Contract History: The purpose of this project is to protect and enhance habitat for improved natural production of indigenous, Mid-Columbia River (MCR) Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) summer steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), and spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) within the North Fork of the John Day River Basin. The project entails coordinated, cooperative efforts to protect and improve anadromous fisheries habitat consistent with the strategies and objectives outlined in the John Day Subbasin Plan.

This project originated in 2000 with initial on-the-ground implementations occurring in 2001. These projects were implemented within lower Camas Creek tributaries (Snipe and Owens Creeks), Deer Creek and the Lower North Fork John Day River. Approximately 16.52 miles of riparian fencing and 14 off-stream water developments have been constructed and two wells reactivated under the project. These improvements have resulted in enhancement of approximately 8.44 stream miles and 327 acres of riparian and floodplain habitat on private properties. An additional 9 upland spring sites and one well are currently being constructed under this project.

To date, all projects have included cost share funding and/or in-kind assistance from various sources including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wildlife Habitat Incentive and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (WHIP and CREP), U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), North Fork John Day Watershed Council (NFJDWC), Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO), and Columbia Power Cooperative Association. The project has also partnered with other entities, including the Umatilla National Forest (UNF) and Grant Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to assist them in obtaining NOAA cost share and habitat recovery on additional North and Middle Fork John Day tributaries. These efforts have resulted in further enhancement of approximately 2.7 stream miles and 97 acres of floodplain and upland habitat.

Summary of 2006-2007 Contract Work: Implementation during this project cycle shall include: (1) construction and repair of 1.95 miles of wetland/floodplain protection fencing to enclose a 388-acre wetland/meadow complex and protect one mile of stream, construction of four upland water developments, planting 3,000 willows, (2) planting 1,880 native trees and shrubs within 4 acres of stream corridor and installing 2,400 linear feet of 6-foot wide landscape fabric on floodplain terraces on the Lower North Fork John Day River, (3) revegetation of approximately eight acres and two stream miles of burned-over riparian areas within the South Fork of Cable and Hidaway Creeks with several thousand native trees, and (4) herbicide treatment of approximately 100 acres of floodplain area. These projects include partnerships and cost share with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Services Agency (FSA), UNF, NOAA, NFJDWC and OWEB.