Comstock Basin Riparian Fencing, Planting, and Livestock Distribution

This project is located in Gilliam County on Thirtymile Creek and surrounding pasture. The project begins on river mile 30 of Thirtymile Creek. This reach of Thirtymile Creek remains one of few that have not been fenced, planted, and enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). This section of Thirtymile lacks riparian vegetation, and the need for plantings and exclusion fencing is a priority. This will remove a primary water source for livestock, and off-site watering facilities and cross-fencing are needed for proper grazing management. This project will install riparian fence and water gaps, plant riparian plants, install cross fence, and develop off-site water sources for livestock and wildlife. The CREP contract has been executed, riparian fencing will be completed in 2024, and planting will be completed in 2025. Project partners include the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Gilliam-East John Day Watershed Council, Gilliam SWCD, and private landowners.

The Comstock Basin Riparian Fencing, Planting, and Livestock Distribution Project seeks to restore and enhance riparian and upland habitats along 1.9 miles of Thirtymile Creek, a vital steelhead tributary in the John Day Basin. This initiative addresses key environmental stressors, including excessive sedimentation, elevated water temperatures, eroding streambanks, and degraded riparian vegetation—issues largely stemming from historic land-use practices and unmanaged livestock grazing. The project directly benefits salmonids by improving water quality and habitat conditions critical to their survival. By reducing sediment input and increasing riparian shading, the project will lower water temperatures, fostering more favorable environments for steelhead spawning and juvenile rearing. Additionally, the establishment of native vegetation and targeted structural improvements will restore floodplain connectivity and enhance habitat complexity, ensuring long-term ecosystem health and resilience.