The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Grande Ronde Subbasin Restoration Project (199608300) was initiated in 1996 to develop and implement a fish habitat program that contributes to the mitigation of Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead losses associated with the Federal Columbia River Hydropower System (FCRPS) and recovery of ESA anadromous fish.  The project works collaboratively with multiple agencies, organizations, and private landowners to identify, prioritize, plan, design, implement, maintain, and monitor tributary fish habitat restoration and enhancement projects.  The Project  embraces the goals of the CTUIR established in its’ Columbia Basin Salmon Policy (CTUIR, 1995) River Vision (Jones, et. al., 2008), Wykan-Ush-Me Wa Kush, Spirit of the Salmon (CRITFC, 1995), and is tiered to the Northwest Power Planning Council Fish and Wildlife Program as amended(NPPC, 2009), Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan (NPPC, 2004), Draft Recovery Plan For Oregon Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon And Steelhead Populations In The Snake River Chinook Salmon Evolutionary Significant Unit And Snake River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (NMFS, 2010), and the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (FCRPS BiOP), (NMFS, 2008).  The CTUIR propose ongoing fish habitat protection, enhancement, maintenance, and monitoring under the Project to achieve the primary goal of protecting habitat and restoring/enhancing degraded habitats to support the recovery of focal species. Project staff participates in BiOp remand efforts in the Basin, including the BiOp expert panel, recovery planning, and technical review and planning team.  Work under the project is directly linked to the CTUIR-BPA Accord.

In FY 2016 the project will be focused on planning, design, and implementation of fish habitat enhancement projects along Catherine Creek and Upper Grande Ronde and tributaries.  Project implementation for summer and fall/winter 2016 include: 1) Catherine Creek, CC44 Phase 3 completion and 2) Rock Creek phase 3 implementation.  Fish passage project work with the USFS on Sheep Creek will continue into FY16 with construction and completion of the Sheep Creek culvert replacement construction.

Project planning and design includes: 1) Catherine Creek CC42; 2) Birdtrack Springs, Grande Ronde River, and 3) Upper Rock Creek and Grande Ronde Tributaries.

Project staff will continue to work on developing new project opportunities in Catherine Creek, Grande Ronde River, and tributaries.

Land acquisition planning will continue during FY2016 with identification and development of acquisition opportunities.

Project staff will continue to coordinate with project partners in the development and prioritization of BiOp and Accord fish habitat projects and develop future project opportunities.