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 potential productivity for a genetically distinct population of steelhead (as evidenced by spawner surveys and results of genetic analysis) but with significant habitat limitations (low flow; high stream temperatures; and riparian, channel and floodplain degradation).  

This project is currently in its transition stages from a Research Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) project to 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 abundance and distribution, 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.   Additional time is needed for monitoring fish PIT-tagged as juveniles to return and be detected as adults to understand the complete life cycle.  An understanding of how and where steelhead use Rock Creek, 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, and PIT tag interrogation will continue to be monitored in the watershed.  A co-authored manuscript covering the scientific findings of Rock Creek subbasin steelhead genetic evaluation will be crafted and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

Efforts have begun to conduct riparian plantings and to assess headwater forested areas and their role in the watershed hydrology of the basin.  The basic RM&E information combined with the geomorphic assessment and ESA Rock Creek Population of the Middle Columbia River steelhead Recovery Plan recommendations were  used to guide the process of identification and prioritization of habitat actions.

During the previous contract year a geomorphic field assessment was conducted in the Rock Creek subbasin.  A comprehensive analysis of the Rock Creek Fish and Habitat RM&E data, lidar and orthophoto data, and field data was used to create a final report. The geomorphic assessment was a collaborative effort with the Yakama Nation and the Eastern District Conservation District.  

In May 2014, a final report of the Rock Creek geomorphic assessment and the 2011 -2013 BPA Rock Creek Fish and Habitat report will be submitted to BPA.  Out year identified and prioritized habitat projects will be outlined in both documents.  Spring enhancement, riparian rehabilitation, cattle exclusion fence construction, pool enhancement, floodplain reconnection, channel stabilization, and large wood placement are examples of restoration strategies that will be identified and implemented during the 2015 through 2017 contract years.  Effectiveness monitoring is planned for future habitat projects that will be conducted by Yakama Nation Fisheries ranging from qualitative descriptive measures to quantitative experimentally designed research projects depending on restoration type.  A restoration design to be implemented in 2016 will be developed for .25 rivermiles to enhance perennial pools.  An additional geomorphic assessment (Phase II) will be conducted in the middle to upper reaches of Squaw Creek which was not included in the first geomorphic assessment to locate additional sites for restoration.  There are numerous outcrops of invasive blackberry brush into the riparian corridor that could be removed and revegetated with native species in the watershed.  There are three locations in Rock Creek where we will use a combination of mechanical, manual, and herbicidal treatments to remove this invasive species from the riparian corridor.  Headwater private and commercial land owners will be contacted and meadow restoration opportunities will be pursued in this contract year.