The Grande Ronde Fish Habitat Improvement Project supports the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife' s (ODFW) efforts to restore riparian and instream habitats in the Blue Mountain Province as mitigation for fisheries losses resulting from development of the federal Columbia River Power System. The project focuses on the restoration of habitats utilized by Federal Endangered Species Act listed Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and Snake River summer steelhead, while benefiting many other species of fish and wildlife. Since initiation of this project in 1984, more than 70  projects have been completed on over 100 miles of streams restoring 3,700 acres of riparian and instream habitat.

Project activities planned for this contract period include coordination with basin partners, project planning, design review, permitting and construction, and inspection and maintenance of projects with current ODFW easements. Continued coordination with landowners and pursuit of additional project will also occur.

Funding for implementation of Phase 1 of the Wallowa River-Baker Project has been received from the GRMW and the McNary Mitigation Fund. Project implementation will begin in June 2017. Activities planned for 2017 include construction of two side channels, installation of engineered log jams, fish salvage, riparian planting, and seeding. A 15-year conservation easement has been signed with the landowner.

The Crow Creek-Krebs project will be implemented including constructing livestock and elk exclosure fencing, installing three off-site watering systems, recountouring streambanks, and riparian planting. A 15-year conservation easement has been signed protecting 40 acres,

Technical assistance funding has been received from BPA and OWEB for a fish habitat restoration project on the Hall Ranch, located on Catherine Creek. An engineering firm was hired to develop detailed designs. Phase 1 designs will be completed by April 01, 2017. Program staff will pursue project implementation funding. If funding is received, Phase 1 project construction will occur approximately June-November 2017.

Program staff are pursuing project design funding. If funding is received, Program staff will be the lead on project design for the Bowman-Upper Grande Ronde and Catherine Creek State Park projects.

Inspection and maintenance of projects with easements will be on-going, including maintaining project vegetation, monitoring for and removing trespassing livestock, maintaining and repairing/reconstructing fence lines, and maintaining reconstructed stream channel and instream structures. These activities will be conducted throughout the year to comply with ODFW easements.

Temperature monitoring and data analysis is planned at 12 sites on 6 streams. Photographs will be taken at approximately 100 photo point locations.

Easements and projects on the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek, Lostine, and Wallowa Rivers and Chesnimnus and Pine creeks will continue to be pursued.

GRFH staff will participate in the BPA Catherine Creek and Upper Grande Ronde ATLAS process via participation on the Science Technical Advisory Committee, Implementation Team, and Stakeholder Technical Advisory Committee. GRFH staff will assist with identifying high priority project opportunities, selection of opportunity leads, and opportunity development.

GRFH staff will participate in development and implementation of the Wallowa Basin, Joseph Creek, and Imnaha Basin Atlas. Development of this Atlas is being funded by OWEB using Focused Investment Partnership Capacity Building dollars. BPA is assisting with Atlas development.

Program staff will participate in monthly Union County Coordination meetings coordinated by the GRMW.

GRFH Program staff will continue to participate on project design and implementation teams for partner's projects in the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek, and the Wallowa Basin including CC-42, Bird Track, Whiskey Creek, Tamkaliks, and other projects as they arise. ODFW will oversee project construction on Wallowa-Baker, Crow Creek-Krebs, and Hall Ranch and  lead fish salvage operations on Wallowa-Baker and Hall Ranch. Coordination with basin partners will remain a priority.