Fence Reconstruction within the Grande Ronde Watershed Project

The Fence Reconstruction with the Upper Grande Ronde Watershed Project was designed to provide more reliable protection to streambanks and riparian shrubs within the Upper Grande Ronde and Meadow Creek watersheds. The projects objective was to reconstruct existing fences and riparian planting pods to improve protection to previously planted and native streamside shrubs and hydrophilic stream vegetation. The streams within the areas protected by riparian fences include spawning, rearing and migratory habitat for spring Chinook salmon, summer steelhead and bull trout. Fences were installed in the locations described in the application to provide more positive control of livestock and in the case of the McCoy Creek elk fence, all ungulates. The existing fences have been maintained by the USPS and grazing permittes for many years, however over time, the fenceline right-of-way (ROW) becomes narrowed and filled with young conifers, tree ties are lost due to tree mortality, rock jacks rot, wire which had been spliced multiple times need to be replaced and t-posts reset due to wildlife crossing and soil movement. Pods installed around planted deciduous seedlings require maintenance multiple times each year in areas with large elk herds or livestock grazing. Ungulates lean over the pod wire ( 48" woven wire fence) to reach the planted stock. Pods are used to protect planted seedlings until they can withstand ungulate browse, usually >60 inches in height.