"The CTUIR Grande Ronde Subbasin Restoration Project, initiated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 1996, is an ongoing effort to protect, enhance, and restore riparian and instream habitat for natural production of anadromous salmonids in the Grande Ronde River Subbasin. Project activities focus on improving juvenile rearing habitat with emphasis on restoring natural channel morphology and floodplain function, cold water refuge, complex aquatic habitat. During 2002-2003, the CTUIR, in cooperation with multiple partners, completed the McCoy Meadows Restoration Project, Longley Meadows Restoration Project, and the Mainstem Grande Ronde River Habitat Enhancement Project. Project activities included development of project designs, completion of environmental compliance and regulatory permitting requirements, procurement of construction services and materials, pre-construction preparations (survey and staking), project construction, and bioengineering/revegetation. Baseline and ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities were also completed during the reporting period on major project areas. Activities included collection and evaluation of water temperature data, groundwater data, vegetation plots and transects, channel cross sections and longitudinal profiles, and photo points. Ongoing project maintenance, including fence repair, vegetation management, and monitoring for trespass livestock, was accomplished."--From abstract.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) entered into a contract agreement beginning in 1996 to fund watershed restoration and enhancement actions and contribute to recovery of fish and wildlife resources and water quality in the Grande Ronde River Basin. The CTUIR's habitat program is closely coordinated with the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program and multiple agencies and organizations within the basin. The CTUIR has focused during the past 4 years in the upper portions of the Grande Ronde Subbasin (upstream of LaGrande, Oregon) on several major project areas in the Meadow, McCoy, and McIntyre Creek watersheds and along the mainstem Grande Ronde River. This Annual Report provides an overview of individual projects and accomplishments.

The Willow Creek watershed provides significant habitat for federally listed Snake River summer steelhead, potential spawning and rearing habitat for spring Chinook salmon, and supports a variety of native resident fish. The Willow Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project includes over 4 miles of spawning and rearing habitat with forested, higher gradient, C4 channels in the upper reaches of the project area and low gradient, wetland meadow, C4/C5 and E channel forms in the lower 2/3's of the project area. The area presents extensive potential to provide summer and winter rearing habitat for salmonids with suitable spawning habitat for steelhead in the upper project reaches. Project implementation began in summer 2012 with the stream bank shaping, placement of large wood complexes along project area streams, and excavation and reactivation of a 1 mile historic channel segment along lower Willow Creek. Following construction, disturbed areas, including streambanks, large wood sites, upland terraces and the re-activation channel reach were planted with a native grass seed mix and mulched with straw. An extensive riparian tree and shrub planting effort is scheduled to begin during spring 2013 to facilitate development of riparian vegetation. Additional activities planned for 2013 include weed control and replacement of 4 undersized culverts on fish bearing, spring fed tributaries. The following table provides an overview of the Willow Creek Fish Habitat Enhancement Project.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) entered into a contract agreement beginning in 1996 to fund watershed restoration and enhancement actions and contribute to recovery of fish and wildlife resources and water quality in the Grande Ronde River Basin. The CTUIR's habitat program is closely coordinated with the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program and multiple agencies and organizations within the basin. The CTUIR has focused during the past 4 years in the upper portions of the Grande Ronde Subbasin (upstream of LaGrande, Oregon) on several major project areas in the Meadow, McCoy, and McIntyre Creek watersheds and along the mainstem Grande Ronde River. This Annual Report provides an overview of individual projects and accomplishments.