Walla Walla Basin Fish Walla Walla Basin Fish Habitat Enhancement ProjectHabitat Enhancement Project

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION

PROJECT GOAL

“To protect and restore riparian and upland habitat critical to the recovery of weak or reintroduced populations of salmonid fish within the Walla Walla River Basin”

WALLA WALLA RIVER BASIN

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Objective 1.Objective 1. Identify, prioritize, and select habitat restoration and Identify, prioritize, and select habitat restoration and protection projects that provide long-term benefit to biological protection projects that provide long-term benefit to biological systems and the salmonid fish relying on them. systems and the salmonid fish relying on them.

Objective 2:Objective 2:Design and implement habitat restoration and protection Design and implement habitat restoration and protection activities that provide long-term benefit to biological systems activities that provide long-term benefit to biological systems and the salmonid fish relying on them. and the salmonid fish relying on them.

Objective 3.Objective 3.Improve benefit to salmonid species and biological life within Improve benefit to salmonid species and biological life within habitat restoration areas by monitoring and evaluating habitat restoration areas by monitoring and evaluating physical and biological parameters over time. Results from physical and biological parameters over time. Results from this data will be used to adapt and improve project strategies. this data will be used to adapt and improve project strategies.

Touchet R.

Walla Walla R.

Patit Creek

Dry Creek

Mill C

reek

Blu

e

Cre

ek

Coppei C

reek

South

Fork

North

Fork

Cottonwood Creek

Walla Walla R.WASHINGTON

OREGON

Couse Creek

N. Fork Walla Walla

S. Fork Walla Walla

Existing Projects

New Projects for 2004

Project Locations

PROJECT APPROACH AND METHODS

1. Develop list of potential 1. Develop list of potential projectsprojects Watershed Assessment, Watershed Assessment,

Subbasin Review, public Subbasin Review, public outreach, interagency outreach, interagency communicationcommunication

2. Conduct on-site visits2. Conduct on-site visits Evaluate site potential, Evaluate site potential,

prioritize, select prioritize, select

3.3. Identify limiting factors Identify limiting factors and design recovery and design recovery efforts to best meet efforts to best meet themthem

PROJECT APPROACH CONT’

4.4. Secure cost shareSecure cost share

5.5. Sign Long Term Sign Long Term Conservation Conservation EasementEasement

6.6. Develop and Develop and secure permits / secure permits / clearancesclearances

7.7. Solicit bids and Solicit bids and develop develop subcontractssubcontracts

RESTORATION ACTIVITIES (some examples)

• Plant native Plant native grasses, shrubs grasses, shrubs and trees and and trees and control noxious control noxious weedsweeds

Construct Livestock Exclusion Fencing

Improve Instream Habitat Diversity

Correct Passage Impediments

Improve Private Land Management

Project Area Operation and Maintenance

• Maintenance Native Maintenance Native Plant CommunityPlant Community

• Control noxious weedsControl noxious weeds

• Maintain fencesMaintain fences

• Service EquipmentService Equipment

• Landowner Landowner CommunicationCommunication

Collect Monitoring Parameters

We developed a comprehensive document guiding We developed a comprehensive document guiding the monitoring process to be used for project areas, the monitoring process to be used for project areas, including:including:

• Substrate compositionSubstrate composition• Vegetation surveysVegetation surveys• Longitudinal habitat surveyLongitudinal habitat survey• Cross sectional surveyCross sectional survey• Salmonid abundanceSalmonid abundance

•ShadeShade•TemperatureTemperature•Photo-pointsPhoto-points•Land-useLand-use•Bank stabilityBank stability

Major accomplishments from 1997-2000Major accomplishments from 1997-2000

• Cost share securedCost share secured $400,000+$400,000+

• Stream miles protectedStream miles protected 8 miles8 miles

• Acres seeded to native grassAcres seeded to native grass 6262

• Native plants (rooted)Native plants (rooted) 25,000+25,000+

• Native plants (cuttings)Native plants (cuttings) 30,000+30,000+

• Weed controlWeed control 100 100 acres/yracres/yr

Accomplishments made in 2004

• Out-planted 4,000 native plants • Noxious weed control with project corridors (8

stream miles)• Participated in Subbasin Plan Development• Secured 127k in cost –share from SRFB for

Gose St. • Signed two new riparian easements with

private landowners• Native grass seeding on 12 acres• Secured 10k in cost share-PCSRF• Began design for Gose St. Adult Passage

Barrier (Mill Creek)

MONITORING: Photopoints

Blue Creek 1998Blue Creek 1998

Blue Creek 2002Blue Creek 2002

Blue Creek 2000Blue Creek 2000

MONITORING: Photopoints

Blue Creek 1998Blue Creek 1998

Blue Creek 2002Blue Creek 2002

20002000

Blue Creek 2004

Blue Creek 2000

Walla Walla R. 1998Walla Walla R. 1998 Walla Walla River 2001Walla Walla River 2001

Walla Walla River 2004

Cooperating Agencies

Toads Need Habitat Too!