Introduction

An estimated 38 species of fish, including 15 introduced species, are found in the Grande Ronde River Subbasin (Grande Ronde Subbasin Summary, 2002).  The Wallowa River reach within the project area supports spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), summer steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), resident rainbow/redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gibbsi), Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni), and a variety of non-game fish.  Spring Chinook and summer steelhead inhabit the project reach year-round and suitable spawning habitat exists for both species with the completion of McDaniel projects 1 & 2.  Both species currently utilize the project reach for juvenile rearing.  Fluvial bull trout are likely to inhabit the reach during winter and spring, using it as a migration route and as a foraging area.

Restoration of the Wallowa River on property owned by Doug McDaniel near Lostine, Oregon has been ongoing for most of the last five years.  Restorative efforts began in earnest in 2004 with the implementation of project 1 of the Wallowa River/McDaniel Habitat Restoration Project.  Over the course of the 2004 and 2005 field seasons a section of new channel, 2,570 feet in length, was constructed for the Wallowa River using Rosgen Natural Channel Design techniques.  This new channel replaced a 1,800 ft section of the river that had been channelized in the 1950’s, thereby increasing its gradient, reducing its sinuosity and simplifying its channel morphology.  The 2007 and 2008 field seasons consisted of the same restorative actions immediately upstream of project 1 where 2550 feet of the Wallowa River channel was reconstructed using the same methods and rationale.  Project 2 replaced 1800 feet of channel with 2550 feet with gradient, sinuosity and flood plane function as would be expected in natural un-channelized conditions. The thalweg, or deepest part of the channel, was constructed to create the different features such as pools, riffles, runs and glides.  Access was provided to the floodplain, a critical feature to avoid a “ditch-like” channel.  Cross vanes were constructed for grade control & vertical stability, and revetments and sedge mats were installed for horizontal or lateral stability.

Project Location

The project area is located on the McDaniel property near the town of Lostine on the middle reach of the Wallowa River near RM 32 in the Grande Ronde Subbasin. This area was designated reach 5 by the 1992 ODFW Wallowa River survey, which extends from the confluence of the Wallowa River with the Lostine River upstream to Wade’s bridge, approximately 7.85 miles.  The project is located in Township 1 North, Range 43 East, Section 11, Willamette Meridian, in Wallowa County, Oregon.

Project Objectives

This project will replace an existing, aging and unstable diversion and headgate structure with a series of rock cross veins, diversion modifications, and a new headgate.  Watershed parameters of concern that will be addressed include aquatic organism passage, erosion and sedimentation, and the preservation of existing instream habitat.  Project objectives include:
  
1.   Replace existing diversion structure with permanent roughened channel diversion that allows year round aquatic organism passage, reduces sedimentation, and eliminates the need for annual maintenance, which includes installation of channel spanning log check structure.

2.   Remove and rebuild headgate structure 100 feet upstream to reduce sediment delivery to irrigation ditch, reduce the need for instream headworks & fish screen maintenance, and improve control of irrigation water into the ditch.

3.   Reduce the potential for the existing unstable diversion to unravel and compromise habitat and water quality benefits realized through the installation of Wallowa River/McDaniel Habitat Restoration Projects 1 & 2 immediately above and below the diversion.

The McDaniel projects 1 & 2 have implemented many of the objectives stated in the Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan Supplement (GRSBP) for the Wallowa River including instream and riparian habitat restoration, restoration of hydrologic function and floodplain access, and improved water quality including sediment transport, temperature and chemistry.  This project proposes to build upon those accomplishments as identified in the GRSBP:

1.   5.2.2.1, page 37, GRSBP.  Provide connectivity between functioning habitats.  

2.   5.2.4.1, page 38, GRSBP. Protect high quality habitat and protect and restore connectivity of functioning habitats.  

3.   Table 5.4, Wallowa – Lostine River, page 40, GRSBP.  Priority attribute sediment (reduction)

4.   Table 5.6, page 50, GRSBP.  Grande Ronde Subbasin watersheds listed in order of potential impact to steelhead and spring chinook populations (abundance and productivity) from comprehensive habitat restoration:  Wallowa – Lostine is the highest ranked watershed.

Construction:  The project will be constructed during the in-stream work window for this reach of the Wallowa River during the summer of 2011.  Anticipated work includes mobilization, delivery of rock & large wood material, installation of the roughened channel, rebuilding the headworks, site clean-up and final grading, and demobilization.  The instream work window is between July 15th and August 15th with instream extensions possible.  The construction phase of this project is expected to last less than 4 weeks and an instream work extension request is not anticipated.  The project will be complete by September 15, 2011