The Omak Creek Anadromous Fish Habitat and Passage Project is directed toward improving habitat conditions to allow for a self-sustaining steelhead population in the Omak Creek watershed -- a key goal for recovery of Upper Columbia River steelhead under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) -- and addresses the resource problems identified in the Omak Creek Watershed Plan/Environmental Assessment (Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, 1995).  The implementation of this project as well as projects funded through a variety of agencies (i.e. Bureau of Indian Affairs – President’s program, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, etc.) were based on recommendations from the Omak Creek Watershed Plan/Environmental Assessment. Omak Creek watershed is located entirely within the Colville Reservation boundaries.  Since a federally-listed threatened species (summer steelhead) inhabits Omak Creek, regulatory approval is required for any and all proposed work that may affect the habitat or the threatened species.  Results from monitoring and evaluation will direct future efforts toward the most effective rehabilitation techniques in Omak Creek.  It is expected that the results from this project as well as others will result in a self-sustaining population of summer steelhead.  This stock may be utilized to develop a locally adapted steelhead stock for the Okanogan River Basin, as described in the Bonneville Power Administration, BPA, 2007-09 proposal #200721200.  Some of the work in this Statement of Work (SOW) is described in the narrative in the proposal to Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC).  Some of the action items are also listed in the Okanogan Watershed Limiting Factors Analysis and in the Okanogan Subbasin Management Plan.  Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) reviews by the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) and Manager have determined that these actions fit the intent and purpose of the original proposal.

The goals of this project are to improve upstream passage of summer steelhead at Mission Falls, to provide additional access to spawning and rearing habitat, to reduce peak water temperatures, and to reduce sediment yield from the watershed, factors that have reduced egg incubation and parr production.  Initially, rehabilitation efforts originating from the Omak Creek Watershed Plan have focused on providing access for anadromous fish and reducing water temperatures, particularly in the lower reaches of Omak Creek.  In the 2009 and 2010 BPA contract years, the emphases for restoration activities were prevention of fine sediment delivery to surface waters and minimization of acute and chronic sediment inputs to Omak Creek and connected tributaries.  These completed fish habitat restoration projects were cost-shared with NRCS stimulus funding and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) funding.  In 2011 BPA contract year, fish passage improvement was targeted in the Mission Falls reach of Omak Creek, and other watershed projects towards reducing sediment yield and improving water quality in Omak Creek were initiated.  Funding from the NRCS through  the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provided cost share for some of the actions proposed in the 2011 Statement of Work and will be carried over for completion into the 2012 Statement of Work.

In the 2012 BPA contract year, watershed rehabilitation practices and habitat condition inventories will continue throughout the Omak Creek basin and its sub-watersheds.  The 2012 Statement of Work will include completion of any remainder of the work in Mission Falls to address fish passage constraints to summer steelhead and an assessment of fish passage success through PIT-tag protocol in collaboration with the Okanogan Basin Monitoring & Evaluation Program (OBMEP) and the Summer Steelhead Kelt Reconditioning Program.  Improvement of ground and surface water resources in Omak Creek through prevention of accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation related to livestock management, initiated in the 2011 SOW, will be completed in the 2012 contract year, including three spring developments, and a subwatershed cross fence.  Also initiated in the 2011 SOW and to be completed in the 2012 contract year is a bank stabilization project.  There will be project administration to complete a repair of a culvert installation failure in Stapaloop Creek, a tributary to Omak Creek, and an assessment to address channel incision and loss of floodplain connectivity along the Disautel reach of Omak Creek.  These actions work to further address soil erosion and sediment loading to Omak Creek, with benefits towards improving conditions for successful spawning of summer Steelhead in Lower Omak Creek.

In the 2012 contract period we will continue to evaluate watershed conditions, identify resource concerns, and develop implementation strategies.  Some of the coordination, exchange of information and strategies will continue to be developed through meetings of the Omak Creek Watershed Technical Advisory Group (TAG).  This multi-disciplinary team is represented by Colville Tribes Range, Fish & Wildlife, History & Archaeology, and Forestry departments, as well as by NRCS staff.  Work will continue in collaboration with the BIA Range Department and BIA Forestry Department, in the planning and implementation of restoration practices such as timing of livestock grazing, grazing strategies (i.e.. rest-rotation), and in road obliteration and incorporation of drainage techniques (i.e. water-bars, broad-based dips, out-sloped roads, etc.).  Development of habitat rehabilitation strategies may include but are not limited to such techniques as installing instream-structures (i.e. inverted vortex weirs and j-hook veins), improving or replacing stream crossings, planting riparian vegetation, re-contouring vertical cut-banks, installing fences to exclude livestock from sensitive areas, constructing hardened-rock crossings to minimize damage to stream banks from livestock, and/or recontouring road beds near streams to reduce sediment delivered to the stream channel.  We are combining efforts and funds of Range, Forestry, Fish & Wildlife, and NRCS to reduce sediment load and improve habitat access and conditions in Omak Creek watershed.