Oxbow Conservation Area Tailings Restoration - Phase 5

This is a continuation of a project that is part of a very large restoration effort which supports the recovery of anadromous fish (summer steelhead, spring Chinook salmon, and Pacific Lamprey) in the Middle Fork John Day River. This site was dredge-mined for gold from 1939 to 1943 across 200 acres of floodplain. The dredging resulted in loss of soils and vegetation, and it created highly altered stream channels. These channels lack a significant amount of complexity and quality aquatic habitat. Since acquisition in 2001, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have studied an approach to treat the limiting factors presented by this site. The Tribes have worked with the Bureau of Reclamation since 2005 to develop solutions for this site. Using the best available practices, this effort will ultimately construct 7,500 feet of new channels and additional habitat enhancement work on existing channels. This project began construction in 2011 with phasing portions of the work. To date (including this phase), five phases of this effort have been completed. Extensive tree planting, seeding, browse fencing, bio-engineering, and large wood structures were executed along the entire project. This project restores the most degraded portion of the upper Middle Fork John Day River.

The Phase 5 portion of this project (at one site) cost ~$1.5 million for construction alone, and about $4.5 million has been invested in Phases 1 through 4, completed in 2011 through 2015. Phase 5 involved constructing 1,950 feet of river channel, nearly 400 feet Ruby Creek channel, and about a 1,000 feet of spring channels and alcove construction. However, Phase 5 also links up with about 2,000 feet of Phase 4 channel, resulting 3,950 feet of new river channel. Earthwork for grading mine tailings and channel construction is extensive, though past phases of work have provided some material ready for Phase 5. At the end of the project, there were about 30,000 cubic yards of material leftover. Some material will be utilized in creating an interpretive site parking area, the rest will be buried. BPA funding (project #2000-015-00), OWEB funding (project #216-6008-12116), and US Fish and Wildlife Partners funding are also contributing greatly to different related components of this effort, and will be reporting their accomplishments and funding through different processes and will not be reported under this project.

Using CRITFC PCSRF funds the WST, treated 0.16 miles of instream habitat and created .04 miles of off-channel stream and 1 instream pool. Thirteen structures of anchored logs and boulders were placed in the channel. Around 103 cubic yards of spawning gravel was placed in the stream. .16 miles of riparian streambank was treated with native species. .13 miles of fencing was constructed to protect 4.18 riparian acres.

The goal of this project is to restore physical and biological processes on this dredge-mined property to benefit summer steelhead and spring Chinook salmon.

Project related videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35so1rcI1R8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DcGA4kOBz8

The project seeks to restore hydraulic and ecosystem processes for riparian and instream habitats critical for Mid-Columbia summer steelhead, spring Chinook salmon, Pacific Lamprey, and bull trout. This multi-phased project is located in the heart of spring Chinook salmon spawning, adult holding, and juvenile rearing. The property averaged 13% of spring Chinook salmon spawning in this critical habitat zone of the MFJD watershed, but since Phase 1 has been completed in 2011, Chinook spawning on the property has increased to and average 23.4% of the river total. This property is used by steelhead for both juvenile rearing and spawning in the river and five perennial tributaries within the property boundaries. The property has exceptional juvenile rearing potential, stemming from its location in the watershed and the six perennial tributaries entering the river within the property, but degraded habitat conditions limit current production. The Phase 5 Project restores connectivity to the river on Ruby Creek with channel construction and habitat enhancement of the lower 400-500 feet of the creek. Pacific lamprey juveniles are also commonly present in the river and tributaries throughout this property.

The project primary goal is to restore instream habitat conditions and structure for salmonid production, and set the stage for processes needed to sustain habitat features. This project seeks to greatly enhance instream habitat for salmonids in terms of rearing habitat, as this is the main identified bottleneck in population recovery. Pools with large wood structure, complex riffles, and targeted use of cold-water alcoves and spring channels will be the features to aid in rearing habitat for salmonids. Water temperature will also be buffered through an extensive vegetation plan, which promotes stream shading and appropriate channel widths on the constructed channel segments.