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End Creek-Rice Fish Habitat & Wetland Restoration Project

 

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 End Creek Rice project

Project Summary

This project is the part of the End Creek Project complex which encompasses approximately 776 acres within three contiguous private land parcels in the Willow Creek Watershed in the Upper Grande Ronde River Subbasin.  The Rice portion of the project involved the largest area encompassing 558 acres.

Private lands in the project area have a long history of agricultural cultivation, channelization/ditching, and wetland conversion.  The End Creek/Rice project restored instream, riparian, and wetland habitat with multiple strategies, including channel construction, floodplain improvements, and habitat protection through conservation easements. The Rice project area is protected under a perpetual wetland reserve program conservation easement. 

The overall goal of the project was to restore the natural character and function of End Creek, South Fork Willow Creek, McDonald Creek, and spring-fed tributaries with accompanying riparian and wetland vegetation, well connected floodplain, and stable, natural stream channels.  Water quality, fish habitat, and wetland-riparian habitat restoration were key drivers for the project.

End Creek-Rice Project Completion Report

Find out more about this project in the project completion report .(2MB)

Project Actions

  • Construct 3.1 miles of restoration stream channel and 5.33 miles of spring-fed tributaries.
  • 20 rock cross-vanes for vertical grade control in restoration channel
  • 121 rootwad revetments on outside streambank meanders
  • 200 pieces large woody debris placement to enhance channel roughness and habitat complexity.
  • Reclaim 4.08 miles of channel/ditches and terraces
  • Construct 6 floodplain ponds (10 acres) & 2 backwater habitats
  • Construct 0.68 miles of low elevation terraces to control floodflow and protect adjacent private lands
  • Seeded 430 acres with native seed.  Planted 12,650 sedge rush plugs, 60 willow shrubs and approximately 5,180 square feet of sedge/rush matts.  Additional planting and weed control planned for 07’ and 08’.
  • Culvert Removal/Relocation, 5 culverts removed, two reinstalled on access roads. 

Project Objectives

  • Restore/Improve stream habitat
  • Restore wetland and riparian habitat
  • Reconnect floodplain
  • Increase cold water refuge and increase winter water temperatures
  • Increase steelhead spawning and rearing habitat

Project Partners

  • Joel Rice (landowner)
  • CTUIR*
  • ODFW*
  • NRCS
  • OWEB
  • BPA
  • GRMW

* Project Leads

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Project Pictures

End Creek-Rice Fish Habitat & Wetland Restoration Project

(click photo to view enlargement)

(click photo to view enlargement)

End Creek before project, June 2003.

End Creek before project, June 2003. Extensive channelization in project area created unstable stream channels, excessive erosion, elevated water temperatures, loss of riparian and wetland vegetation, and poor fish habitat. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

End Creek before project, June 2003.

End Creek before project, June 2003. See caption for photo to left. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

   
Grading floodplain in preparation for channel excavation. July 2006.

Grading floodplain in preparation for channel excavation. July 2006. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

Excavating End Creek restoration channel, July 2006.

Excavating End Creek restoration channel, July 2006. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

   
Floodplain pond construction, August 2006.

Floodplain pond construction, August 2006. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

CTUIR habitat crew installing sedge/rush plugs along South Fork Willow Creek, October 2006.

CTUIR habitat crew installing sedge/rush plugs along South Fork Willow Creek, October 2006. Photo courtesy of GRMW.

   
Constructed stream channels and floodplain pond, reclaimed channelized reach, December 2006.

Constructed stream channels and floodplain pond, reclaimed channelized reach, December 2006. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

Constructed stream channel and floodplain pond, December 2006.

Constructed stream channel and floodplain pond, December 2006. Photo courtesy of CTUIR.

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