North Fork Cabin Creek Culvert Replacements

Introduction and Background
The project proposes to replace three culverts with channel-spanning bridges, arches or bottomless concrete box culverts. North Fork Cabin Creek is habitat for summer steelhead, resident rainbow and other native fish. All culverts are partial to complete barriers (depending on flow) to adult steelhead passage.  All are complete barriers to juvenile steelhead and resident fish. Two of the culverts are on a county road, one is a private drive.  The North Fork Cabin Creek, at the project sites, is an intermittent stream, usually ceasing to flow in late July or early August. Flow in the headwater tributaries is perennial and provides year-long steelhead rearing and resident fish habitat.


Project Objectives:

•Provide year-round fish passage for all life stages of all native species, particularly Snake River summer steelhead
•Maintain streambed stability

Proposed Actions:

•Remove existing culverts
•Construct and remove bypass - Site 2 (middle only)
•Realign streambed to conform with stream form and function above and below the sites - Site 3 (north only)
•Install rock cross vane grade control structures as necessary to stabilize streambed (below Sites 1 & 3, above and below Site 2)
•Construct new structures (steel bridges at Sites 1 & 3, bottomless arch at Site 2)
•Erosion seed disturbed ground, reestablish hardwoods
•Grade and resurface the gravel roads

Benefits
Replacement of the three culverts in combination will open access for steelhead to approximately 5.5 miles of headwater habitat.  Larger capacity crossing structures will reduce risk of failure and introduction of sediment and road fill into the system.

Construction is proposed for the in-water work period July 1 to October 15, 2010.  The channel is expected to be dry during the construction period.  Anderson-Perry & Associates (AP) of  La Grande, Oregon have completed a site survey, preliminary designs and final designs. AP will prepare and submit DSL and COE permit applications. ESA consultation will be completed via BPA’s HIP II.  Cultural Resource survey and SHPO Section 106 compliance will be subcontracted.


Catherine Creek Sheehy Rearing Habitat

Introduction and Background
The project proposes to create winter rearing habitat for juvenile steelhead and Chinook by opening up an abandoned channel and providing  fish access from Catherine Creek .  Catherine Creek is habitat for ESA listed Snake River summer steelhead, summer Chinook and bull trout as well as resident rainbow and other native fish. The old channel was bypassed and cutoff when Catherine Creek was channelized about 40 years ago. A plug was constructed to keep water from flowing into the historic channel.  This reach of Catherine Creek is used extensively for winter rearing by juvenile steelhead and Chinook. Past channelization and dike construction has greatly diminished the quality and quantity of rearing habitat throughout this reach.

Project Objectives:

•Provide off-channel winter rearing habitat for juvenile Snake River spring Chinook and summer steelhead.

Proposed Actions:

•Remove plug blocking off the old channel.
•Install 3 rootwads to protect streambank as per designs
•Place LWD in the backwater channel
•Remove old fence, construct new livestock exclusion fence around the backwater channel.
•Erosion seed disturbed ground
•Interplant live willow stakes along backwater channel
•Install 2 off-channel livestock water troughs
•Install PVC water line to supply water troughs from end of irrigation mainline.

Benefits
Backwater channel will provide additional rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook, steelhead and resident species.  Off-channel livestock water will eliminated cattle access to the stream reducing sediment and nutrient inputs.

Implementation is proposed for the 2010 field season.  Work outside the Catherine Creek channel can occur anytime.  Connection to Catherine Creek will occur within the in-water work period July 1 to August 15, 2010.  Anderson-Perry & Associates (AP) of  La Grande, Oregon have completed a site survey, preliminary designs and final designs. AP will prepare and submit DSL and COE permit applications. Preparation of a Biological Assessment will be subcontracted. Cultural Resource survey and SHPO Section 106 compliance will be subcontracted.