Introduction

Five Points Creek is spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River Basin summer steelhead and redband trout. Five Points Creek is also designated critical habitat for bull trout. There is potential for spring/summer chinook rearing habitat in Five Points Creek, once the barrier is removed.  The spring/summer chinook, summer steelhead and bull trout are federally listed under ESA as threatened species. Redband trout are on the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List.  Historic timber harvest, rail road grade and roading removed larger conifers from the valley bottom, reducing the future recruitment of large wood to the stream. Historic grazing has caused impacts to the riparian area. This project will improve the riparian area and wood in the stream through planting and fencing.

The Five Points Creek Large Woody Debris and Planting Project is located on Five Points Creek, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River. The project is located on approximately 7 miles of Five Points Creek and tributaries (starting at approximate RM 1.0 – 8.5) (T 2S, R 36E, S 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, & 30). The project is located within the Grande Ronde River – Five Points Creek (1706010404); Lower Five Points Creek (170601040403); Reaches 1-3; Union County.  

Objectives

The objective is to improve potential spring/summer chinook rearing habitat, summer steelhead habitat and designated critical habitat for bull trout, specifically through improving or increasing the following habitat elements.

• Improve riparian & wetland diversity, vigor and function
• Improve floodplain function
• Improve water capture, storage and safe release within the floodplain.
• Increase fish cover
• Increase forage availability for fish

Specific Actions

The Five Points Creek Large Woody Debris and Planting Project would consist of:  (1)  An exclosure fence would be constructed around Camp One (.7 miles).  (2)  Riparian vegetation enhancement would involve planting 1500 deciduous seedlings, 6000 conifer seedlings and 26,000 deciduous cuttings.  All disturbed areas will be seeded after project completion.

  
Fencing

Approximately .7 mile of 4 strand barb wire, livestock exclosure fence will be constructed around Camp One.  Approximately 300 pods (small exclosures) will be constructed around deciduous seedlings.  


Planting

A total of 1,500 deciduous seedlings and 6,000 conifer seedlings will be planted in the project area.  Native species will be used.  All of the seedling planting will be completed by hand, except for the scalping.  This will occur at Camp One, No Name Creek, and areas where trees for structure construction are obtained. All of the deciduous seedlings will be fenced.  The deciduous seedlings will also be protected (as much as possible) from drought. Drought protection includes scalping, watering the trees twice during the first year, adding soil moisture granules, tree mat placement, and shade cards.

A total of 26,000 deciduous cuttings will be planted with excavator(s) within the unvegetated floodprone areas adjacent to Five Points Creek.  No cutting planting will occur by machine at Camp One.  


Seeding
  
All areas disturbed by equipment will be seeded with a native grass/forb seed mix after project completion.


Benefits

Benefits include:  improved riparian & wetland diversity, vigor and function; improved floodplain function; improved water capture, storage and safe release within the floodplain; increased fish cover; increased forage availability.