SFJDWC Post-Fire Riparian Enhancement

The John Day Basin has experienced approximately 360,000 acres of wildfire related impacts during the 2024 season, with over 36% of the South Fork John Day watershed impacted by these events. The South Fork John Day watershed supports ESA listed mid-Columbia summer steelhead and juvenile mid-Columbia spring chinook. This project will focus on the Wind Creek watershed, a main cold water tributary to the South Fork located within the Rail Ridge Fire footprint. This project will also include the mainstem South Fork John Day River located on private property adjacent to the Wind Creek watershed. This project proposes to use PCSRF funds to purchase and install riparian plantings and provide maintenance on dead trees for erosion control around the watershed. The project will focus on severely burned areas on two private landowner’s properties.



The South Fork John Day Watershed Council Post-Fire Riparian Enhancement project will purchase $90,000 of native riparian plants, use $45,000 to maintain dead trees near riparian fences and provide upland erosion control, and $15,000 for the watershed council staff time. Riparian plants will be installed in severely burned areas along 2 miles on the Wind Creek watershed and 2 miles on the South Fork John Day River. Approximately 100 acres of upland habitat will be treated for erosion control by maintaining dead trees within the fire scar. Exact matching funds are not known at this time due to the matching project just being awarded. The match will come from Oregon Department of Forestry which will be replacing two fish passage barriers in the form of culverts on the important tributary of Wind Creek located on private land. This funding along with the ODF match funding will provide a holistic watershed restoration approach to the private landowners properties after and intense wildfire.



Worksite #1 Proposed Work:

Rail Ridge Fire scar within the Wind Creek Watershed (WCW) – Propose to install native riparian plantings for 2 miles of Wind Creek. We also proposed to treat 100 acres of riparian and upland habitat by providing maintenance on dead trees for erosion control. PCSRF funds will be used to buy plants and hire a contractor to install plants and treat the dead trees in the watershed. Priority will be given to severely burned areas along the riparian.



Worksite #2 Proposed Work:

Rail Ridge Fire scar within the South Fork John Day River (SFJDW) – Propose to install native riparian plantings for 2 miles of the South Fork John Day River. PCSRF funds will be used to buy plants and hire a contractor to install plants. Priority will be given to severely burned areas along the riparian.

Wildfires can alter water quality, increase sedimentation, raise water temperatures, and degrade essential habitat features. Riparian vegetation plays a critical role in addressing these issues, supporting both short-term recovery and long-term resilience for steelhead populations. By stabilizing streambanks, reducing sedimentation, lowering water temperatures, improving water quality, and enhancing food availability, riparian restoration helps mitigate the negative effects of wildfires on steelhead populations and supports the broader goal of ecosystem resilience.