The focus of these efforts is on the implementation of the long-range action plan for the Trout Creek Watershed, in which those actions 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 Antelope and Trout Creeks 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.

The Jefferson SWCD 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 like OWEB and PGE.  

This fiscal year, the costs of the proposed actions are shared with landowners and Jefferson County.  BPA will fund approximately ninety (90) percent of the habitat improvement work JCSWCD does in the Trout Creek Watershed this fiscal year.


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.  


Upper Trout Creek Relocation Project:

This project is located on upper Trout Creek on Martin Nye’s property.  This project will relocate the Trout Creek channel to a new location away from the county road, which it currently inundates during normal flows.  The current land use of the project site is riparian exclosure but the surrounding areas are currently being managed for livestock production.  The new meanders will be reinforced with log/root wad structures strategically placed to maintain pool depths and eliminate streambank erosion.  Some floodplain shaping (approximately 1 acre) will occur to connect the newly constructed channel (approximately 20 feet wide by 250 feet long) to the floodplain at bankfull (1.5 year event) elevations.  Most of the construction will be accomplished with a tracked excavator with thumb.  This machine will be used to construct/place the wood structures as well as excavate new channel location.  Potentially, a dozer may be used to grade floodplain to proper elevations, but the excavator may be all that is necessary.  An off road dump truck may be used to haul materials around the site, including the wood for the structures.  The entire project site will be re-vegetated with approximately 25 pounds of native grass/forb seed and hand planted with 500 native trees and shrubs.  If we get approval, we may also assist the county in repairing the road while we are there with our equipment.  This will entail repair of approximately 150 feet of gravel road/roadbed.  The instream work will be conducted during the instream work window of July1 to October 31.


Trout Creek Vegetation Improvement:

Plant native trees and shrubs by hand and native seed in designated riparian exclosures throughout the Trout Creek Watershed.  Planting sites will be areas with low existing plant densities and will be planted in clumps with an overall density of 300-500 plants per acre.  Locate areas damaged by feral swine and other areas with exposed soil or little vegetation and broadcast native seed in those areas within the Trout Creek Watershed.  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:

Establish a noxious weed program for the Trout Creek Watershed that will apply herbicide to control noxious weeds in designated areas.  The program will attempt to control a variety of noxious weeds including knapweed, whitetop, Russian thistle, Scotch thistle, Canadian thistle, Kochia, and puncturevine.  Work with licenced applicators to designate specific areas throughout the Trout Creek watershed and to effectively control the different species with the appropriate chemical during the appropriate time of year.  Collaborate with the Trout Creek Watershed Council to help determine priority species and priority areas.