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, PGE, and ODFW.  BPA will fund approximately fifty-eight (58) 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 be in compliance with all pertinent state and federal law, regulations and executive orders.    


Nartz Irrigation/Streambank Improvement Project:

This small project will be implemented to address a vertical streambank along trout creek that the landowner has to manipulate annually to set his above ground aluminum mainline pipe to cross the creek.  We propose to bury 6" pvc pipe and install a flowmeter on the system so there is no annual disturbance in the stream.  Also we plan to improve the habitat for summer steelhead at the project site by placing several large woody structures and shaping the raw vertical bank to improve streambank stability while improving the habitat for all life cycles of listed summer steelhead.

Ledbetter Streambank Enhancement Project:

This small project will be implemented to fix a problem area that has occurred on Trout Creek on the Ledbetter property near Ashwood, OR.  This property was enrolled into the CREP program in 2003.  Since that time, Trout Creek has experienced several high water events, resulting in bank erosion and floodplain scour in one location of the project.  This project will construct a large wood log jam structure to protect the streambank and provide habitat to fish.  Then the floodplain will be filled to meet desired elevations and additional roughness such as boulders and LWD will be placed to ensure floodplain stability and habitat diversity.


Nye Streambank Enhancement Project:

This small project will be implemented to fix a problem area that has occurred on the Trout Creek Channel Habitat Improvement Project – Nye Phase One that was implemented in 2004.   Since that time, Trout Creek has experienced several high water events, resulting in bank erosion and floodplain scour in one location of the project.  This project will construct a large wood log jam structure to protect the streambank and provide habitat to fish.  Then the floodplain will be filled to meet desired elevations and additional roughness such as boulders and LWD will be placed to ensure floodplain stability and habitat diversity.


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.  A significant portion of this project will be used to re-vegetate the Nartz, Ledbetter and Nye projects.


Trout Creek Noxious Weed Program:

Continue the 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 noxious weeds that are currently on the Jefferson County's "A" list, including Spotted knapweed, Scotch thistle, and Yellow starthistle.  Work with county weedmaster and local vendor to determine appropriate chemical mixtures for different areas and species.  Work with local vendor to distribute chemical to approved landowners for application on their properties.  We hope to treat approximately 400 acres of noxious weeds in the watershed this fiscal year.


Opal/Trout Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project:

This large scale project will hopefully be implemented in the summer of 2013.  Two creek crossings will be greatly improved by removing culverts and replacing them with bridges.  This project is funded by PGE and in cooperation with ODFW and Jefferson Co. Public Works.  The Jefferson SWCD will be using funds previously acquired from PGE to contribute to the project.  Our contribution includes road removal and reconstruction, stream channel construction and floodplain enhancement.  We also plan to fund the bridge abutment design and partial construction of one of the concrete bridge abutments.  BPA funds will not be used directly on this project, but the Contract Manager will be on site running equipment and directing contractors during the constructions and design of the project.