The Umatilla River Subbasin Fish Habitat Improvement Program (UFHIP) is responsible for the protection, enhancement, and rehabilitation of stream ecosystems on private lands within the Umatilla River Subbasin.  Project activities are implemented under long-term agreements with landowners.  Past activities include the construction of grazing control fences and off-channel watering facilities, fish passage barrier remediation, channel rehabilitation, native plant enhancement on riparian areas and management of noxious weeds.

Proposed activities for FY 2012 by the UFHIP include Engineering implementation to remove four abandon irrigation dams.  Two dams in main steam Birch Creek on the Taylor Property and two dams in West Birch Creek, on the Hamby property and the Low property,. These project will include stream channel rehabilitation, removal of noxious weeds, and planting of native vegetation. With  the inventory of abandon irrigation dams on Birch Creek Watershed last fiscal year (FY11), negotiations with landowners to remove concrete irrigation dams and stream banks and channel stabilization on Birch Creek Watershed will be conducted. The UFHIP also proposes to maintain 323.7 acres of riparian and stream habitat within the Umatilla River Subbasin.  Specifically, 14 miles of fence, 16 off-channel watering facilities, and 117 acres of native vegetation will be maintained to meet program objectives.  Also, two surface flow monitoring systems and 11 temperature probes will be operated and maintained throughout the contract period.  The project will also monitor the status and trends of water temperature, stream flows and fish habitat in the Birch and Meacham Creek watersheds.