- Continued fish habitat enhancement activities, including maintenance, monitoring, and adaptive management, on the Catherine Creek (CC 44) Southern Cross Phase III project, which permanently protects 1 mile mainstem and 64 acres of historic floodplain.
- Maintained and monitored conservation easements on the Grande Ronde River, Catherine Creek, Rock Creek, Meadow Creek, McCoy Creek, and Dark Canyon Creek (Figure 4).
- Initiated planning, field surveys, and design on projects planned for construction through 2020 including:
- Wood acquisition for the Middle Upper Grande Ronde River (MUGRR) Project Phase 2.
- Continued planning and design on the Catherine Creek RM 54 Project, the Lookingglass Conservation Property, the CTUIR McCoy Meadows Conservation Property, the Longley Meadows Project, the Middle Upper Grande Ronde River (MUGRR) Phase 2 Project, and the Catherine Creek Adult Weir Project.
- Completed construction of the Bird Track Springs Project. Construction activities included:
- Environmental controls followed (installation of silt fence, 1200C permit and dust abatement)
- 75,389 CY (54%) of channel excavation (approximately 5,000 feet of main channel and about 9,500 feet of side channel) and 8885 CY of material screening
- 9973 cubic yards constructed riffles and 832 imbedded boulders
- 846 cubic yards constructed point bars
- 6694 square yards access road decommissioning
- 8 acres staging area decommissioning
- 145 large wood structures along the main channel
- 750+ wood pieces along floodplain, side channel, and alcoves
- 7,400 feet willow brush bank/roughened edge treatments
- 8 alcoves constructed
- 2 temporary bridges installed and removed
- 7,000 square yards of sod salvage, storage and placement
- 7275 square yards of woody riparian clumps salvaged and transplanted
- 56% of riffles and 11% of point bars completed
- Applied native grass seed (15 lbs/ acre) and straw mulch to 24 acres of disturbed area
- Approximately 125 acres of floodplain connected
- Project Leader participated on the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Board of Directors
- Project Leader and Assistant Biologist participated in the Technical Implementation Team as part of the GRMW Step Wise and Atlas Strategic Planning and Project Development Process.
- Project Leader and Assistant Biologist participated in NRCS Local Working Group and Regional Conservation Partnership Program planning (RCCP).
- Staff conducted monitoring and evaluation activities on project areas, including expanded water temperature and groundwater monitoring efforts at restoration sites and application of ungulate browse deterrent.
- CTUIR habitat staff supported other research and monitoring efforts at project sites including AEM and CTUIR physical habitat monitoring program.
- CTUIR staff hosted multiple tours on the Bird Track Springs Project for groups and individuals during 2019, including local newspaper article interviews, Trout Unlimited groups, the Oregon Water Resources Sponsored Place-Based Planning Group, U.S. Forest Service Regional Managers, Bureau of Reclamation groups, and tours with other agencies and individuals.
- Project Leader and Biologists presented at symposiums, meetings, and information sessions including GRMW Implementation Team meetings, CTUIR Habitat Program meeting, 2019 State of the Science Meeting, 2019 CTUIR Legal Counsel Retreat, CTUIR Department of Natural Resources Open House, Grande Ronde Habitat temperature presentation, and Grande Ronde Basin Partnership OWEB FIP presentation, and Buffalo Flats Project public information meeting..
- Pursued future restoration efforts by continuing discussions with federal land managers and private landowners about restoration opportunities along Catherine Creek, Grande Ronde River, Dry Creek, Whiskey Creek, Indian Creek, Rock Creek, and Winter Canyon Creek.
- Project staff coordinated with landowners, NRCS, and UCSWCD to provide technical assistance for restoration project enrollment in EQIP, CREP, and OWEB small grants on Rock Creek (For the Girls LLC) and Bird Track Springs (Jordan Creek Ranch).