Title: Columbia Land Trust - Neal Creek Land Pre-Acquisition support

Description:  

Columbia Land Trust (CLT) is a Vancouver, WA based conservation organization that owns and manages land for conservation purposes within the lower Columbia River watershed, including in the Columbia River Gorge and within the Hood River basin. The Land Trust’s mission is to conserve and care for the vital lands, waters, and wildlife of the Columbia River region through sound science and strong relationships.  Columbia Land Trust is the current owner and manager of the former PacifiCorp Powerdale dam property, located between River Miles 4.5 – 1.4 along the mainstem Hood River (~300 acres). Over the past 6 years, the Land Trust has been preserving and actively restoring this property for public access, wildlife, and fisheries interests.  The HRPP has partnered with the Land Trust on several of the fisheries related restoration actions.

An undeveloped ~48 acre property adjacent to the Powerdale area has recently come up for sale.  This property contains a 0.35 mile section of Neal Creek - including its confluence with the mainstem Hood River.  Neal Creek is considered an important clear water tributary of the lower Hood River and has been estimated to contribute up to 10% of the wild steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) production in the Hood River Basin.  Neal Creek also contains populations of Coho salmon (O. kisutch) and resident cutthroat trout (O. clarkii).  In addition, Neal Creek has been used by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs – Hood River Production Program (HRPP) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to manage steelhead in the Hood River Basin.

From 2010 thru 2015, ODFW operated an adult fish weir and trap on this property that allowed the removal of hatchery origin steelhead from entering into Neal Creek - preventing spawning between hatchery and wild populations.  In addition, in 2015 HRPP and ODFW acclimated and released a test group of steelhead smolts on this property as a part of a feasibility study to assess the potential to segregate hatchery steelhead, from wild fish, destined for the upper Hood River basin.  

The ability to purchase this property and convey its ownership to a basin partner, CLT, would ensure continued HRPP and ODFW management opportunities for steelhead in the Neal Creek and Hood River basins – specifically the continuation of smolt acclimation and the operation of the fish weir.  Furthermore, this property offers an excellent opportunity to extend a large parcel of protected riparian habitat (Columbia Land Trust Powerdale Area) in the Lower Hood River, habitat that is scarce due to local orchard activities.

HRPP funds from BPA project 199802100 will be moved directly from the BPA to Columbia Land Trust for the purchase of the Neal Creek Property in FY18.  Under the guidance of BPA, the Land Trust will follow the federal land acquisition process to procure this property and will manage the property with HRPP interests in mind.  Columbia Land Trust will allow the HRPP and partners to conduct fisheries related management activities on this property, which include but are not limited to: installation and operation of a seasonal acclimation site, installation and operation of a seasonal fish weir, replacement of the Neal Creek bridge currently on the property, stream and riparian restoration activities along both Neal Creek and the mainstem Hood River, installation and maintenance of a pit tag array, and access to the property for fisheries related research.

Deliverable Specification:

Columbia Land Trust will do pre-acquisition activities to support Neal Creek property purchase and management of the property in accordance with Land Trust and HRPP interests.

Location:

Latitude: 45.662471
Longitude: -121.526373

Parcel #: 02N10E1400100

Planned Metrics: none

Primary Focal Species: Steelhead - Lower Columbia River DPS

Country: US NPCC Subbasin: HOOD

State: OR HUC5 Watershed: HOOD RIVER

County: HOOD RIVER HUC6 Name: LOWER HOOD RIVER

Salmonid ESUs Present:  Lower Columbia River Chinook Salmon ESU (Accessible) | Lower Columbia River Coho Salmon ESU (Accessible) | Lower Columbia River Steelhead DPS (Accessible)