This project was initiated on July 1, 1984 under the BPA contract and allows for initial landowner contacts, agreement development, project design, budgeting, and implementation for anadromous fish habitat improvement on privately owned lands within the John Day Basin.  

The purpose of the John Day Fish Habitat Enhancement Program is to enhance production of indigenous wild stocks of spring chinook and summer steelhead within the sub basin through habitat protection, enhancement and fish passage improvements.

In work period 3-1-2011 thru 2-29-2012 the fish habitat program will construct approximately 24.2 miles of riparian protection fence, 310 acres and 14.25 miles of creeks protected, coordination with 7 landowners (Jim Claus, Vega Nunez, USFS, Terry Long, Thomas Hammond, Thomas Scrugham and  Gordon Larson). The actual number of stream miles protected is probably higher, do to sinuosity and ground truthing this summer will correct any missed judgments.   Construction will include approximately 3.40 miles of riparian fence on Thirtymile Creek/ Claus property tributary to the Lower John Day River, 3.00 miles riparian fence on Twelvemile Creek/Vega Nunez  tributary to the Middle Fork John Day River, 4.00 miles of riparian fence on USFS property on South Fork Murderer's Creek tributary of South fork John Day River, 8.00 miles riparian fence on Bear Creek/Terry Long property tributary of the Lower John Day River, and 1.30 miles on Service Creek/ Thomas Hammond property tributary of the  John Day River, 3.00 miles of stream on Service Creek/Thomas Scrugham property tributary of the John Day River, 0.75 miles of stream on Berry Creek/Gordon Larson property. One gravity spring development will be installed on Cherry Creek/Matt Smith property. There will be approximately 45 gates and 25 watergaps constructed on the nine project sites.