PROJECT LOCATION:
This project is located on Wallupa Creek, tributary of Wildcat Creek, tributary of the Grande Ronde River, 5.5 miles above the confluence of Wallupa and Wildcat Creeks and 9.5 miles above the Grande Ronde River.  The project legal description is T4N, R42E, Section 35, SE¼ of SE1/4  (see attached map).

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
• Restore juvenile and adult fish passage to upper Wallupa Creek
• Reduce sediment and bedload input to Wallupa Creek, Wildcat Creek and the Grande Ronde River
• Restore natural bedload transport

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Introduction:  The Promise Road crossings of Wildcat Creek and Wallupa Creek have had a history of washing out at moderate to high peak flows.  There are six crossings total, three on each creek. Culverts at 0.8 miles and 3.3 miles (from the Grande Ronde River) on Wildcat Creek were replaced with bottomless arches in 2001.  Two other bottomless arches were installed on Wallupa Creek at 4.1 miles and 9.1 miles several years ago (year unknown).  This project proposes to replace a round undersized culvert 9.5 miles above the Grande Ronde River.  The Promise Road is a major recreational and commercial use road from the lower Wallowa Valley area to the Grande Ronde River.

Existing Condition:  The Wildcat system is steep canyon country characterized by flashy peak flows.  Undersized culverts or arches in this system have washed out multiple times.  Each time a crossing has washed out large quantities of sediment and bedload from the road prism have been introduced into the system.  The undersized arch at this site last washed out in 2002.  An eight foot round culvert was installed as a temporary fix to maintain traffic.  It is severely undersized, constricts the channel and is likely to wash out during peak flows even moderately higher than average.  High water velocity has scoured out the streambed below the outlet. (see pictures).    
The culvert is eight feet in diameter and 40 feet long.  Slope is 2.9% and the drop at the outlet is 1.44 feet.  Average bankfull width through this reach is twenty one feet.  Water is leaking through the sub grade below and around the culvert (NPT culvert surveys).

Wallupa and Wildcat Creeks are significant steelhead producers in the Lower Grande Ronde.   Sediment and temperature are limiting factors for steelhead production in the Wildcat system in addition to this passage problem (Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan).

High water velocity, during peak flows, also likely presents a velocity barrier to adult steelhead during a significant portion of migration.  Juvenile passage upstream is totally restricted at all flows due to the drop at the culvert outlet.  There are approximately two miles of available spawning and rearing habitat above this crossing.  

Specific Actions:   Wallowa County Public Works Department proposes to replace the culvert with a prefabricated bridge.  Anderson-Perry Engineering will provide final engineering designs.  The bridge span will be 30 feet and 32 feet wide.  The 32 foot width is necessary because the crossing is on a very tight switchback.  Pre-cast eco-blocks will be used for bridge abutments.  Rip-rap will be placed at the upstream and downstream ends of the bridge to armor the exposed road prism.  Traffic for passenger vehicles will be maintained during construction.

Specific actions/deliverables are:
Pre-project
• Conduct environmental compliance - ESA Consultation, permits (Anderson-Perry)
• Design bridge (Anderson-Perry)
• Project planning, scheduling (Wallowa County PWD)

Construction
• Remove ½ of the existing eight-foot culvert
• Place pre-cast eco-block footings
• Install 2/3 of the bridge
• Remove the remaining ½ of the existing culvert
• Install the remaining 1/3 of the bridge
• Backfill and compact
• Place rip-rap
• Seed disturbed ground

The bridge will be constructed using three 11-foot wide modules (Big R Manufacturing - see pictures) consisting of steel I-beam structure and steel decking.  Wallowa County PWD crews will supervise and conduct all construction activities.

Benefits:
• Restoration of unimpeded steelhead and resident rainbow access to two miles of Wallupa Creek
• Restoration of natural bedload transport
• Reduced potential of structure wash-out, and sediment and bedload introduction into lower Wallupa Creek, Wildcat Creek and the Grande Ronde River.

Project Maintenance:
The new installation should require very little maintenance, basically periodic inspection of bridge footings. Wallowa County Public Works Department will maintain the structure in conjunction with maintenance of the Promise Road.

Consultation/Permits:
The project will require:
• Section 7 ESA Consultation with NOAA and USFWS  (Wallowa Co. contract w/Anderson Perry)
• COE NWP 03 for culvert replacement (Wallowa Co. contract w/Anderson Perry)
• DSL permit

Monitoring Plan/Reporting:  
Wallowa County PWD will conduct all project monitoring.  

Monitoring will include:
• Project completion report describing the implementation, and achievement of the above stated objectives, submitted to the GRMWP.  This report will follow the guidelines that have been established jointly by BPA and the GRMWP.
• During and post construction photos, minimum of three photo-points.
• Post-project monitoring report at year 2 describing bridge functionality and maintenance, and retake of photo-points.

Work Dates:
The in-stream work window is July 1, 2005 to October 15, 2005.  Construction will occur July 1 to August 15, 2005.