide and receive regular updates from the NRCS, FSA and SWCD, state and Tribal offices, regarding participating landowners and their project locations. CTUIR shall participate as appropriate in the coordination, implementation, continuation and extension of agreements that provide specific benefits to Tribal anadromous salmonid programs.


The project will continue to enhance habitat in those portions of the Umatilla River Basin which most improve natural production of existing summer steelhead and re-introduced chinook and coho salmon.  Other areas may be considered if opportunities arise in high priority stream reaches as identified in the Umatilla Subbasin/Willow Creek Subbasin Summary. Additional maintenance enhancements will be implemented within the existing mid Mission Creek and mid Wildhorse Creek project areas. Other project areas shall continue to be assessed and maintenance will occur as necessary.