The Grande Ronde and Umatilla Fish Habitat Improvement Program supports the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's (ODFW) efforts to restore riparian and instream habitats in the Grande Ronde and Umatilla basins as mitigation for fisheries losses resulting from development of the federal Columbia River Power System. The Program's focus is on the protection, enhancement, and restoration of habitats utilized by Federal Endangered Species Act listed Umatilla River summer steelhead, Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and Snake River summer steelhead, while benefiting many other species of fish and wildlife. These activities are guided, in part, by Recovery Plans, Subbasin Plans, Oregon plans and policies, and current research. Restoration activities are implemented under both short and long-term cooperative agreements with landowners. Past work includes: construction and maintenance of grazing control fences and off-channel livestock watering facilities; construction of main stem channels, side channels, alcoves, and large wood structures to increase habitat diversity; planting native plant species to restore riparian ecosystems; management of noxious weeds; restoring fish passage; and improving stream and floodplain connectivity.

The primary goal of "The Grande Ronde & Umatilla Basin Fish Habitat Enhancement Project” is to create, protect, and restore riparian and instream habitat ecosystems for anadromous salmonids, including flow restoration and passage improvement.  Ensuring the continued persistence and conservation of native fish and wildlife species on private lands within the Umatilla & Grande Ronde Basin, thereby maximizing opportunities for natural fish production within the basins.  Since 1984, more than 75 projects have been completed on over 100 miles of streams restoring 3,800 acres of riparian and instream habitat.

The Grande Ronde and Umatilla Fish Habitat Program (GRUFH) is comprised of four full time employees. Habitat work will be focused in the the Upper Grande River and tributaries, primarily Catherine Creek. Additional work will occur in the Wallowa and Umatilla basins. Project activities planned for this contract period include coordination with Grande Ronde and Umatilla basin partners, project planning, design review, permitting and construction, and inspection and maintenance of projects with current ODFW agreements. Continued coordination with landowners, and pursuit of additional projects, project design, and project implementation funding will also occur.

For this contract year, the program will be focusing on the following projects:

Catherine Creek State Park:
This project will have completed the design phase upon initiation of this SOW and is currently funded for implementation. The sponsor will work with the EC lead to make sure all EC related requirements are completed for project initiation. The sponsor will obtain permits (USACE/DSL/DEQ) necessary to go to construction during the 2020 in-water work window. The project sponsor will work with the GRMW to develop a bid package, solicit and review bids, and chose a contractor. The project sponsor will oversee implementation of the project by the chosen contractor. The project sponsor will ensure during construction that all conditions set forth in the permits, specifically the HIP III general provisions, are adhered to. The project sponsor will conduct fish salvage, general fishery monitoring, and turbidity monitoring during construction of the project. The project sponsor will coordinate with Oregon State Parks personnel during implementation. The project sponsor will review implementation invoices and document project completion. Project staff will oversee riparian and upland restoration planting of the project area.

Wallowa River-McDaniel:
This project has completed the design phase and is currently funded for implementation. The sponsor will work with the EC lead to make sure all EC related requirements are completed for project initiation. The sponsor will obtain permits (USACE/DSL/DEQ) necessary to go to construction during the 2020 in-water work window. The project sponsor will work with the GRMW to develop a bid package, solicit and review bids, and chose a contractor. The project sponsor will oversee implementation of the project by the chosen contractor. The project sponsor will ensure during construction that all conditions set forth in the permits, specifically the HIP III general provisions, are adhered to. The project sponsor will conduct fish salvage, general fishery monitoring, and turbidity monitoring during construction of the project. The project sponsor will coordinate with the Landowner during implementation. The project sponsor will review implementation invoices and document project completion. Project staff will oversee riparian and upland restoration planting of the project area.  This project is partially funded by ODOT mitigation funds and will require working with ODOT to ensure compliance of mitigation requirements.

Upper Grande Ronde-Bowman:
This project will continue in the design phase during this contract period. Designs will proceed from a revised 30% to a final, implementation ready package that includes construction documents. This process will include working with the EC lead to ensure EC related requirements are completed. Design iterations will be reviewed by the design team, the RRT and the GRMW IT. Funding will be applied for during the fall 2020 cycle. The project sponsor will also continue working with the NRCS to install off-site water funded through the RCPP.

Catherine Creek Hall Ranch:
Program staff will continue leading the design phase of relocating Hwy 203 out of the floodplain and the associated habitat restoration of Catherine Creek, it's floodplain and riparian areas on OSU's Hall Ranch property during this contract period.  This process will include working with the EC lead to ensure EC related requirements are completed in a timely fashion. The project sponsor will continue as the primary lead for coordination, planning and design meetings that will include BPA, GRMW, ODOT, OSU, CTUIR, OWEB and others. Staff will assist and work with BPA and others for Section 106 cultural resource evaluation, reporting, and mitigation as necessary. Staff will also work with BPA to complete an EA required for NEPA coverage and assist BPA with capital funding justification. Project staff will coordinate the installation of groundwater monitoring wells. Road and habitat restoration design will proceed when cultural resource evaluations are completed.  Design iterations will be reviewed by the design team, the RRT and the GRMW IT. Staff will work closely with BPA, GRMW, and OWEB on funding strategies.

General annual program activities will include:

As a collaborator, staff will continue to participate in the GRMW coordinated Science Technical Advisory Committees and Implementation Teams for the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek and Wallowa subbasins. Staff will assist with identifying high priority project opportunities, selection of opportunity leads, opportunity development, and will review design and funding proposals. Staff will attend monthly coordination meetings and other project tours as required. Staff will continue participation in monthly OWEB Focused Investment Partnership meetings coordinated by the GRMW. Staff will continue to coordinate and provide technical assistance to other agencies throughout the Grande Ronde and Umatilla basins to complete fish habitat restoration projects. Coordination with basin partners will remain a priority.

Inspection and maintenance of projects with easements will be on-going, including maintaining project vegetation; weed control and removal; monitoring for and removing trespassing livestock; maintaining and repairing/reconstructing fence lines and off-site water systems; and maintaining reconstructed stream channel and instream structures. Maintenance will be conducted on 30 miles of fence, 12 off-channel watering structures, and 1,900 acres of riparian and stream habitat within the Grande Ronde Basin. Maintenance will be conducted on the 267.7 acres of riparian and stream habitat within the Umatilla River Subbasin, including: 19.28 miles of fence, 12 off-channel watering facilities, and 130 acres of native vegetation. These activities will be conducted throughout the year to comply with ODFW agreements and easements and to ensure projects are meeting objectives. Staff will investigate for trespass cattle on all riparian fencing projects. Weed spraying will be conducted by staff on 12 projects in the Umatilla Basin. Weed spraying, if necessary, will be contracted out for projects in the Grande Ronde Basin, including the Wallowa-Baker and North Fork Cabin Creek Projects.

Staff will continue to work with landowners on future projects and renewing cooperative agreements. Easements and new projects on the Upper Grande Ronde, Catherine Creek, Wallowa River, Lostine River, Umatilla River, Birch Creek, and Meacham Creek will be pursued. Program staff are currently pursuing the Wallowa-Baremore, Catherine Creek-LDS, Catherine Creek-Tule Lakes, Beaver Creek-Merlo, and Upper Wallowa-Fish Passage projects. Staff will work with Conrad Wyss on a potential dam removal and habitat restoration project and with the City of Pendleton on removal of several unused pipelines which cross the Umatilla River and are fish passage obstructions.

The GRUFH will continue to partner with other local, state, federal, and tribal agencies and pursue project funding from BPA, OWEB, and other available sources for Umatilla Basin projects. We will continue to partner with the Umatilla Basin Watershed Council, the Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and other ODFW programs to secure funding to implement habitat and passage projects in the Umatilla Basin. These other partners have the ability to secure grant funds which ODFW does not qualify for or have budgets which allow for direct project implementation.

Due diligence monitoring will continue for our Ladd Creek Channel Reconstruction and Wetland Restoration Project. Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) required compensatory mitigation of 35 acres of enhancement to PEM C wetland habitat and 8 acres of creation of palustrine open water/riverine/impounding wetland habitat for the Ladd Creek Project. Monitoring in 2020 shall include water temperature at two locations; willow, trench willow, sedge plugs, and potted plant survival estimates; photo points; and measuring water levels and inundation of wetland ponds. Program staff will collect, enter, and analyze data and complete an annual monitoring report for DSL.

Two temperature probes will be operated and maintained to monitor status and trends of water temperature in the headwaters of Meacham Creek.

Photographs will be taken at approximately 176 photo point locations. Photo points will be established at new projects if necessary.

Education and outreach activities will occur as time allows. Anticipated activities include participation in academic programs, career days, and Watershed Field days.

GRUFH staff will maintain equipment used by the Program for implementing this SOW. Program supplies and materials such as fences are aging, with incidental increases in maintenance costs.