Introduction

The Upper Grande Ronde River is spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River Basin summer steelhead, Snake River Basin spring chinook salmon, bull trout and redband trout.  The summer steelhead, spring/summer chinook and bull trout are federally listed under ESA as threatened species. Redband trout are on the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List.

Historic timber harvest and roading removed larger conifers from the valley bottom, reducing the future recruitment of large wood to the stream. This project will rehabilitate the floodplain and instream habitat through planting, large wood/boulder additions, streambottom road obliteration, and dispersed campground rehabilitation.

Location:  The Upper Grande Ronde River Small Wood and Plant Protection Project is located on the Grande Ronde River, a tributary to the Snake River. The project is located on 10.00 miles of the Grande Ronde River within the past Upper Grande Ronde River Woody Debris and Mine Tailing Project Areas (T 4S, R 35E, S 14, 23, 26, 35; T 5S, R 35E, S 1,2,12,13; T 5S, R 36E, S18; T 6S, R 36E, S 4, 9 & 10).  The project is located within the Upper Grande Ronde River (1706010401); Warm Springs Creek – Grande Ronde River (170601040109), Meadowbrook – Grande Ronde River (170601040103) & Tanner Gulch – Grande Ronde River (170601040101); Union County.  

Specific Actions:  The Upper Grande Ronde Small Woody Debris Project would place wood within 8.00 miles of the upper Grande Ronde River for a total of 80 dump truck loads.  Small wood would be placed around plantings within 2 miles of the mine tailings project.  Two small elk/deer exclosures will be constructed across the river within the mine tailings area.   Seeding and mulching would occur where disturbance and/or erosion potential occurs.

Project Objectives:  Improve spring/summer chinook habitat, summer steelhead habitat and bull trout, specifically through improving or increasing the following habitat elements.

•   Increase quantity and quality of pools within the Upper Grande Ronde River
•   Increase fish cover
•   Increase habitat complexity
•   Increase residual pool depth
•   Improve floodplain function
•   Improve riparian vegetation vigor

Benefits:  Increased quantity and quality of pools; increased fish cover; increased habitat complexity; increased forage availability; improved riparian/wetland communities; and increased spawning gravel recruitment.