Goals of Project:  Restore fish passage and improve habitat conditions for ESA-listed fish species and other focal species of concern, while maintaining access and management of irrigation, farming and ranching operations for landowners and irrigators.  The Project goal can be accomplished by restoring hydraulic and geomorphic processes, while enhancing instream, stream bank and riparian habitat.

Project Area is located on private property within the active river channel and floodplain of the Lostine River, upstream of its confluence with the Wallowa River at RM-1.8.  The project area is identified as a high priority for restoration actions in the Lostine River [Grande Ronde Subbasin Plan and Supplement (NPCC 2004)], ranked as: a) the number-one priority for protection benefit, and number-two ranked priority for restoration benefit from among the 12 Wallowa-Lostine spring Chinook population areas; and b) the number-5 and number-3 ranked priorities for protection and restoration benefit, respectively, from among the 24 Wallowa steelhead population areas.  Based on impact to steelhead and Chinook salmon populations throughout the Grande Ronde subbasin, the Wallowa-Lostine area was ranked number one among the eight watersheds listed for having the greatest projected population response (i.e., increased productivity and abundance) to restoration actions.

Background:  The Tulley-Hill ditch diversion on the Lostine River in Wallowa County, Oregon is a passage barrier to ESA Listed fish including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), as well as several other aquatic species.  The ditch supplies 119 acres with adjudicated water rights established in 1879.  It is used during the Wallowa Valley irrigation season, which starts on May 1st and ends on September 30th.  The structure does not meet fish passage criteria as currently applied by ODFW and National Marine Fisheries Service - especially at low, late-season, summer flows.  

This diversion site includes a series of steps including rock weirs at the bottom, leading up to two log weirs, the upper most providing the water elevation for the diversion headgate.  The structures were installed in 1998 to provide fish passage through the thalweg of the stream through gaps between the logs. Since the installation, considerable scour pools have formed below each step of the weir.  This diversion structure is an upstream velocity barrier to all fish at high flow, juvenile upstream movement at low flows due to jump height, and adult Chinook at low flow during the spawning time of year, again due to jump height.  The jump height barrier is exacerbated by dewatering in the later part of the  

Expected Implementation Actions (from the Project Proposal):  Convert the existing structure to a roughened channel diversion and fishway restoring access to 29 miles of habitat upstream.

*   Grade Control Structures and Rock Ribs: Rock grade control structures used to construct roughened channels are a proven method to restore fish passage where jump height and flow velocity exceed currently applied passage criteria.

*   Engineered Riffle (Sinuous Low Flow Channel): Engineered riffles with stream simulation materials provide hydraulic diversity throughout the project reach sufficient for all life stages of fish species to volitionally navigate up or down-stream.

*   Large Woody Debris Structures: Large woody debris structures will provide resting locations for migrating adults and rearing habitat for juvenile fish. Tree bank logs to be installed will increase bank stability as well as provide fish habitat benefit.

*   Site-appropriate Native Vegetation: Planting of trees, shrubs and grasses to promote improved riparian habitat function and connectivity.

Biological Benefits: Immediate biological benefits of the project include: year-round fish passage at the existing diversion that meets or exceeds state and federal requirements for salmonids and resident fish species of all life stages; decreased instream velocities during high flows; increased channel complexity and diverse habitat elements (large wood, pools); and better connectivity between existing functioning habitats.  

Geomorphic Implications:  Engineered riffle(s) will provide improved hydraulic diversity throughout the project reach and promote unimpeded sediment transport.  LWD placement throughout the stream reach will force pools and hydraulic variability, and in conjunction with the roughened channel sections, decrease instream velocities and provide additional hydraulic complexity throughout the reach. Other project elements are intended to establish a durable, low-maintenance structure that can withstand the effects from winter icing and minimizes the risk of channel aggradation or degradation; and maintain or improve bank stability in order to enhance riparian habitat and to protect private property and infrastructure such as roads, fences and the existing fish screens