The focus of these efforts is on the development of a long-range action plan for the Trout Creek Watershed and the implementation of those actions that will improve fish and wildlife resources in the basin.  This project is located in portions of Wasco, Jefferson and Crook Counties, Oregon, that lie east of the Deschutes River, and generally north of Madras, south of Shaniko, and east of Mitchell, Oregon.  The latitude and longitude of Trout Creek at its confluence with the Deschutes River is; 44 degrees, 49 minutes and 18 seconds, North and 121 degrees 05 minutes and 13 seconds, West.  The latitude and longitude of the headwater area of Trout Creek is; 44 degrees, 30 minutes and 22 seconds North and 120 degrees, 33 minutes and 42 seconds West.

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), and addresses four essential elements of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds (Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, 1999): 1)  Coordinated agency programs, 2)  Community based actions, 3)  Monitoring and Evaluation, and 4)  Corrective changes (adaptive management and regulations).  This project also satisfies the objectives of Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives 150 and 153 of the 2000 FCRPS Biological Opinion calling for protection of riparian buffers by protecting high quality habitat and by leveraging the agricultural incentive programs.

The assessment follows the guidelines set in the Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual (Watershed Professionals Network, 1999).  Key components that assessment is: 1) Historical conditions, 2)  Channel habitat type classification, 3)  Hydrology and water use, 4)  Riparian and wetland conditions, 5)  Sediment sources, 6)  Channel modification, 7)  Water quality, and 8)  Fish and Wildlife habitat.  The proposed work also complements the work required in Trout Creek by FERC of PGE in the Re-licensing Settlement Agreement for the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project.

The long-range watershed restoration plan For Trout Creek will coordinate efforts of local landowners and private timber companies as well as state, federal, and tribal agencies to improve habitat conditions for fish and wildlife.  The plan would take a "top to bottom" approach.  The watershed assessment will be the key part of this plan and will describe potential problems, where they are located, and recommend way of resolving the issues and concerns.  A technical advisory committee made up of representatives from state, federal, and tribal agencies is being set up to develop scientifically sound restoration approaches.

Demonstration projects will also be implemented by this project.  For example, a need for immediate restoration efforts along Trout Creek exists.  Implementing these projects will demonstrate to local landowners what can be accomplished by working with the watershed council.  Landowners will be involved in projects throughout the watershed assessment/long-range watershed restoration planning process.

Trout Creek Watershed Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Creek Project have been working cooperatively throughout the watershed assessment process.  The two groups will continue to work together developing the long-range action plan and seeing that habitat restoration projects are properly implemented.  This cooperation helps to leverage other funding sources, particularly the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Deschutes Basin Resource Conservancy, in habitat restoration projects in the Trout Creek Basin.

The costs of the proposed actions are shared with a number of other funding sources.  BPA has funded approximately thirty-three percent of the habitat improvement work JCSWCD does 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 have landowner agreements and will be in compliance with all pertinent state and federal law, regulations and executive orders.  A Conservation Plan will be developed for all project conservation management units.  These plans will evaluate all pertinent resources and impacts.  Proper Grazing Management Plans will be included in all projects where livestock are present.

In 1965, after the flood of ‘64, the US Corps of Engineers (USACE) came to Trout Creek and straightened the channel and constructed "flood control" berms on either side of the stream.  Subsequently, in the years that followed, the stream, with it's over widened channel started to erode the stream banks and adjacent agricultural fields.  This has also resulted in channel incision, decreasing the elevation of the water table and increasing the flashiness of the stream.

Presently, Trout Creek is a straightened, over wide channel that has lost connectivity to its floodplain.  Consequently, the habitat for ESA listed Mid-Columbia summer steelhead is in a degraded state.  The high width to depth ratio and lack of riparian vegetation found throughout the project area has resulted in elevated stream temperatures.  The proposed project will consist of constructing a new channel where needed and incorporating old stream channels where possible.  In addition, it will result in a reconnecting the floodplain and developing a new more robust riparian buffer.

On both of the sites, the new channel will consist mostly of the Rosgen classification C4 stream type with some sections of B4 stream type.  The new channel will have the proper pattern, dimension and profile required to pass the appropriate size of sediment that is found in the streambed resulting in a stable stream channel.  J-Hook vanes and Cross vane structures will be strategically placed to maintain channel form and protect the stream banks from erosion until the riparian vegetation can get established.