The Oxbow Conservation Area, a 1,022 acre property, was purchased as a high priority project in 2001 with BPA mitigation funds by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Tribes).  The Project has since received BPA annual funding for O&M as part of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Tribes and BPA.  

The property is located within the John Day subbasin plan’s highest priority 5th Field HUC, Camp Creek, for Middle Fork subwatershed.  The property holds a high concentration of adult spring Chinook salmon through the high temperatures and low flows of the summer months, offers spawning and rearing habitat to Chinook salmon, ESA-listed as Threatened Mid-Columbia summer steelhead and bull trout as well as access to the five fish-bearing perennial tributaries that come into the property from National Forest lands.

Before acquisition, activities on the property severely impacted its habitat potential via overgrazing, dredge mining, invasive plants, and the clearing of trees and shrubs from riparian habitat.  Since acquisition, the Tribes have been working to protect existing habitat, restore degraded habitat, and assess conditions within the property and its valuable fish and wildlife habitat.  The Project will continue to follow the goals, objectives, and guidelines presented in the property management plan. Biological objectives for this Project target habitat for anadromous fish populations and other ESA-listed and sensitive species found on the property.

This Project will continue to address aquatic priorities outlined in the John Day Subbasin Plan:

•Protect High Quality Existing Habitat – achieved through various property O&M, education and outreach, riparian fencing, controlled access, monitoring trends, etc.
•Enhance Riparian and Instream Habitat – achieved through channel restoration of historically dredged and degraded streams, intensive riparian planting, adding large wood for habitat and stream complexity where needed, and controlling invasive  plants in riparian corridors.  
•Fish Passage and Habitat Connectivity – achieved through improving irrigation diversions, and replacing outdated fish screens.
•Flow Restoration - achieved through protection of existing water rights, careful use irrigation for riparian enhancement and groundwater storage, and monitoring of flows surrounding such use.

With the completion of the Oxbow Tailings Restoration Project over the past six years, the 2017 main focus will be on maintenance of the two miles of restored river and creek channels.  Special attention will be give to Phase 4 and 5 floodplain plants and weed control.  A small maintenance adjustment will be made to the new riffle on Phase 5 at Station 5+00.  Maintenance will be performed to the Granite Boulder Creek channel on Phase 2 with intensive use of willow cutttings.