One of the major goals of the GRMW is to restore freshwater tributary habitat for the enhancement of anadromous salmonid populations in the Grande Ronde and Imnaha subbasins. The GRMW works with a variety of partners to coordinate and implement habitat restoration in the Grande Ronde Basin. Projects are submitted to the GRMW for funding through the BPA Environment, Fish and Wildlife Program. Technical services and in-kind funding are provided by our partners to accomplish the objectives and tasks of the GRMW.

The GRMW is able to transcend public/private ownership boundaries to plan and implement habitat restoration where it is needed. Through collaboration and coordination, the program promotes consistency and unity in reaching goals, meeting objectives, and implementing results-oriented projects.

Projects have addressed nearly every component of watershed health including water quality, water quantity, instream habitat complexity, riparian condition, streambank stability, and fish passage. While many of the benefits are already evident, others will accrue over longer time periods. Projects addressing fish passage problems, sediment inputs, and flow deficiencies have demonstrated immediate benefits. The benefits of other projects addressing improvements in riparian vegetation, bank stability, and stream temperature will become more apparent over time.

The GRMW began coordinating restoration projects in 1994. Approximately 368 projects have been implemented through the GRMW program through 2010.