Williams Cr Flow Restoration Evaluation

This project addresses the need for instream flow restoration in Williams Creek, a large tributary to the Applegate River near Provolt, Oregon. Williams Creek and its tributaries are among the most important producers of salmon and steelhead in the Applegate River Basin. Improved stream flows will benefit ESA-listed Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Pacific Lamprey and the recreational and commercial fisheries they support and improve water quality in a 303-d listed stream. Specifically, Applegate Partnership (APWC) is seeking support for irrigation conveyance efficiency survey and design work at the Spencer and Watts Toppin Ditches – served by the Watts Toppin Dam located at rivermile 2.1 on Williams Creek. It also supports identification and development of mechanisms to legally protect water instream – both related to and independent from, conveyance efficiency improvements. Watts Toppin Dam is the legal point of diversion for all water rights involved in the project. An initial topographic survey of both the Spencer and Watts Toppin ditches has already been completed by Waterways Consulting and a more rigorous survey is required in addition to a water use evaluation of individual water rights and water right research. This technical assistance proposal is intended to compliment the Watts Toppin Fish Passage Project restoration application for implementation of fish passage improvements at the point of diversion for these ditches. Project partners include water users, Trout Unlimited, Rogue Basin Partnership, BLM, OWRD, USFWS Partners Program, Williams Cr Watershed Council, and Paul Allen Family Foundation through American Rivers.

The purpose of this project is to address primary limiting factors to fish production to the Middle Rogue and Applegate populations of ESA-listed threatened SONCC Coho salmon as well as State-listed Sensitive summer steelhead, winter steelhead, and Chinook Salmon in a high priority watershed for restoration. Williams Creek is a significant contributor to Applegate and Rogue River fisheries for Summer and Winter Steelhead, Coho Salmon and Fall Chinook Salmon and is among the most important producers of salmon and steelhead in the Applegate River Basin. The proposed technical assistance project will benefit salmon and steelhead habitat by developing design alternatives for conveyance improvements in the Watts Toppin and Spencer irrigation ditches that result in conserved water. A portion of that water can then remain instream, protected by an instream water right (utilizing the Allocation of Conserved Water Program, for instance). Additionally, we plan to identify landowners with senior water rights that we will target for instream leases and/or permanent transfers. Increasing instream flow by reducing out of stream water demands is among the most effective tools for flow restoration.

The proposed project addresses a primary limiting factor, impaired water quality and quantity in summer, to native fish production in Williams Creek. This project will help realize the ecological objective of enhanced streamflow in summer benefiting federally listed as threatened Coho Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Chinook Salmon, Pacific Lamprey and other native aquatic species by increasing the amount of available summer habitat for rearing juveniles, helping maintain suitable water temperatures and improving fish passage. Passage in the project’s stream reach (lower Williams Creek) is especially important to Chinook Salmon. Chinook spawning migration into Williams Creek begins in September and is currently limited by both low stream flows and passage barriers. This project will capitalize on fish passage improvements completed in 2020, downstream at Lower Bridgepoint Dam and if funded during this cycle of OWEB, fish passage at the point of diversion for the project ditches through the Watts Toppin Fish Passage Project.

In addition, this project will result in water temperature benefits during critical months that could determine whether or not native fishes are able to occupy or migrate through this reach in search of cool water refugia as temperature considerations here can create a fish passage barrier. A primary mechanism that native fishes will employ to survive climate change is migration to and from thermal refuge. Also, maintaining flow in this reach will help support native riparian vegetation buffers that also help maintain suitable water temperatures and protect stream banks from erosion during higher flow events predicted by most climate change models.