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 3-1-2013 thru 2-29-2014 the fish habitat program will construct approximately 20.0 miles of riparian protection fence, 305 acres and 15.00 miles of creeks protected, coordination with 5 landowners (Hood River County, USFS, Bruce Hollow LLC (Tim Campbell), Tribal/BLM Earl Pryor, and Herb Jones).  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 4.00 miles of riparian fence on Desolation Creek/Hood River County property tributary to the North Fork John Day River, 1.3 miles riparian fence on Blue Creek/USFS property tributary to the South Fork John Day River, 8.00 miles of riparian fence on Earl Pryor/BLM/Tribes property on Hay Creek tributary of the Lower John Day River, 2.00 miles riparian fence on Bark Cabin Creek on USFS property tributary of the South Fork John Day River, 4.0 miles on Rock Creek/Bruce Hollow LLC property tributary of the Lower John Day River and 2.0 miles of riparian renewal fence on Herb Jones property on Mountain Creek.  There will be approximately 42 gates and 16 watergaps constructed on the six project sites.

The Herb Jones project materials are mostly purchased with funds provided by the CTWSRO in 2011.