The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Trout Creek Habitat Restoration project is an ongoing project. The biological goal of the project to increase the out-migrant population of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Distinct Population Segment (DPS) Mid-Columbia River Summer Steelhead to an average of 100,000 smolts per year as estimated at the ODFW operated and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) funded out-migrant trap located on Trout Creek at river mile 3.2. To accomplish this goal project staff have completed several ambitious projects in the past several years, and have plans for several additional projects in the future.  Based on 39 years of combined experience and observation in the Trout Creek Watershed, ODFW and JCSWCD Project Managers have gained the necessary knowledge and landowner relationships in the watershed. This experience along with numerous planning and assessment documents have allowed us to prioritize stream reaches and upland habitats that provide the best restoration opportunities in the basin. In 2002, the Trout Creek Watershed Assessment (Runyon et. al. 2002) was developed and became a formal framework for strategic planning for restoration actions in the watershed. More recently, the Middle Deschutes Watershed Council revised this document, creating the Watershed Restoration Action Plan, April 2015 (Runyon et. al. 2015). Long range actions plans are routinely updated outside funding sources are leveraged and account for the majority of implementation funding. The tasks below give an idea of the issues addressed in and indicate the scope of the project actions undertaken to reach the projects ambitious goal.

1) Enhance Riparian Habitat - Goal 2 Strategy 2-B thru 2-F

Results to date: The Trout Creek Restoration project has 54 stream miles protected from livestock grazing and 4554 acres of riparian exclosure that are maintained by ODFW. Additionally, the working partnership with Jefferson County Soil and Water District (JCSWCD) and Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) has resulted in an additional 14 stream miles protected from livestock grazing and an additional 468 acres of riparian grazing exclosures. Restoration projects to date have planted over 120,000 trees and shrubs. Recently 1.2 miles of a total channel relocation and floodplain restoration project was constructed with funds from outside sources. Over the past 15 years this project has leveraged BPA funds to secure outside funds to design, implement, and monitor 11 miles of stream relocation and floodplain work in the basin.

Summary: In the 700 square mile Trout Creek watershed there are approximately 120 miles of fish bearing streams. Of these fish bearing streams 52% are within riparian exclosures and 11% are within inaccessible canyons.

Work to complete: Continue to maintain, monitor, and document habitat changes within existing ODFW exclosures and within channel realignment projects. Continue work with private landowners to develop projects that will enhance riparian habitat. Continue to develop partnerships with other agencies to facilitate funding sources and programs that will result in improved riparian habitat. Utilize monitoring and evaluation results to refine projects and to provide information on fishery response to actions. Additionally, use monitoring and evaluation data to assist in the negotiation for additional restoration projects with private landowners.

2) Enhance Instream and Floodplain Habitat - Goal 2 Strategy 2-B thru 2-F

Results to date: Planned, acquired funding, designed, and constructed instream and riparian habitat restoration projects on 12.5 stream miles. Along the 12.5 miles of restoration there has been over one mile of stream length added, an average flood prone width increases of over 175%, over 4,900 pounds of native grass and forb seed and over 85,000 trees and shrubs planted, 9.5 surface acres of wetland created, and over 270 acres enrolled into the CREP program. This projects' monitoring and evaluation program and the resulting data stream has served to initiate a two-mile stream restoration project on the Mainstem of Trout Creek in an area where poor habitat conditions limited the success of steelhead spawning and rearing. Within the forested areas of the basin several hundred habitat boulders and LWD pieces have been placed instream.

Summary: In the Trout Creek Watershed there are approximately 120 miles of fish bearing streams. Of these fish bearing streams approximately 29 miles of stream were altered by channel straightening. To date 44% of altered streams have been restored.

Work to complete: Continue to work with private landowners to develop restoration plans that will enhance instream and floodplain habitat on the remaining 17 miles of altered habitat. Continue monitoring and evaluation of physical habitat and biological components to assess success of project work and document physical and biological response to actions. Utilize monitoring and evaluation results to refine projects and to provide information on fishery response to actions. Continue to gather and use biological and physical habitat data to assist in shaping future restoration projects.

3) Enhance Irrigation Efficiency to Promote Additional Stream Flow – Goal 2 Strategy 2-A

Results to date: This project has replaced three gravel push up dams with removable stop log structures complete with fish passage devices. Additionally, this project has assisted the JCSWCD to implement several water efficiency projects. These projects have removed eight gravel push up dams and replaced 1.81 miles of open ditch with pipe and a conversion of flood irrigation to sprinklers. In addition, all points of diversion in the basin have fish screening devices.

Summary: With the effort from several agencies all points of water diversion have been screened. Through the multiple agency efforts, a total of 16 gravel push up dams have been eliminated and 7.83 miles of open ditch have been eliminated and/or placed in pipe.

Work to complete: Continue work with private landowners to remove the last two gravel push up dams. Continue to develop partnerships with other agencies to facilitate funding sources and programs that will result in improved irrigation efficiencies.

4) Protect high quality high production stream reaches and the surrounding habitat. Goal 1 Strategy 1-A and Goal 4 Strategy 4-A
Through years of on the ground monitoring project staff has identified high quality stream reaches and has and will continue to will work with owners of these important stream reaches to help assure that these rare stream, riparian, and upland habitats are protected and maintain their high production values.

Summary: Project staff is actively working with agencies and groups to maintain high quality habitats.

5) Improve Upland ecosystems and hydrologic processes to support health fish and wildlife populations and enhance watershed health. Goal 5 Strategy 5-A and 5-B

Project staff has and will continue to coordinate with JCSWCD on projects that promote healthy upland processes that will lead to increases in water quality and quantity to aquatic habitats.

Results: BPA funding for the Trout Creek Project staff time is being leveraged by JCSWCD in the applications for grants on several upland projects. This assistance provides the necessary cost share match funds that allow for and increase the ability to secure outside grants to address upland habitats.

6) Track and examine watershed conditions and monitor fish populations to assess if restoration actions are achieving the goal of the project. Goal 8 Strategy 8-A

Project has a long-term status and trend monitoring program for estimating the summer steelhead outmigrants from the basin. This consists of the operation of a 5’ screw trap and the operation of 2 PIT tag arrays and a Video weir along with annual redd survey to asses adult run size and migration timing and locations. Due to funding limitations the seasonal technician that assisted in redd surveys and trap operation will not be hired in this contract. This will require project staff to delay the start of smolt trapping until April. This will result in the potential loss of early outmigrant estimation and a reduced confidence in summer steelhead smolt escapement estimation.

Specific items to be addressed during this contract are:

1) Little Trout Restoration Project.
  a. Project staff will continue revegetation efforts which are expected to start at the beginning of the year and which may continue under future contracts.

2) Develop design for Foley Creek project.
a. Work with JCSWCD staff to begin conceptual project design.
b. Work with landowner to coordinate design elements that match fish restoration needs and ranch goals and objectives for the area.

3) Monitor and maintain over 100 miles of riparian exclusion fencing.
a Repair wooden fencing structures where wood post have failed.
b Repair fence where stream channel movement has reduced effectiveness
c Work with new landowners in the basin to continue exclusion fencing effectiveness and cooperation

4) Monitor Summer Steelhead population in the basin.
a Conduct mark and recapture smolt outmigrant estimation by utilization of 5' screw trap near the mouth of Trout Creek
b Conduct video weir operation to monitor adult migration of several fish species into basin.
c Conduct redd surveys to assess spawning timing and location into the basin.
d Maintain PIT arrays to determine timing of PIT tagged fish into the basin and determine escapement.

5) Trout and Opal Creek fish passage project.
a Continue to finalize design for the replacement of 2 stream crossings
b Work with JC public works to assist in installation of open arch culverts.  
c. Develop and plan for installation of culverts in the fall of 2021.

6) Maintain offsite water developments for livestock
a Continue to maintain offsite water developments to increase the effectiveness of riparian exclusion fencing.