Middle Fork Planting Project -Phase 4

This project is located within the Middle Fork John Day River, a tributary to the John Day River. Work will be entirely located within Grant County, Oregon, beginning approximately 13 miles northeast of the town of Prairie City. This project is a continuation of an on-going effort in the Middle fork of the John Day River to provide shade via riparian planting and invasive removal efforts. Stream temperature is a primary restoration need of the Middle Fork John Day. Legacy effects on the Middle Fork have contributed to degraded stream conditions and poor water quality. Heavy grazing for many decades with little to no riparian protection has resulted in these lands being denuded of much of its shading vegetation, increasing solar inputs, and causing the stream temperature to rise. The Middle Fork is home to two anadromous fish species – Chinook salmon and steelhead – both of which are culturally significant species to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. High stream temperatures have been verging on the upper thermal tolerances of these species in summer months, and this has contributed to a decreasing abundance in both Chinook and steelhead throughout this watershed. This project is proposing to revegetate sections of the Middle Fork to reestablish the riparian corridor and reduce solar inputs through planting of native vegetation and removal of non-native species. Funding from this grant will contribute to revegetation efforts on tribal lands. Planting will occur on previous restoration projects that have been previously funded through the OWEB FIP cycle. This is a continuation of previously funded projects.

This project will address the persistent legacy effects of former agricultural practices that occurred throughout much of the MFJDR. By revegetating these currently denuded riparian corridors, we will restore favorable temperature conditions that improve and increase rearing and spawning habitat for both salmon and steelhead.

In-stream temperature remains to be the biggest threat to salmonid holdover and production in the Middle Fork sub-basin, with the high rates of solar loading being attributed to lack of riparian cover. Riparian plantings have been and will be used throughout the upper Middle Fork watershed to complement prior and upcoming restoration efforts. Plants are expected to be of various sizes, with a preference for larger stock that can provide immediate shade as well as result in higher plant survival rates.

In addition, this project will help revegetate past restoration projects that will benefit from supplemental planting.