Habitat Enhancement Effectiveness – Biological Monitoring & Evaluation VII

The overall goal of the CTUIR biomonitoring program is to evaluate the effectiveness of CTUIR stream restoration efforts in respect to aquatic biota, particularly spring Chinook salmon, summer steelhead, and bull trout populations. The project seeks to assess the biological outcomes of a wide range of restoration efforts in the ceded territory of the Umatilla, Grande Ronde, John Day, Walla Walla and Tucannon subbasins. CTUIR’s approach to habitat restoration is based in the framework of the Umatilla River Vision where Geomorphology, Hydrology, Connectivity, Riparian Vegetation, and Aquatic Biota are identified as the key touchstones vital to a healthy river ecosystem and essential to the re-naturalization of the tribal First Foods. CTUIR utilizes this framework to identify and design holistic restoration projects that seek to restore floodplain function as it is described in the River Vision and address the primary limiting habitat factors in association with each of the identified touchstones.



To date this project has been predominantly the physical monitoring component complementary of the CTUIR Biomonitoring Plan with site level fish and macroinvertebrate response monitoring. Current monitoring includes Columbia Habitat Monitoring and BPA programmatic Action Effectiveness Monitoring (AEM) habitat monitoring protocols in combination with biological data to provide detailed site scale fish/habitat relationship information comparable on a regional level. Continued emphasis on monitoring the physical limiting factors addressed by CTUIR restoration actions is critical in informing managers and implementers for guiding future restoration efforts.



With the increasing size and ambition of fisheries habitat restoration projects, CTUIR requires scalable field and remote monitoring tools to measure the results of these actions. CTUIR has utilized the CHaMP/AEM habitat protocol along with several biological measures to assess baseline and post stream restoration conditions to this point.



This project continues this multiyear effort, and includes the second part of a three part research endeavor to review the CHaMP/AEM protocol alongside the Physical Habitat Monitoring Strategy developed by CTUIR in 2015. PHaMS emphasizes remote sensing methods at larger scale restoration projects. Incorporating the methodologies and efficiencies from the two separate protocols into a site by site specific monitoring plan will be the ultimate goal.



This seventh year project provided a cost share for BPA funding in order to help meet the objectives of the CTUIR biomonitoring program, through training to benefit the continued habitat monitoring and a research endeavor to design a future monitoring strategy for large floodplain restoration projects. As well as a continuation and extension of a long term macroinvertebrate study designed around the restoration efforts. The ability to detect biological changes in response to habitat restoration is critical for determining habitat quantity and quality, and to understand what particular restoration action or suite of actions yield the greatest biological response.



Work in 2019 included continued site level habitat monitoring of three sample locations within Meacham Creek (permanent technician time funded by BPA, training funded by PCSRF). Juvenile salmonid abundance surveys at each sample site during summer and fall seasons (permanent technicians funded by BPA). Collaboration of redd abundance surveys for spring Chinook and summer steelhead conducted throughout the Meacham tributary March-September (permanent technicians funded by BPA). Continuation of Meacham macroinvertebrate study through OSU subcontract (PCSRF funded). Continuation of the CHaMP/PHaMS methodology review and metric comparison with collection and processing of data (PCSRF funded).

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is implementing a habitat restoration program with emphasis on reducing the effects of primary limiting factors (i.e. water temperature and habitat complexity) and restoring natural ecological processes. Biomonitoring sample sites have been selected for evaluating a biological response to habitat restoration; and the expected benefit is to improve habitat quality for adult holding and spawning, and juvenile rearing of fish species of interest. Monitoring habitat in parallel with fish surveys can provide valuable information regarding fish/habitat relationships.