The Upper Fly Restoration Project is located on Fly Creek, tributary to the Grande Ronde River. The project is located on 2 miles of Fly Creek (RM 7.0 - 8.5) this project involves implementing restoration to improve habitat for listed spring/summer chinook and summer steelhead. The project is located in the Lower Fly Creek Subwatershed (170601040108) (T 5S, R35E, S 8, 17, 20, 27, 28, 29). Fly Creek is spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River Basin summer steelhead and redband trout and rearing habitat for Snake River Basin spring chinook salmon.

Hjstoric beaver trapping, roading, timber harvest, and grazing have created a confined channel with limited floodplain interaction. The project would prioritize LWD placement to add roughness, increase floodplain interaction and habitat complexity, and promote out of channel flooding. It is expected that the project will promote longer periods of hydrologic production, decreased stream temperatures, increased low velocity habitat, and increased fish cover. The project would place wood within 1.5 miles of Fly Creek and 2500 seedlings and 20,000 cuttings would be planted. Project partners include: Grande Ronde Model Watershed, Bonneville Power Administration and the US Forest Service.

Overall Goal: To achieve proper ecological form and function of Upper Fly Creek and thereby restore habitat for the imperiled Snake River Basin Spring/Summer Chinook and Snake River Basin Steelhead.

Subgoal 1: Physical - Restore Hydrologic Function

Increase hydration of a laterally confined channel to improve groundwater retention through channel spanning logjam construction.

Subgoal 2: Physical - Activate Side Channel Scrolls

Encourage and create perennial side channels through channel spanning log jam construction.

Subgoal 3: Biological - Improve Fish Habitat

Restore habitat complexity. Additional whole trees will be placed. These structures will encourage fish cover.  List specific and measurable objectives. Objectives support and refine the goal by breaking it down into steps for achieving the goal. (NOTE: If you quantify your  objectives, ensure all numbers match the metrics listed in your selected habitat types.) Provide up to 7 objectives.

Hypothesis 1: If channel spanning wood structures using trees and racking material are constructed in strategic locations then: 2 years post implementation: (1) 20% more of the floodplain will be inundated in the summer season (June-July)(Reduced to 15% for Alternative 2). Water storage will be quantified in terms of floodplain acres using drone technology. (2) 68 new backwater pools will develop (Reduced to 55 pools for Alternative 2). Pools will be measured by USFS Level II habitat surveys.(3) .5 mile of activated new side channels will occur in June and July (Reduced to .4 mile for Alternative 2). Side channel lengths will be measured by USFS using GPS Tracking.

Strategy and Objectives 1: Mimic beaver dam function at pool tails and where accessible side channel habitats exist by constructing channel spanning wood structures to:

- Deflect water into the floodplain for groundwater storage.
- Activate side channel scrolls.
- Promote gravel deposition & spawning gravel recruitment.
- Recruit deciduous vegetation.
- Improve habitat for future use by beaver populations.
- Create backwater pools.

Hypothesis 2: If large wood is placed than instream wood will increase by 1100 pieces (Reduced to 891 pieces for Alternative 2).

- Pool depth and wood will be measured by USFS Level II habitat surveys.

Strategy and Objectives 2: Place logs, root wads, racking material and whole trees to encourage: fish cover and habitat complexity.