Habitat Enhancement Effectiveness-Biological M&E on Ceded Areas XIII

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. The restoration efforts to be evaluated are levee removal and instream wood structures. We expect a reconnection with the floodplain with complex habitat or increase habitat diversity within the bankful channel. CTUIRs 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; temperature, sediment, passage obstructions, habitat complexity, and flow in association with each of the identified touchstones.



Project objectives to guide CTUIR effectiveness monitoring efforts and help inform managers are as follows:

What are the biological effects of habitat restoration actions on biota abundance and distribution?

What are the physical effects of habitat restoration actions on key floodplain health indicators? What specific habitat restoration actions have had a positive effect on species of concern?



Worksite #1: Meacham Creek Treatment and Control



Proposed work for FY 2024 funds includes continued site level habitat monitoring of three sample locations within Meacham Creek which will be evaluated using a Before-After-Control-Impact design (BACI) for two treatments and one control. Staff will include one permanent technician. The technicians duties will include Juvenile salmonid abundance surveys at each sample site during summer and fall seasons, collaboration on redd abundance and carcass count surveys for spring Chinook and summer steelhead conducted throughout the Meacham Creek tributary March-September, water temperature sampling, and restoration effectiveness and validation monitoring. The technician will be involved with the continuation of a Meacham Creek macroinvertebrate study through an OSU subcontract (PCSRF funded). The technician will assist in the continuation of the PHaMS methodology for reach-scale restoration and metric comparison with collection and processing of data.

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., seasonally high-water temperature, flow, and habitat simplification) and floodplain connectivity. Biomonitoring sample sites have been selected for evaluating biological responses to levee removals, floodplain activation, and instream wood; 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.