The Yakama Nation Fisheries Resource Management Program is using a three-pronged approach to restore watershed health and aid recovery of salmonids and culturally significant fish species in Rock Creek, a 223-square-mile subbasin tributary to the Columbia River upstream of John Day Dam. First, assessment of the current fish use, water quality/quantity, and habitat conditions to determine areas of high steelhead productivity and survival, and the primary limiting habitat factors. Second, creation of a list of prioritized actions to protect, restore, and enhance stream reaches. Third, conduct restoration actions to address restoration priorities, and monitor the effectiveness of restoration activities.

The overall goal of this project is to improve habitat conditions of salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the Rock Creek subbasin to an extent of supporting sustainable populations. The Middle Columbia River Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) was identified and listed as threatened on January 5, 2006 (71 FR 834). NOAA identified Rock Creek as Critical Habitat for the Middle Columbia Steelhead DPS (NOAA 2005). The Rock Creek subbasin has been identified as a watershed with high steelhead production potential (as evidenced by spawner surveys) but with significant habitat limitations (low flow; high stream temperatures; and riparian, channel and floodplain degradation).

This project originated as a Research Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) project and is still in the transitioning phase towards an on-the-ground habitat project. The Rock Creek Fish and Habitat and Assessment project was initiated in December 2007 as primarily a RM&E Project with limited habitat restoration objectives. Since 2007, habitat, water quality, water temperature, adult distribution and abundance, juvenile fish population and abundance, steelhead genetic collection, fish pathogen, and PIT-tag interrogation information has been compiled and used to identify key reaches and habitats (e.g. pool refugia) for future restoration or enhancement. A Rock Creek Fish and Habitat Assessment for Prioritization of Restoration and Protection Actions report (June 1, 2008 – May 31, 2013) was submitted to BPA along with a Fluvial Reconnaissance with Observations on Geomorphology and Suitability for Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Actions Rock Creek, Klickitat County (December 10, 2014).

Results of the previous fish work, along with recently completed habitat assessments, have pointed to the need for additional fish sampling to determine if presence/abundance of Snake River fish persists most years, and what levels of production are occurring in Rock Creek - recent PIT tag data suggest there are some locally produced (albeit likely still genetically Snake River) steelhead returning. Recommendations from the geomorphic assessment include applying best management practices (BMP’s) in the subbasin, such as allowing beaver activities to expand without disturbance in the watershed and managing livestock in ways to improve native riparian plant composition, density and abundance. Other recommendations include increasing habitat complexity (small wood jam or boulder placements) in perennial pools that would in turn increase the carrying capacity of age-0 and age-1 fish. Prior to improving habitat complexity in perennial pools there needs to be continuous low flow habitat documentation in the subbasin.

Additional time is needed for monitoring fish PIT-tagged as juveniles to return and be detected as adults to understand the complete life cycle. A clear understanding of where steelhead utilize Rock Creek (hold, spawn, rear) and an understanding of which life history strategies are successful, is fundamental to implementing meaningful restoration strategies. During this contract year salmonid spawner surveys, water quality, water temperature, juvenile population and abundance surveys, low-flow habitat mapping, PIT-tagging and interrogation will continue to be monitored in the watershed. There is a 5 year NOAA Fisheries Section 10 permit in place to conduct the fish sampling on O. mykiss in the watershed.

The bridgelip sucker (Catostomus columbianus) was historically abundant throughout the subbasin and is a culturally significant fish species to the Yakama Nation. In the last decade, it has been observed by the Tribal members that suckers are less abundant for ceremonial and subsistence harvest. Bridgelip suckers are a culturally significant species of concern. In previous contract years, we documented the distribution of bridgelip suckers during our juvenile salmonid abundance and population surveys. During this contract year we would like to continue studying their life history during the juvenile population and abundance surveys.

Beaver use and observations in Rock Creek were documented during perennial habitat and multiple-pass spawner surveys (2015 - 2018). The data will be compiled into a database and a GIS map of beaver use in surveyed reaches of the watershed will be created. A beaver restoration assessment model will be conducted for the Rock Creek watershed and the beaver activity data we compiled and GIS maps will help assist with the beaver restoration assessment.

Two sites were identified for riparian revegetation in Rock Creek at RM 2.1 and RM 6.3 where Native trees, shrubs, and grass will be planted in the blackberry removal sites to reduce other non-native species to re-establish at those sites.  The first site is located on the mainstem Rock Creek RM 2.1 on Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) property.  The ACOE is the lead agency conducting the revegetation and will responsible for gathering the required permits.  The second site is located at RM 6.3 (Gasline site) along the mainstem Rock Creek.  Invasive weed control will be conducted at previous riparian enhancement sites conducted in 2015 - 2018. The primary target weed types include non-native thistles, knap weed, star thistle and blackberry bushes. Weed removal will involve mechanical, hand, and organic application treatments.

Two headwater springs (Milk Ranch Spring and Simcoe Unit Spring) have been identified for spring enhancement and protection in the headwaters of Quartz Creek located on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife property.  Headwater restoration potential reconnaissance has resulted in identifying a series of springs that could be restored or protected in the previous contract.  Spring and meadow enhancement and restoration was identified in the Recovery Plan for the Rock Creek Population of the Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment and the Lower Mid-Columbia Mainstem Including Rock Creek Subbasin Plan to assist in restoring historical hydrologic regime and improving the groundwater storage capacity in upper Quartz Creek.  Eastern Klickitat Conservation District is also a collaborator with this project  and they will be providing the engineered designs for the spring projects as cost share.  This project was awarded funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund grant to pay for on the construction labor and equipment costs.  On the ground construction is not planned until summer 2021 and we would like to propose we fund the purchase of native trees and grass seeds for post construction as well as the labor in the 2021 BPA contract.  

During this contract year we plan to work with the environmental coordinator to obtain the required permits to start this project which include HIP III, cultural resources, hydraulic project approval, and Washington State permits (SEPA).  The Milk Ranch Spring restoration will entail the following: relocating livestock water trough out of a meadow, fence construction around meadow, and planting native grass and shrubs in the meadow and around the adjacent riparian corridor.  The Simcoe Unit Spring restoration entails the following: relocating the livestock water trough out of the spring outlet and away from the riparian corridor, fencing off the immediate riparian corridor from cattle trampling, replanting the construction area with native grass, shrubs, and trees.  

In the previous contract (2019 – 2020), three pools were identified to conduct pool enhancement on in the mainstem Rock Creek and Walaluuks Creek.  Pools were selected based on cumulative fish habitat and population surveys, water and temperature data, spawner abundance and redd surveys, and the geomorphic assessment recommendations.  Pool enhancement will be focused on providing instream structure in designated pools that will benefit resident and anadromous salmonids in the subbasin.  Many pools in the subbasin have been characterized as having little or no instream structure for juvenile rearing salmonids.  Instream structure includes large and small wood, large boulders, and large root wads.  During this contract we will focus on the design of the enhancement of the pools and designs will also be submitted to BPA review and approval by BPA engineers.