Malheur Watershed Council

PROJECT ABSTRACT TEMPLATEAWARD PURPOSE: THE MALHEUR WATERSHED COUNCIL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VALE OREGON IRRIGATION DISTRICT, LOCATED IN EASTERN OREGON, WILL CONVERT 10.4 MILES OF OPEN-EARTHEN LATERAL CANALS TO PLASTIC IRRIGATION PIPE. THE DISTRICTS IRRIGATION SEASON HAS ENDED EARLY FOR 10 OF THE PAST 17 YEARS AND THE PIPELINE CONVERSION WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO BETTER MEET ITS WATER DEMANDS. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS OF 4,888 ACRE-FEET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY LOST TO SEEPAGE. CONSERVED WATER WILL HELP ACHIEVE A CARRYOVER POOL IN BEULAH RESERVOIR TO BENEFIT THE FEDERALLY LISTED BULL TROUT.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE RECIPIENT SHALL PIPE 55,000 LINEAR FEET OF EARTHEN-LINED PORTIONS OF LATERALS 176, 185, 188, 192, AND 195 WITH PLASTIC IRRIGATION PIPE (PIP) OF VARIOUS SIZES RANGING FROM 8 INCHES TO 27 INCHES ALONG WITH TRACER WIRE, TEES, AIR VENTS, ELBOWS, ETC. THE CANAL LINING PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE VICINITY OF LATITUDE 43.9655 N AND LONGITUDE 117.3712 W IN EASTERN OREGON.EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES: THE METHODOLOGY USED TO ESTIMATE WATER CONSERVATION SAVINGS, CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED BY RECIPIENT, AND ANY ADJUSTMENTS MADE DURING THE EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS OF 4,888 ACRE-FEETINTENDED BENEFICIARIES: WATER CONSERVATIONIST, ESA FISHSUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT TIME OF AWARD): NONE

THE POLE CREEK PROJECT WILL RESTORE AQUATIC HABITAT. UPLAND RANGE BIODIVERSITY FURTHERS STATE AND LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERWAY. IT WILL MAKE THIS DRAINAGE MORE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS FOR POLE CREEK ARE TO HAVE IT MEET WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR TEMPERATURE, BACTERIA, AND NUTRIENTS. THIS WILL BENEFIT THE AQUATIC HABITAT OF POLE CREEK ITSELF AND THE REACH OF THE MALHEUR RIVER THAT POLE CREEK ENTERS INTO.THE GOAL IS TO RESTORE AQUATIC RESOURCES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE, DROUGHT, AND FLOODS, AND INCREASE THEIR RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE, AND ADAPTABILITY TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH WILL INCLUDE WILDFIRE, DROUGHT, AND FLOODS.

OR/WA RESTORING WILLOW CREEK

THIS PROJECT IS UTILIZING PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE FUNDING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF A PARCEL OF PRIVATE LAND ON THE MALHEUR RIVER IN RURAL EASTERN OREGON. THE PARCEL ABUTS U.S. FOREST SERVICE, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WILDERNESS AREA, AND PRIVATE LAND AND IS OCCUPIED BY ESA-LISTED BULL TROUT THAT ARE ALSO LISTED BY THE STATE OF OREGON AS SENSITIVE. THE PRIVATE LANDOWNER IS THE MAIN BENEFICIARY OF THIS PROJECT. THE RESTORATION PROJECT WILL RESTORE 1.3 MILES OF THE MALHEUR RIVER BY ADDING LARGE TREES, ROOTS WADS, AND ROCKS TO MIMIC NATURAL ACCUMULATIONS THAT ARE LACKING ON THIS SECTION OF RIVER BUT WERE PREVALENT HISTORICALLY. THE RIVER CURRENTLY HAS <2 POOLS PER MILE WHICH IS FAR BELOW DESIRED CONDITIONS SO RESTORATION STRUCTURES WILL NOT ONLY ADD COMPLEXITY TO THE STREAM IN THE FORM OF ADDED HYDROLOGIC HETEROGENEITY, SHADE, COVER FOR FISH, AND NUTRIENTS, BUT ALSO WILL PROMOTE POOLS TO SCOUR NATURALLY WITH FLOWS. THE LANDOWNER HAS BEEN USING HIS OWN TIME AND RESOURCES TO PLANT RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN AREAS THAT WILL NOT BE DISTURBED BY THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ALONG THE RIVER. THIS PROJECT WILL JUST ADD TO THE ACCUMULATION OF RIPARIAN WORK DONE ACROSS THE WHOLE PROPERTY TO INCREASE RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROPERTY. THE PROJECT IS IN THE DESIGN AND PERMITTING PHASE CURRENTLY THAT IS BEING FUNDED BY AN OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD GRANT BUT WILL BE APPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT IN 2026. THE PFW FUNDS WILL GO TOWARD ON THE GROUND CONSTRUCTION BY A SUB-CONTRACTED GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND BE USED AS MATCH FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT APPLICATIONS.

N.F. MALHEUR MEASUREMENT AND PIPING

PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE