The Dalles Watershed Fish Monitoring

We propose to provide status and trend monitoring of three anadromous salmonid populations (ESA listed steelhead, Coho salmon, and coastal cutthroat trout) present in three streams located in The Dalles Watershed: Mill Creek (located in Wasco & Hood River Counties), Threemile Creek and Chenoweth Creek (located in Wasco County). All three creeks flow into the Columbia River through the boundaries of the City of The Dalles. Baseline anadromous salmonid productivity and life history in the three creeks has not been established. Baseline data for salmonid production in the three creeks is also needed to provide a reference for evaluating the fish response to basin-wide efforts to improve the Mill Creek watershed and to restore riparian habitat. We propose to monitor the production and life history of anadromous salmonids in the three creeks for a period of four consecutive brood years in order to establish a baseline. The Mill Creek baseline will include brood years 2014–2017; and were selected for Mill Creek because the majority of baseline data was collected during the OWEB project “Lower Mill Creek Side Channel” as part of the effectiveness monitoring. The Threemile Creek and the Chenoweth Creek baseline will include brood years 2020–2023. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will provide technical assistance in estimating anadromous fish production metrics and in describing the life history of anadromous salmonids present in the Mill Creek, Chenoweth Creek, and Threemile Creek Watersheds for a period of four consecutive brood years. Deliverable metrics provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for the adnadromous salmonids include: annual migration year smolt abundance estimates, age structure, migration timing; and brood year smolt production estimates, smolt-adult return to Bonneville Dam & Mill Creek, and adult return timing to Bonneville Dam & Mill Creek. Project Partners include Wasco County SWCD, ODFW, & The Dalles Watershed Council.

Because the projects scheduled end date is after the PCSRF FFY 2019 award closes, no funds allocated for this project are reported as match to PCSRF funds.

This project will establish a status and trend baseline for ESA listed steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout, and Coho salmon present in Mill Creek, Threemile Creek, and Chenoweth Creek for the first time. Watershed managers will have access to baseline salmonid production statistics for each stream that could be used to promote new watershed improvement projects and riparian habitat restoration projects. In addition, baseline salmonid production in each stream can be used as a point of reference for the measurement of a fish response to future Mill Creek watershed, Chenoweth Creek watershed, and Threemile Creek watershed improvement projects and riparian habitat restoration projects.