Phipps Meadow Conservation and Restoration Planning

Salmonid Restoration Planning and Assessments

Restoration Planning And Coordination
Project ID22-Warm-05
Recovery DomainsMiddle Columbia River
Start Date03/01/2023
End Date12/31/2025
Year2022
StatusOngoing
Last Edited02/27/2024
 
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Description    


The Phipps Meadow property is an inholding of private land situated at the headwaters of the Middle Fork John Day River and encompassed by the Malheur National Forest. The Upper Middle Fork John Day is an area of comprehensive watershed restoration, and CTWS owns and has performed restoration on three conservation properties within the watershed. In 2020, with support from the Tribes and other collaborating agencies, the Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) purchased Phipps Meadow and is in the process of executing a conservation easement on the property. CTWS has assumed the role of lead project management and funding agency for future restoration plans, which are in the early stages of development. This proposal seeks to provide capacity to BMLT for the coordination of restoration planning, participation in the development of a properties-level restoration plan, and support BMLT in properties management actions in accordance with the Tribes’ Watershed Restoration Strategy. This property is uniquely located at the headwaters of the MFJD and provides significant opportunity to benefit wild Chinook, mid-Columbia steelhead, redband trout, pacific lamprey, and other native fishes.


This proposal seeks to distribute funds to BMLT to facilitate staff capacity to participate in all phases of the restoration and property-management processes, including coordination between agencies involved in the restoration design process, development of a property management plan which seeks to create and maintain ecological uplift, and collaboration with partners to develop a plan for pre-restoration and post-restoration stewardship activities and monitoring. CTWS’ John Day Watershed Restoration Program (JDWRP) has been identified as the lead agency for project management related to in-stream restoration and funding acquisition for in-stream activities. The CTWS-JDWRP has a monitoring team experienced in the design and implementation of aquatic restoration monitoring plans. The JDWRP will be taking the lead on performing all monitoring activities relevant to the restoration effort, including up to 3 years of pre-implementation data collection and up to 10 years of post-implementation data collection. These data will be used to inform an adaptive management strategy for the property to ensure that project goals are being met.


This project is associated with the John Day Private Lands Partnership (PCSRF project 22-Warm-01).

Project Benefit    


Restoration of the portion of the MFJDR located in Phipps Meadow will seek to increase juvenile salmonid habitat quantity and quality by introducing an anastomosing channel form to what is currently a single-thread and highly incised morphology, as well as riparian protection through exclosures and riparian enhancement through plant installation. Anticipated benefits to target species include increased juvenile habitat through the introduction of a braided channel form and large wood additions, restoration of a natural hydrology through floodplain reconnection, and increased water quality by way of riparian regeneration and enhancement with high water temperatures considered to be the primary limiting factor for juvenile survival in the system. Funds from this proposal will ensure BMLT capacity to coordinate the planning of these efforts, as well as develop and implement stewardship activities critical for meeting ecological goals in perpetuity.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$100,000
Report Total:$100,000


Project Map



Worksites

Phipps Meadow    


  • Worksite Identifier: Phipps Meadow
  • Start Date: 03/01/0023
  • End Date: 12/31/0025
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: John Day (170702)
  • Subbasin: Middle Fork John Day (17070203)
  • Watershed: Bridge Creek-Middle Fork John Day River (1707020301)
  • Subwatershed: Mill Creek-Middle Fork John Day River (170702030106)
  • State: Oregon
  • Recovery Domain: Middle Columbia River
  • Latitude: 44.5884
  • Longitude: -118.4484

ESU

  • Mid-Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU
  • Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • B.0 Salmonid Restoration Planning and AssessmentsY (Y/N)
    •      . . B.0.a Planning And Assessment Funding .00
    •      . . B.0.b.1 Area Encompassed
    •      . . B.1 Restoration Planning And CoordinationY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . B.1.a Planning and Coordination funding
      •      . . . . B.1.b.3 Coordination of watershed conservation and restoration effortsY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . B.1.b.3.a
          Name of plan
        •      . . . . . . B.1.b.3.b
          Description and scope of the plan implemented
      •      . . . . B.1.b.6 Support to local entities or agenciesY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . B.1.b.6.a
          Name of plan developed or implemented
        •      . . . . . . B.1.b.6.b
          Description and scope of the plan developed/implemented