The goal of this project is to protect and enhance anadromous fish habitat on private lands in the Umatilla River Basin. Project objectives include: 1) identification of detrimental land uses and development of watershed-level solutions to address habitat impacts; 2) maintenance and continued implementation of habitat enhancements; 3) collection of baseline data and post-project monitoring to identify habitat limiting factors and assess effects of habitat enhancements.Since its inception in 1987, the project has secured 48 agreements with landowners and enhanced 18.5 stream miles on private properties throughout the Umatilla River Basin. The recently completed Umatilla Subbasin Summary and the nearly finalized Umatilla Subbasin Watershed Assessment will provide direction and assist with prioritization of future habitat needs. Targeted areas shall include portions of the mid and upper mainstem Umatilla River and stream reaches within the Birch, Wildhorse, Mission, Cottonwood, Moonshine, Coonskin, Buckaroo, Squaw, Meacham Creek Subwatersheds.Although the Tribes will continue to implement individual projects with cooperative landowners, efforts are currently underway in all targeted watersheds to tie existing and proposed enhancements together. Such an expanded approach will result in stream reach-level habitat recovery and complement other Bonneville Power Administration funded projects in achieving more comprehensive watershed restoration goals. The Tribes will continue to prioritize passive, natural recovery to preserve and restore stream habitat. Active, bioengineering approaches will be reserved for areas that will not sufficiently recover in a natural state.Short-term project effects shall include native plant community recovery, increased stream bank stability and increased stream channel shading. Long-term project effects shall include improved stream geomorphic features, vegetative succession, cooler stream temperatures, reduced sediment deposition, increased large woody debris recruitment, greater habitat diversity, increased juvenile and adult salmonid freshwater survival, greater salmonid offspring out-migration and increased bird, mammal and invertebrate populations.Project monitoring shall include stream channel transect measurements, photo point documentation, habitat inventories, macroinvertebrate surveys, biological sampling, stream temperature monitoring and suspended sediment monitoring. Results will be evaluated in annual reports submitted to the Bonneville Power Administration.This project is consistent with Northwest Power Planning Council Measure Numbers 7.6, 7.7 and 7.8. The project entails coordinated, cooperative efforts to protect and improve anadromous fisheries habitat on a comprehensive watershed management basis.1. Implement habitat enhancement projects on private properties in the Umatilla River Basin to achieve habitat recovery. a. Construct root wad and rock revetments, deflectors, vanes, weirs, etc. with an excavator (salaries; travel; excavator rental; diesel fuel; geotextiles; root wads and trees; rock). Ongoing $ 56,331 x b. Construct livestock exclusion fencing around project areas (construction and fence materials). Ongoing $ 51,273 x c. Develop off-stream water sources for livestock (salaries; travel; well drilling; excavator rental; electric installation services; purchase of pumps, plumbing materials and water troughs). Ongoing $ 54,190 x d. Improve or remove fish passage impediments (salaries; travel; excavator rental; diesel fuel; purchase of culverts). Ongoing $ 22,593 e. Plant native willow cuttings and various bareroot tree and shrub species within riparian areas (salaries; travel; excavator rental; purchase of trees). Ongoing $ 27,978 f. Seed native grasses in project areas (salaries; travel; purchase of trees). Ongoing $ 12,379
