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 16.8 miles of riparian fencing and 20 off-stream water developments have been constructed and two wells reactivated under the project. These improvements have resulted in enhancement of approximately ten stream miles and 708 acres of riparian and floodplain habitat on private properties.

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), U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) Partners for Wildlife Program, Umatilla National Forest (UNF), Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO), and Columbia Power Cooperative Association. The project has also partnered with other entities, including the 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.  Upland fencing associated with this project will be financed by these cost share entities since BPA is reluctant to approve funding for this purpose.

Summary of 2007-2008 Contract Work: Implementation during this project cycle shall include: (1) coordination with landowners, resource agencies and the NFJDWC to identify and select FY 2008 passive and active habitat enhancement projects within the Lower Camas, Upper Camas, Desolation and Granite Creeks Geographic Areas (GA's), (2) development of riparian conservation easements with landowners within the Lower Camas, Upper Camas, Desolation and Granite Creek GA's for FY 2007 and 2008 habitat restoration efforts, (3) construction of 1.3 miles of fencing to enclose eight acres of riparian habitat and protect 0.65 miles of stream on Upper Camas Creek, (4) construction of 0.75 miles of pasture-rotation fencing, drilling a well and creating four water developments to improve approximately 300 acres of upland habitat in the Cable Creek Drainage, (5) construction of three off-stream, upland livestock watering ponds and a spring site on Lower Camas Creek, (6) planting 2,100 native trees and shrubs within 388 acres of floodplain and wetland meadows on Lower Camas Creek, (7) herbicide treatment of approximately 168 acres of floodplain area, and (8) continue planning efforts for restoration work in the Lower Desolation Creek Drainage (assess current conditions, develop a monitoring plan, identify limiting factors, develop an action plan and determine implementation strategies). These projects include partnerships and cost share with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Services Agency (FSA), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), NOAA, NFJDWC and potentially OWEB.