The Umatilla Subbasin has been the homeland of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) since time immemorial. Riverine systems and floodplains have been dramatically altered since the Euro-American settlement of the region. This has led to expected habitat changes (i.e. degradation), such as channelization, lack of wetlands and riparian vegetation, and impaired water quality. This in turn has resulted in the steady decline in all fisheries resources within the Umatilla Subbasin.

Further information can be found in:
-Meacham Creek Watershed Analysis and Action Plan (Andrus et al 2003)
-Umatilla/Willow Subbasin Plan (NPCC 2004)
-CTUIR TMDL for Temperature and Turbidity (CTUIR 2004)
-The Umatilla River Vision (CTUIR 2008)
-Umatilla Subbasin 2050 Water Management Plan (Umatilla County 2008)
-Umatilla River Water Rights Assessment (CTUIR 2010)
-Birch Creek Watershed Action Plan (CTUIR 2016)
-First Foods Upland Vision (CTUIR 2019)
-Umatilla River Assessment and Action Plan (CTUIR 2024)

As a result of this apparent decline, the CTUIR Fisheries Department initiated the Umatilla Anadromous Fish Habitat Project (the Umatilla Project [UAFHP]) in 1987 to protect, enhance, and restore functional floodplain, channel, and watershed processes to provide sustainable and healthy habitat for First Foods species. As part of the Northwest Power Conservation Council’s (NPCC) Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, this project is one of BPA’s actions to provide off-site mitigation for impacts to salmon and steelhead populations and wildlife habitat caused by the construction and operation of FCRPS dams. The Umatilla Project (BPA project 1987-100-01) specifically addresses habitat improvement gaps for the Middle Columbia population of the Umatilla Basin steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) identified in the 2020 FCRPS BiOp, including lost fishery resources that are of cultural significance of the CTUIR.  Additional species include ESA-listed Threatened bull trout, Mid-Columbia Spring and Fall Chinook salmon, re-introduced coho salmon, Pacific lamprey, and other native fishes.  Specific life stages addressed for these fishes include adult holding, spawning, juvenile rearing (including over-wintering), and migration.

The Project utilizes a First Foods-based strategy for aquatic ecosystem restoration organized around the Umatilla River and Upland Visions’ functional Touchstones: water quality and quantity, geomorphology, connectivity, riparian vegetation, and aquatic biota. These Touchstones allow for a clear and direct connection between traditional and contemporary methods, as well as a linkage to primary limiting factors, basin and subbasin plans, and ESA species recovery plans and watershed assessments. This also aligns with a holistic, processed-based methodology for enhancing and beginning the process to restore watershed processes to benefit treaty resources. Since the Project's inception, the Umatilla Project has engaged collaboratively with subbasin partners to strategically plan restoration, implement restoration actions, and cost share on critical habitat restoration and passage actions throughout the subbasin.  

The Umatilla Anadromous Fish Habitat Program (UAFHP) prioritizes the implementation of restoration actions following the principles of process-based restoration (Roni et al. 2002; Beechie et al 2008; Beechie et al. 2010). This framework includes addressing the fundamental ecological processes responsible for creating and maintaining high functioning habitat: protection, conservation, reconnection, and restoration.  Umatilla watershed limiting factors include In-channel characteristics (geomorphology and habitat complexity), Passage, Riparian/Floodplain, Sediment, and water Temperature (2008 Fish Accords).

The proposed Project work highlights in CY 2026 includes:

- Umabirch PA-2 and 3 RFP solicitation is planned for Feb 2026 and initial construction of PA-2 floodplain to begin in the summer.  100% Designs and Implementation Plans will be used to guide the implementation for both project areas. Pending is the 408 authorization for the Levee Setback implementation.  Engineering support will be a key step to making sure construction adheres to the designs. Additionally, the decommissioning of the concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is planned for 2026 and may take two years to complete.  This will then open the door for the PA-3 floodplain restoration aspect to be implemented. These are the next steps in the overall Umabirch Floodplain and Instream Habitat Restoration Projects (PA-1-4) on Birch Creek and the Umatilla River.  These projects were identified as a high priority in the Birch Creek Watershed Action Plan (CTUIR 2016) and the Umatilla River Action Plan (CTUIR 2025).

- Umabirch Expense aspects are tied to the Capital Implementation contract 73982 REL212.

- Continuation of Program-level Habitat management and planning for existing and proposed projects, land management activities such as noxious weed removal, extensive revegetation using plants from the CTUIR Nursery, and monitoring previously implemented project sites.

- Imeques Project: Completing this mainstem Umatilla River design and permitting on 1.8 miles of stream (RM 77.1-78.9) to address off-channel fish habitats, instream complexity, and infrastructure concerns at the acclimation facility addressing steelhead/spring Chinook, coho spawning and rearing, and bull trout rearing habitat enhancement.  Implementation funding currently is not available for construction in 2026 and will most likely be delayed to 2027.