Salmon and steelhead need good spawning grounds. Once hatched, the young fish need habitat with plenty of protection and food until they are strong enough to make the journey to the sea.

To support the returning fish, PGE and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have set aside $21.5 million to restore habitat in the Deschutes basin. In 2007-2008, the Pelton Round Butte Fund has distributed nearly $3.5 million to 20 projects in areas ranging from the Metolius and Crooked Rivers above the dams to Trout Creek and the Warm Springs Reservation below the dams. Local watershed and conservation groups are also providing funding.

The return of salmon and steelhead above Pelton and Round Butte dams has inspired extensive collaboration between conservationists, fishermen and state and federal agencies. Here are a few of the most visible projects.

Logs and trail work on the upper Metolius River
In summer 2008, the U.S. Forest Service and Upper Deschutes Watershed Council will start placing logs and trees along 9.8 miles of the Metolius River to provide pool-like habitat for juvenile steelhead and salmon. With volunteers and excavation contractors, they’ll be placing about 920 logs at 173 sites. Some sites are in areas so delicate, the logs will be placed by helicopter. PGE and the Tribes are contributing over $300,000 to the effort.

Consulting with local fishermen, boaters and others who know the river well, the Forest Service has carefully chosen these sites, focusing on areas of fast, shallow water and avoiding hazards for boaters. The logs will be placed to mimic natural conditions and create slower, deeper pools where juvenile fish can hold their position in the current, find plenty to eat and avoid predators. To secure the logs, they will be anchored in place by digging a slot in the bank and covering the root wads with dirt.

The project also includes rehabilitating trails with river access and planting native shrubs and grasses along the river bank. Starting in summer 2008, the project may continue for three years.

Whychus Creek restoration at Camp Polk (Sisters, Oregon)
Whychus Creek is important spawning and rearing ground for summer steelhead and Chinook salmon. Originally the creek meandered through the meadow near Camp Polk, providing plenty of habitat for spawning fish. In the 1960’s, however, the creek was moved to a straighter, deeper channel along the edge of the canyon as part of a flood control effort. While this did address the flooding issue, it also meant a loss of wetlands and fish habitat, and the creek itself was shortened by half a mile. Now, with salmon and steelhead returning to the rivers above Round Butte Dam, Whychus Creek will be restored to its original, longer, meandering path. The Deschutes Basin Land Trust, the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and the U.S. Forest Service are working together to develop the best strategy to accomplish this. PGE and the Tribes have contributed over $450,000 to the project. With planning already in full swing, the project will be completed in three phases:

Summer 2009   Construct the new channel and plant it with native vegetation. To ensure the stability of the streambed, these plants will be allowed to grow for several years to become firmly established. 2011   Once the streambed is ready, the existing channel will be plugged, and Whychus Creek will flow through the meadow again. 2011+   Long-term monitoring and maintenance will be necessary to control weeds and document the improvements to fish and wildlife habitat.

The Watershed Council will manage and oversee the project implementation, using contract construction teams to dig the new channel, volunteers for planting and other activities and a network of agency partners for technical assistance and project support.