The Umatilla Anadromous Fish Habitat Program (UAFHP) 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.

For FY 2015 the UAFHP does not have any implementation actions planned at this time.  However, the program has several other tasks scheduled for the year which will aid in identifying and selecting future implementation projects.  First, The UAFHP is participating in and providing technical review for the Birch Creek Geomorphic Assessment and Action Plan sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).  This assessment will identify critical locations for future implementation actions within the Birch Creek drainage.  Second, The UAFHP is proposing to perform habitat condition surveys in the upper Meacham Creek drainage.  Hancock Forest Management has recently purchased large land holdings in upper Meacham Creek.  The UAFHP will develop a map identifying all private land holdings in upper Meacham Creek and contact property owners to gain access to said properties.  Habitat condition surveys will be performed, and critical areas for future restoration projects will be identified.  Surveys will also be performed on current projects to determine if any additional restoration action is needed.  Finally, the UAFHP has proposed to develop an Access database for the project in order to more efficiently track and organize large archived data.  The UAFHP will also plant 1000 native trees and shrubs on the Hoeft dam removal site and other locations as the discretion of the program biologist and senior technician.      

In addition to these new tasks for FY 2015, the UAFHP will also continue to coordinate and provide technical assistance to other agencies throughout the basin to complete fish habitat restoration projects.  The UAFHP also proposes the continued maintenance of 275.77 acres of riparian and stream habitat within the Umatilla River Sub-basin.  Specifically, 13 miles of fence, 17 off-channel watering facilities, and 130 acres of native vegetation will be maintained to meet program objectives.  Also, two surface flow monitoring systems and 10 temperature probes will be operated and maintained throughout the contract period to monitor the status and trends of water temperature, stream flows and fish habitat in the Birch and Meacham Creek watersheds.

For FY 2015, the UAFHP will also continue outreach and education by participating in outdoor school, continue to seek out landowners for future projects and renewing cooperative agreements, and will also actively investigate for trespass cattle on all riparian fencing projects.