73982 REL 150

1987-100-01 EXP UMATILLA ANADROMOUS FISH HABITAT - CTUIR

2/1/2022

1/31/2023

47. Plant Vegetation

Work Element Usage Report

K: 47 - Planting within Umatilla River Subbasin project areas; Meacham Creek Project Areas

All planting efforts will utilize a First Foods approach and require multiple years to successfully re-establish native vegetation. This will also be coupled to our noxious weed control efforts to maximize effectiveness.

Meacham Creek Floodplain Restoration and In-Stream Enhancement Project (Bonifer Reach and Phase II) between RM's 1.9-6.1 (approximately 3 acres per contract year for planting). Follow completed project planting plans and annual assessment of planting needs to restore the vegetative component in disturbed and undisturbed areas within the project location for long-term project success to establish native vegetation in disturbed areas, floodplain and bank ground stability, shade and overhanging vegetation, and long-term large wood habitat recruitment in project area.

Other project areas will include the UmaBirch Project Area 4 (Birch Creek river miles 1.8-2.7). This year will focus mostly on establishing native grasses and sedges, and some potted plants, as it is currently planned to be a multi-year implementation effort. In the next 2-3 years, the remaining areas will be planted, as needed (with spacing off natural recruitment).

Note: This is the fourth year of planting for the Bonifer Reach project area. This project will require multiple years of planting to fully re-establish plants in the construction area. Some plants may be used in other project areas, but the majority will be planted in Birch Creek and a small number in Meacham Creek. The environmental compliance was completed for the Meacham Creek Bonifer Project portion of the planting area (RM 1.9-5.7) and Birch Creek UmaBirch PA-4 Project under the respective contracts for each Project Area.

Adaptive Management: The project has been evolving in terms of the vegetation planting that is occurring. As examples of how it has changed over time, we are now not planting Cottonwoods. It was determined through previous monitoring efforts that it is more effective to create the conditions that are conducing to cottonwood reproduction. Because there is an adequate seed source left, they will regenerate naturally. Thus, the project has designed more floodplain topographic relief in the current project. Other adaptive management strategies include waiting 2-3 years to plant heavily disturbed areas to allow for natural soil settling and regeneration to start.

The project is also fine-tuning the species utilized to more closely mimic an early seral species approach that tend to survive better in these harsh newly opened areas. In addition we are using much more mulch around each potted plant, increasing the amount of seed/berries being used (rather than planted stock), and being much more selective about microsite selection for planting (utilizing any and all existing cover, such as trees or down wood).

Purchase approximately 4,000 plants from the tribal native plant nursery to plant Meacham Creek between (approximately) R.M. 1.9 and 6.1. The effort began in 2011 and vegetation restoration continues to date over 5 large scale floodplain restoration projects. While the majority of the plants will be planted in Meacham Creek some of the plants will be made available to plant in other project areas as needed. The emphasis will remain on using planting potted plants of native species for increased survival and diversity to speed recovery in project areas.

Note: Exact numbers of plants varies depending on number of acreage planted over two planting periods (spring and fall) and number of available potted plants by species available at Tribal Native Plant Nursery.

$95,000

6.82%

02/01/2022

01/31/2023

01/31/2023

Concluded

[Unassigned]

[Unassigned]

Finite