The CTUIR Walla Walla River Basin Fish Habitat Enhancement Project, initiated in 1996, is an ongoing effort to protect, enhance, and restore riparian and instream habitat important to native anadromous salmonids in the basin.  Planned activities will focus on the restoration of critical riparian, floodplain, and channel characteristics necessary to support and enhance these species.  

In this funding cycle, a project site assessment and restoration action plan is scheduled for two separate private properties in the basin totaling more than one mile of critical river habitat.  The products from this effort will increase our understanding of current conditions, assist in the development of strategies for achieving desired future conditions, and direct out-year restoration and monitoring activities.

Habitat enhancement activities are also planned for a project site on Couse Creek, a tributary to the mainstem Walla Walla River. This effort will reconstruct more than 300’ of straightened stream channel into a sinuous form, place 20 whole conifer trees, construct two j-hook vanes and three rock cross vanes, and plant 500 willow cuttings.  This work will enhance sinuosity, lateral pool development, channel length, maintenance of point-bars, riparian vegetation, and movement of stream materials through the project reach.  

The project will continue operations and maintenance on 10 streams miles of existing project areas and long-term project effectiveness monitoring.