Elmer Dam is located on Catherine Creek (RM 13.1), Union County, Oregon. The dam significantly effects the creek's water quality, hydraulics, habitat complexity, and fish passage.

The goal of this design work at Elmer Dam is to improve fish passage for all native fishes at all water levels (with a focus on Chinook and steelhead), decrease the negative hydrologic effects associated with the dam in its current state, and increase the efficiency of the landowner's agricultural systems. The project team, consisting of the Union Soil and Water Conservation District (USWCD) and Trout Unlimited (TU), are working with the landowner (and water rights holder) at the dam to investigate options that would achieve this goal.

In 2018, the project team kicked off an effort to understand the issues and concerns associated with the dam by collecting background information and coordinating a photo monitoring effort during the adult Chinook salmon migration (June-August 2018). The project team is also studying the local channel and hydraulic conditions, and evaluating the irrigation system's efficiency. The team proposes to build on this information by completing the five tasks outlined in this proposal. The tasks include collaborating with key stakeholders, reviewing existing information, analyzing physical data, developing alternatives, and creating a conceptual design (15%) and report.

The project team is currently in the HIP IV review process for the 30% Design Phase. This specific contract between BPA and TU will allow the project team to secure a design contractor and move the project from 30%-100% Design.

As needed, the project team will work with Grande Ronde Model Watershed (GRMW), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to effectively accomplish the proposed tasks.