The Middle Fly portion of this project involves implementing restoration in Middle Fly Creek to improve habitat for listed spring/summer chinook and summer steelhead. The project is located in the Lower Fly Creek Subwatershed (170601040108(T 5S, R 35.5E, S 3, 4, 8, 9)). Currently, the stream channel is simplified with low levels of large wood, course substrate, and lack of quality pool habitat. Floodplain inundation and function is limited. The project would construct debris jams and habitat structures at 56 sites within the middle 3.0 miles of Fly Creek (RM 4.0 – RM 7.0). Approximately, 2400 trees and tops will be flown in and placed by helicopter. There will be 100 trees directionally felled by hand and 85% of the racking material will be incorporated into the structure and stream through hand placement. Project partners are United States Forest Service, Grande Ronde Model Watershed and Bonneville Power Administration.

Overall Goal: To achieve proper ecological form and function of Middle Fly Creek and thereby restore habitat for the imperiled Snake River Basin Spring/Summer Chinook and Snake River Basin Steelhead.

Subgoal 1: Physical - Restore Hydrologic Function
Increase hydration of a laterally confined channel to improve groundwater retention through channel spanning log jam construction.

Subgoal 2: Physical - Activate Side Channel Scrolls
Encourage and create perennial side channels through channel spanning log jam construction.

Subgoal 3: Biological - Improve Fish Habitat
Restore habitat complexity. Existing LWD structures will be modified and additional whole trees will be placed.  These structures will encourage scour pool habitat, and fish cover.

The hand crew portion of the project would involve placing wood into approximately 2.5 miles of channel within the Upper Grande Ronde River, 4 miles within Limber Jim Creek, and 3 miles within Chicken and West Chicken Creeks (9.5 miles of stream channel). The project will involve placing 2000 small trees into main and side channel areas, primarily to create or improve upon full spanning debris jams. Channel substrate will also be placed into the jams, where heritage resources permit. A mini excavator will be used in one mile of channel to construct jams, due to the distance from the stream to the trees. Within the main stream channels, existing full spanning debris jams will be targeted to increase backwater pool area, so that floodplain connectivity, side channel activation, fish cover and habitat complexity are improved. Within the side channels, new full spanning debris jams will be constructed with wood and channel substrate (where applicable). All of these streams have had previous restoration work completed on them.

Partners include: USFS, GRMW, and BPA.

Overall Goal: To achieve proper ecological form and function of the small streams and its meadows, and thereby restore habitat for the imperiled Snake River Basin Spring/Summer Chinook and Snake River Basin Steelhead.

Subgoal 1: Physical - Restore Hydrologic Function
Increase hydration of laterally confined channels to improve groundwater retention. Use Large Woody Debris (LWD) and channel substrate (where applicable) to restore stream grade, reduce hydraulic efficiencies, & increase floodplain meadow inundation. LWD structures will be placed in locations to increase roughness and back upwater.

Subgoal 2: Biological - Improve Fish Habitat
Restore channel habitat complexity. Structures will enhance pools, cover and floodplain connection. The structures will increase hydraulic complexity and zero velocity refugia. LWD structure types designed to meet fish habitat goals include: channel spanning structures to back water into pool habitat and small wood and whole tree placements.