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 76 projects have been completed on over 100 miles of streams restoring 3,800 acres of riparian and instream habitat.

2023 will be the programs first full year with the reorganized staffing. The Grande Ronde and Umatilla Fish Habitat Program (GRUFH) now just has two full time FTE, the program lead and an assistant project biologist position. Similar to last year, maintenance activities will either be contracted or eliminated. Habitat work will be focused in the the Upper Grande Ronde River and tributaries, as well as the Wallowa River and tributaries. Project activities planned for this contract period include coordination with Grande Ronde and Umatilla basin partners, project planning, design review, permitting and construction of new projects, 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:

Upper Grande Ronde-Bowman:
Permitting and implementation contracting should be completed upon initiation of this contract with focus on implementing.

Green Valley Ranch:
As the project sponsor GRUFH will finish implementation of this project during this contract cycle.

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 technical lead for this project. 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. 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 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 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.

Staff will continue to work with landowners on future projects in a limited capacity due to staff reductions and current work load.

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