The Trout Creek Watershed Restoration Project’s primary goal is to increase the abundance of ESA listed Middle Columbia River DPS Summer Steelhead.  The status of the summer steelhead population in Trout Creek, within the Deschutes River eastside DPS is currently rated as a viable population (Oregon Mid-C Steelhead Recovery Plan, 2010).  The confidence for making this population assessment “viable” is largely the result of the BPA funded programs associated with this project.  Past project work, the continued maintenance and monitoring of this work, along with the proposed future habitat restoration to be completed in future years will hopefully put the MCR DPS up for consideration of de-listing.
  
This project satisfies the goals listed in the Deschutes River Sub-basin Summary (Nelson, 2001), that portion of the draft Deschutes Subbasin Plan (2004) that addresses Trout Creek, and the Trout Creek Watershed Assessment (2003).  This project satisfies the objectives of Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives 34 and 35 of the 2008 FCRPS Biological Opinion calling for protection and improvement of tributary habitat based on biological needs and prioritized actions.  This project also follows the habitat strategies and actions found in the Oregon Middle Columbia (Mid-C) Steelhead Recovery Plan (2010).

Following the goals and objectives of the numerous plans and documents will ensure the viability of the summer steelhead that utilizes the Trout Creek Watershed.  Continued work in this area will promote healthy populations of numerous species of fish and wildlife, while simultaneously promoting the use of sustainable agricultural practices on private land.  Successful agriculture and extraordinary habitat can and does coexist in the Trout Creek Watershed and needs to continue well into the future for all parties involved if there is to be true “restoration.”  The work done here also has a huge impact on the region’s financial income.  The Deschutes River is one of the single largest recreational summer steelhead fisheries in the United States, with over 50,000 angler days per season, bringing millions of dollars annually to the region.  Trout Creek accounts for approximately 25-33% of the entire run of wild summer steelhead found in the Lower Deschutes River Subbasin (ODFW).  Sustaining or better yet, improving this run of fish is critical to the economy of central and north-central Oregon.

We plan to accomplish these goals with the implementation of demonstration projects located throughout the Trout Creek Watershed on private lands.  Priority areas have been identified in previous studies and assessments.  We give preference to these areas when selecting projects to implement, but it should be noted that all of our work hinges on the permission and desire of the landowner.  Some landowners are more willing than others.  Since the inception of this project in 1998, there have been massive gains in trust and willingness throughout the watershed and we have recently gained access to numerous acres that were previously off limits to us and our work.  This gain in trust is a huge benefit for all when it comes to the restoration of our habitat.  The demonstration projects we plan to implement include:  Habitat Improvement Projects that include in-stream work, riparian and floodplain enhancements, fish passage improvements, upland vegetation management, spring developments and conservation easements such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  We have been extraordinarily successful in the improvement of irrigation practices throughout the watershed, and there are still more opportunities that exist in Trout Creek.  Improving efficiencies of irrigation systems is critical to the overall reduction of water withdrawals.   Also, improving individual points of diversion, not only aid the irrigator, but hugely benefit the species of concern, juvenile summer steelhead.
  
These demonstration projects should continue until entirety of habitat, including upland, riparian, and in-stream, can sustain ample fish and wildlife populations and summer steelhead can become de-listed.  This may take many years for all of this to come to fruition, however we are making great strides in the right direction and each year, we gain trust and access to habitats that were previously inaccessible.

The Jefferson SWCD has successfully implemented many large-scale projects in the past two decades.  This has been accomplished at an extremely low cost to the BPA.  We have been able to keep costs exceptionally low because of our in-house knowledge and experience.   This combined with our partnership with ODFW – Trout Creek Project, we can put conservation on the ground at the lowest costs seen anywhere in the Columbia Basin.  Combined with our ability to secure funding from other sources to help offset costs from BPA, we have been an extremely efficient project over the years.  Since project inception in 1998, we have more than doubled the funding we received from BPA for habitat improvement in the Trout Creek watershed.

Planned Projects:

All projects are designed to improve fish habitat, water quality and quantity in the Trout Creek basin.  Projects within the riparian zone that directly impact the stream will be conducted during the in-water work period (July 1 - October 31) as dictated by ODFW guidelines.  All projects will follow all pertinent state and federal law, regulations, and executive orders.    

Trout Creek Vegetation Improvement:
This project will plant native seed in designated riparian exclosures and disturbed upland areas throughout the Trout Creek Watershed.  Areas that have been freshly scoured with recent high-water events may be re-seeded with native seed mix.  Areas that have been treated for noxious weeds will be a priority for this work element. We will locate areas with exposed soil or little vegetation and broadcast native seed in those areas within the Trout Creek Watershed.  These sites may coincide with sites treated through the Trout Creek Noxious Weed Program.  Re-vegetating the disturbed ground will help stabilize the soil and reduce overall erosion and sediment entering the streams/waterways in the watershed.  

Trout Creek Noxious Weed Program:
Continue the noxious weed program for the Trout Creek Watershed for the 11th year, the ninth in conjunction with the Jefferson Co. Public Works and local licensed applicators, and now the 3rd with the newly formed Jefferson County Weed Advisory Committee (JCWAC).  Collaborate with Public Works and JCWAC to provide them with herbicide to be used in the Trout Creek Watershed on "A" list weeds.  Collaborate with the County to provide them with herbicide to be used in the Trout Creek Watershed on "A" list weeds. The County will disperse herbicide to approved landowners and apply the chemical as well.  Coordinate with local licensed applicators that are spraying on private property in the Trout Creek Watershed to potentially provide herbicide for "A" list species.  The SWCD will continue to apply chemical to known weed patches throughout the watershed.  The program will attempt to control noxious weed species that are found on the county's "A" list.  These include Scotch Thistle, Spotted Knapweed and Yellow Starthistle.  We will continue to monitor areas with known biological control on certain weed patches to determine if more biological control is necessary or if herbicide will need to be used.  Ensure the proper reporting from the SWCD and the County to provide accurate accounting of herbicide use to EC.

Future Project Design:
The JCSWCD will continue to collaborate with ODFW on project designs.  This fiscal year, we plan to devote a lot of time to future project designs.  The Foley Creek Complex entails relocating a road, reconfiguring stream channel location and confluences, as well as removal of undersized culverts and installation of two open arched culverts and re-setting a concrete bridge that fell into the creek during the 1998 flood. We will continue to work in conjunction with the HIP3 Team throughout the design process on all projects to ensure the best possible product for the resource.  By the end of fiscal year 2021, we plan to have a complex design that follows the HIP guidelines that can be implemented in FY22.  Another project is the Lower Beaver Creek Channel Habitat and Fish Passage Improvement Project.  This project will address a perched culvert on the county road, as well as poor habitat from the road to the confluence with Trout Creek.  We also plan to have a design that follows the HIP guidelines and process that can be implemented in FY22.  

Watershed Coordination:
The JCSWCD will continue to assist ODFW on their day-to-day operations when timing allows.  These activities include performing redd surveys, assisting with smolt trapping, operation of the video fish weir, and applying herbicides.  This fiscal year, the JCSWCD will also help ODFW implement the Opal & Trout Creek Fish Passage Project.  This project entails removing undersized culverts on both Opal and Trout Creek and replacing them with large, bottomless culverts at both sites.  Other facets of this project include road removal and the relocation of lower Opal Creek into its historic channel location.  The JCSWCD will assist by operating heavy equipment and providing general labor to ensure that this project is implemented smoothly and on-time.  

Habitat Restoration Project Development:
The Jefferson Co. Soil and Water Conservation District (JCSWCD) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have developed a collaborative approach to project prioritization, development, and implementation. JCSWCD and ODFW Project Managers have collaborated from start to finish on habitat restoration project development, funding, design, construction, and monitoring. The experience and unique skill sets of the JCSWCD and ODFW personnel minimizes the need for expensive outside contracting, engineering, and consulting. This coordination has worked well on past projects and has resulted in quality habitat restoration at a low cost to BPA. BPA funding has allowed for the establishment of a quality population monitoring program that has given insight to the population size, as well as revealing information that assists in the planning and development of current and future habitat restoration actions. Based on 45 years of combined experience and observation in the Trout Creek Watershed, the ODFW and JCSWCD Project Managers have gained the necessary knowledge and relationships with the landowners in the watershed. This information along with numerous planning documents and assessments has allowed us to prioritize stream reaches and upland habitats that provide the best restoration opportunities.  With the current funding level that BPA provides the JCSWCD, extensive on-the-ground habitat projects can not be implemented without the assistance from outside sources.  These sources include the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and Portland General Electric (PGE).  Once a project is identified, pursuing these funding sources for grant funding is a painstaking, time-enduring exercise necessary to continue to improve habitat in the Trout Creek Watershed.