Butte and Rock Creek LiDAR Based Restoration Prioritization Framework

The project is in Gilliam, Morrow, and Wheeler Counties, within the Butte Creek and Rock Creek watersheds, tributaries to the lower John Day River. The recovery planning process conducted by the John Day Partnership was used to identify restoration opportunities using the John Day Basin Partnership Atlas multi-criteria decision analysis tool. Within these watersheds, finer spatial scale (i.e., 500 m – 1 km) watershed condition assessments capable of prioritizing the distribution of limited restoration funding are currently lacking. Further, current restoration planning within the Lower John Day does not currently leverage contemporary spatial analysis tools and frameworks. This mismatch between recovery planning assessments and the scale at which riverscape restoration actions are implemented makes the allocation of restoration resources difficult and potentially inefficient. This project will prioritize the location of riverscape restoration actions within the Butte Creek and Rock Creek watersheds based on quantifying the current vs. potential floodplain (i.e., recovery potential) extent throughout 200 miles of the Butte Creek and Rock Creek watershed networks. Specifically, we will identify locations where channel and floodplain connectivity, the expansion of salmonid habitat, and riparian vegetation distributions can be maximized. Additionally, all floodplain prioritizations from this project and previous technical assistance grant applications (OWEB 220-8208-19240 and OWEB 222-6036-19596) will be made available via a web-based analytical tool. Partners include Gilliam-East John Day Watershed Council, ODFW, NRCS, and OWEB.

The proposed project will benefit Mid-Columbia Steelhead populations by prioritizing and implementing successful process-based restoration in Butte Creek and Rock Creek watersheds. These watersheds are important spawning tributaries for summer-run steelhead. The project will use LiDAR and imagery-based assessments to identify areas with the greatest potential for habitat restoration. A watershed data planning tool will be developed to guide restoration efforts. The project will also integrate existing Riverscapes Consortium tools and datasets to aid in restoration planning. By improving stream and wetland habitat, the project will help to increase steelhead populations.