The Grande Ronde Fish Habitat Improvement Project supports the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife' s (ODFW) efforts to restore riparian and instream habitats in the Blue Mountain Province as mitigation for fisheries losses resulting from development of the federal Columbia River Power System. The project focuses on the restoration of habitats utilized by Federal Endangered Species Act listed Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and Snake River summer steelhead, while benefiting many other species of fish and wildlife. Since initiation of this project in 1984, 69 projects have been completed along approximately 97.2 miles of stream restoring 3,633 acres of riparian and instream habitat.

Project activities planned for this contract period include coordination with basin partners, project planning, design review, permitting and construction, and inspection and maintenance of projects with current ODFW easements. Continued coordination with landowners and signing of easements is also planned.

Wallowa River-Baker project designs and specifications have been completed. Funding proposals for project implementation have been submitted to the Grande Ronde Model Watershed and the Oregon Watershed and Enhancement Board. Funding has been received from GRMW. Depending on funding received from OWEB, project implementation will begin in June 2016. Activities planned for 2016 include construction of two side channels, installation of engineered log jams, fish salvage, riparian planting, and seeding. A 15-year easement will be signed with the landowner once implementation funding is secured.

Exclosure fencing on the Fly Creek-Smith project will be expanded to include an additional 0.3 stream miles (15 acres), for a project total of 1.8 stream miles and 60 riparian acres. In addition, an existing water gap will be decreased from 100 feet to 50 feet, and 1,300 feet of the existing fence line will be realigned outwards 20 feet. A 25-year easement will be signed with the landowner.

Exclosure fencing on Chesnimnus Creek will be expanded one mile to fully exclude livestock from 138.1 acres. Two solar wells and off-site livestock water projects will also be installed resulting in closure of three water gaps and decreased seasonal crossings by livestock. A performance based easement will be signed with the landowner.

The Crow Creek-Krebs project will be implemented including placing 40 acres in a 15-year conservation easement, constructing livestock and elk exclosure fencing, installing three of-site watering systems, recountouring streambanks, and riparian planting.

Technical assistance funding has been requested from BPA and OWEB for a fish habitat restoration project on the Hall Ranch, located on Catherine Creek. If funding is secured, an engineering firm will be hired to develop detailed designs.

Inspection and maintenance of projects with easements will be on-going, concurrent with maintaining project vegetation, monitoring for and removing trespassing livestock, and maintaining reconstructed stream channel and instream structures. These activities will be conducted throughout the year to comply with ODFW easements.

Temperature monitoring and data analysis is planned at 12 sites on 6 streams. Photographs will be taken at approximately 100 photo point locations.

Easements and projects on the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek, Lostine, and Wallowa Rivers and Chesnimnus, Pine, West Pine, and Crow creeks will continued to be pursued.

GRFH staff will participate in the BPA Catherine Creek and Upper Grande Ronde ATLAS process via participation on the Science Technical Advisory Committee, Implementation Team, and Stakeholder Technical Advisory Committee. GRFH staff will assist with identifying high priority project opportunities, selection of opportunity leads, and opportunity development.

Program staff will participate in monthly Union County Coordination meetings coordinated by the GRMW.

GRFH Program staff will continue to participate on project design and implementation teams for CC-44 Phase, Hall Ranch, Bird Track and other projects as they aerise. ODFW will lead fish salvage operations on CC-44 and Wallowa-Baker. Coordination with basin partners will remain a priority.